Preparing Yourself After Delivery

 After all the suffering you when through stating from pregnancy complication  to labor, your baby finally arrives, happy now but also tired and exhausted, uncomfortable and emotionally different. Childbirth help to prepare you for giving birth but you are not prepared for all of these.

 After you have delivered your baby, you will notice some physical and emotional changes.

Physical changes:

·         Sore breast: your breast may be sore as well as your nipples for the first time after childbirth as your milk come in.

·         Stomach constipation: you will experience some postpartum bowel movement for some few days.

·         Episiotomy:  the area near the vagina may experience some pain especially when caught during the childbirth.

·         Hot and cold body flashes: your body will react to the new hormone flowing through your body and this will disrupt your body temperature.

·         Hemorrhoids: swollen blood vessel in the rectum but frequently unexpected.

·         Fecal and urinary inconsistence:  the stretching of your muscles during childbirth may cause you to pass urine when you cough or   sneeze and you may not be able to control your bowel.

·         Vaginal discharge:  vaginal discharge occur initially heavier than your period and stop after several weeks

·         Weight:  your weight after giving birth will change after childbirth.

Emotional changes:

·         Baby’s blues: most new mom’s experience irritability, crying, sadness, for some days after postpartum, these changes are common and can be related to physical changes and emotional transition from a pregnant a woman to a mother.

·         Postpartum depression; this emotional change is very common among new mothers; about 10-20%of new mothers went through this. And may cause mood swing, guilt, persistent sadness and anxiety. And also it is most likely to be found among women with history of depression, multiple life stressors and a family history of depression.

 Your sexual relation will greatly be affected as you may not be ready for sex both physically and emotionally while your partner may be ready for it.  Doctors advises new mother to stay away from sex, for several weeks to allow healing to occur.

 It takes about nine month for your body to prepare for giving birth and your body will also require some time to regains its shape, weight and firmness. And if you undergo any cesarean section, it will take a longer time before your body heals.  Pain is greatest few days after the surgery and should decrease. Your doctor on what to and what not to do in order to aid healing and prevent other complications.

 Things to know:

·         Drink much water

·         Expert a vaginal discharge

·          Don’t drive

·         If the incision swollen call a doctor.

Birth control:

 It didn’t mean that you cannot be pregnant again immediately after childbirth,  stay away from sex, or use birth control measure to prevent another immediate  pregnancy, as this may affect both your health and that of your newborn baby.

Breastfeeding

 You need adequate sleeps, food and water to breastfeed optimally.