The post-pregnancy period begins right after the delivery, usually lasts six to eight weeks & ends when the mother’s body has returned to its pre-pregnant state. If you are in your postpartum period, you should bed rest & lessen activities for the first three days after childbirth hence resting allows the stress hormones to drop back to normal levels & promotes healing wounds internally. The postpartum period for a mother & a newborn is crucial for short-term as well as long-term health & well-being. Once you give birth to your baby your attention may centered towards your little one but weeks & months after the child’s birth, you may face health complications. Some can be life-threatening. Therefore, this period of the mother’s life should be cared for with attention.
Postpartum Complications:
Once after childbirth, it’s common to feel fatigued & feel some discomfort. You may also feel sleep deprivation & breastfeeding concerns. Your spouse must play a vital role during this post-pregnancy journey. Mothers often see a healthcare professional after childbirth. As a result, many mothers get less guidance on recovery after childbirth. Which also can be a route cause to suffer from postpartum depression & many more complications. Common post-pregnancy concerns can be,
- Vaginal Bleeding
- C-Section Surgery Complications
- Fatigue
- Urinary Symptoms
- Sleep Deprivation
- Bowl Symptoms/Rectal Bleeding/Haemorrhoids
- Breastfeeding Concerns
- Sexual Concerns/ Relationship Problems
- Hypertension
- Cardio Vascular Disease
Vaginal Bleeding:
Vaginal bleeding is variable & challenging to measure that lasts for a month on average. Breastfeeding, urinating as often, resting & letting your body be healed may help fast recovery. Beef, pork, beans, chickpeas, oatmeal, Eggs, Beetroot, oranges & Green leafy vegetables are rich in high iron, fibre & vitamin C & help to recover fast from this circumstance. Drinking enough water per day is an essential component during this period.
C-Section Surgery Wound Pain
Pain is common after C-section delivery due to perineal recovery. Mothers are given analgesic advice & medication to relieve the surgery pain during this period. Aspirin should be avoided in mothers who are breastfeeding because of its risk to the infant. Pain relief remedies such as perineal ice packs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory gels, haemorrhoid ointments & heat packs are advisable to consume. Getting down & trying to walk as soon as possible after the surgery is the best way for a fast recovery from C-section surgery & its pain.
Fatigue
Tiredness & fatigue are the most common problems faced by new mothers which can affect stress, mood swings & cognitive functions. The time taken for an infant to establish a routine is variable until they grow up. It is important to have realistic expectations about sleep disruption & self-care management after a delivery.
In addition, daytime naps (Sleep when your baby sleeps), exercise, pairing & sharing nights (formula feeding, diaper changing, putting the baby to sleep, dressing) & early bedtime routines may be useful self-care techniques for new parents in coping with parenthood. Also, you can transfer the duty of feeding the infant a bottle of breast milk. It’s all about healthily handling your daily work. An abundance of this may lead to conditions like anaemia, postpartum depression & thyroid conditions. Understanding your baby’s different sounds & sleep patterns may be useful to reduce fatigue during the post-delivery period over time.
Urinary Symptoms (UTI – Urinary Tract Infection)
While your fetus grows up, your bladder makes it difficult to regulate the body during pregnancy. Urinary infections can have destructions in the fallopian tubes which leads to internal damage in the long run. Also, this can lead to premature labor or miscarriage during pregnancy. Common urinary symptoms are discomfort while peeing, cloudy urine, abnormal urine colour & discomfort in holding it till bathroom breaks & dribbling pee while coughing or sneezing. This can last till the postpartum journey. There’s a risk of increasing urine infection during your postpartum recovery. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you suffer from a urinary tract infection & need support.
Sleep Deprivation
Bringing a newborn home for the first time is a heartwarming experience & also a significant lifestyle change. Newborns wake up frequently & require around-the-clock feeding & care. This disruption of routine is one of the main reasons for postpartum sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep can affect exhaustion, frustration, anxiety & postpartum depression in new mothers.
Safe Sleep Practices for Infants:
Some babies fuss or cry when they are sleepy or grumpy, whereas others rub their eyes, stare off into space, pull on their ears. Your baby will fall asleep more quickly if you put her down right after they lets you know that they are sleepy.
- Swaddling:
The practice of wrapping the baby gently to help them feel calm & sleepy. (Check our website video link to learn how to swaddle a baby) Swaddling can start day one from birth until the infant begins to indicate signs that they can roll over themselves. Babies should not be wrapped while sleeping in a baby sleeping bag.
- Develop a bedtime routine on the ABC method.
Infants should be put to sleep on the ABC method. They should always put to sleep Alone, on their Backs, in a Crib. Babies sleep well when they have consistent sleep times & wake times. Cutting back on naps to encourage nighttime sleep may affect overtiredness & a worse night’s sleep & a difficult time for the parent.
- Set up a consistent bedroom environment.
It is best to maintain your baby’s bedroom environment to be the same at bedtime throughout the night (e.g. lighting). Babies sleep best in a room that is dark, cold, & quiet. It’s important to maintain a normal room temperature for a good night sleep.
Bowl Symptoms/Rectal Bleeding/Haemorrhoids
Many mothers feel bowl obstruction & constipation during pregnancy & post-pregnancy due to hormonal changes, medicine & supplements they use. Including more fibre in your diet like fruits, vegetables, beans & whole grains are best diets you can take. You can also consume herbal tea. Drinking plenty of water & fluids to stay hydrated is essential for bowl functions. It is recommended to drink 8-12 cups of water a day. This will help keep your bowels soft & support painless bowl movement.
Haemorrhoids may start in your 3rd trimester & a few months after childbirth. Swollen or broken blood vessels in the rectal area may cause rectal bleeding. If you need help ask a health care provider to recommend a Haemorrhoids cream or rectal/anus ointment that is safe to use.
Breastfeeding Concerns
When you become pregnant you may notice changes in your breast & around the areola (Nipple) which becomes darker also larger &small bumps may appear on it. These bumps may go away soon after the delivery. This process of preparing yourself to feed your child is wonderful. Production of breast milk generally can change due to hormonal levels & medical conditions. It is common to have breast tenderness with sore, heavy or tingly symptoms as early as 1-2 weeks due to fertilization conception. The nipples may feel painful and sensitive to touch. Avoid nipple dryness and maintain the moisture of your nipples are very essential.
To avoid breastfeeding concerns, switching breasts while feeding, gently massaging the breast before breastfeeding, using relaxing music to reduce stress, providing skin-to-skin with your baby for at least 20 minutes may increase the supply of breast milk. If you are pumping breastmilk to a bottle, you should pump breastmilk for 15 minutes every 2-3 hours. Latching is how your baby is positioned when breastfeeding & how the suction happens on the nipple. If your baby’s mouth doesn’t cover enough of the areola, the darkened area of skin that surrounds the nipple, your little one will suck more forcefully on your nipple which may cause your nipple tissue to stretch & eventually crack. You may look after this hence it might lead to a bacterial infection. You shouldn’t need to move, shift, or reposition yourself when breastfeeding, try to sit in a relaxed place & ensure your baby doesn’t need to turn their head during feeding. Try to have a feeding chair & a pillow for your convenience. It is recommended to breastfeed a child up to 2 years of age at your convenience.
Sexual Concerns/ Relationship Problems
Sexual morbidity & loss of libido are common in the first three months postpartum. During this time you may face mood swings for intimacy. If you want to avoid unplanned pregnancies, having contraception is important. Planning, discussion & commencement of contraception should ensue early. You should be clear regarding future pregnancy planning & family planning once you complete your delivery to maintain a healthy relationship with your spouse.
Hypertension/Cardio Vascular Disease
Hypertension is defined as high blood pressure at or above 140mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure at or above 90mm Hg. Postpartum hypertension is usually treated with medication. Postpartum preeclampsia is a rare condition that causes mothers to have high blood pressure & high levels of protein in their urine which can lead to brain damage, stroke & sometimes death if not treated. Cardio Vascular Disease is also another condition that can occur due to weakness of the heart muscles that can begin during the final month of pregnancy & through about five months after delivery.