Post Partum Health Concerns:
How to Stay Healthy After You Have a Baby
Introduction
It's been a few weeks since you had the baby, and now it's time to find your way back to normal.
You may be feeling healthy and strong, but there are several health issues that could arise during this time: heartburn, hemorrhoids, weight gain, coughing, and even stress are just a few of these common postpartum health issues.
While childbirth is a beautiful, unique experience, sometimes it can leave mothers feeling confused and concerned about how to handle the heavy flow of emotions that may occur on both sides of the aisle — new moms worried about the health of their infant and new babies stressed out by the changes in the environment.
No matter what your particular birth story was like, it's vital for mothers to stay well-informed about postpartum issues and risks.
Postpartum health concerns are widespread, especially if you are a first-time mom.
After all, you are taking care of an infant, which is not an easy task. However, there is no need to panic as you can take steps to prevent any complications that may arise after delivery.
In this article, we will look at some of the most common postpartum health concerns and how to deal with them effectively.
Post Partum Health Concerns:
After you have a baby, there are several common postpartum health concerns that you might experience.
• Postpartum hemorrhage.
• Breastfeeding and nutrition.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Activity After Delivery:
When you decide to get up and start moving around, it's essential to be gentle with yourself. The body has been through a lot and needs time to heal.
You should not push yourself too hard, or you may end up injuring yourself. Aches and pains are normal, but persistent pain is not!
If your doctor gives you the go-ahead after delivery, try some of these activities:
• Take a walk around the neighborhood
• Go swimming or take a hot bath
• Get an adult coloring book and colored pencils (these are great for stress relief)
If these seem like too much right now, that's okay! Give your body time to adjust before going full steam ahead with exercise again.
No matter what activity level is right for you right now, remember that it's okay to ask for help when necessary—it doesn't make you weak or incapable; it means that people care enough about what happens to you that they want to help out as best they can.
Rest:
• Taking naps is good for you.
• Try to get a whole night's sleep every night.
• Take time to relax and unwind, or do something you love (like reading or taking an art class).
• Don't feel guilty about resting and doing absolutely nothing; it will help you stay healthy and strong!
Breast Feeding:
• Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed your baby. It's also good for you as a mother since it helps you produce milk and gives your body a break from pregnancy-related weight gain.
• The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years, but some moms continue for longer (or even shorter) periods of time.
• If you're having trouble getting your baby to latch on correctly, consider hiring a lactation consultant or taking classes at your local GP Clinic.
• When it comes time to stop breastfeeding, there are steps that can help ease the transition.
Birth Control:
If you are breastfeeding, your body will naturally prevent pregnancy through a hormone called prolactin. This means that it is not necessary to use additional forms of birth control if you are exclusively breastfeeding your baby.
However, if you have chosen to use some other form of contraception while breastfeeding, there are many options available.
• Barrier methods: These include condoms and diaphragms. They work by preventing sperm from entering the uterus by blocking off the cervix (opening).
• Hormonal Methods: These include oral contraceptives (the pill), injectables like Depo-Provera, patches like Ortho Evra®, rings like NuvaRing®, and implants like Implanon® or Nexplanon®. They work by releasing hormones into your bloodstream that prevent ovulation from occurring each month – resulting in no egg being released for fertilization by a sperm cell during this cycle.
Diet:
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Eat healthy foods (low in saturated fat and salt, with plenty of fruits, vegetables and fibre).
• Do not overeat (this advice applies to both pregnant women and new mothers).
• Do not eat too little (this advice applies to both pregnant women and new mothers).
• Eat often but in small portions. Eating more often can help keep blood sugar levels stable, which is essential for your health during pregnancy or breastfeeding because it prevents postpartum depression. A varied diet will also help you get all the nutrients you need for good health while caring for your baby. They include:
• iron-rich foods such as beef and beans;
• calcium-rich foods such as cheese or yogurt;
• vitamin C–containing foods like citrus fruits;
• vitamin B12–containing food such as fish or eggs;
• vitamin A–containing food such as carrots or sweet potatoes;
• zinc–containing food such as oysters or chicken legs with bone marrow.
Getting Back in Shape:
If you’ve just had a baby, it’s normal to feel less than fit. It may take some time before you are back in shape.
It is not a competition! You have carried and nourished a child for 9 months, so don’t push yourself too hard or compare yourself to other people.
Focus on eating healthy and exercising – just because your body has changed doesn’t mean that exercise isn’t necessary anymore!
• Try moderate exercise such as walking, swimming or cycling (avoid high impact). You can also try yoga or Pilates if they are available locally.
• Take it slow; start with just 5 minutes of light activity each day until your muscles get used to being stretched again (this will prevent injury).
• Don't forget about low-impact activities like lifting weights or doing squats while holding onto something stable like a chair (as long as this works for your individual situation!).
Remember: no matter how much weight you gained during pregnancy or how long it took for those extra pounds to come off postpartum – getting back into shape after having a baby can be done!
Depression:
• Depression is a common postpartum health concern.
• It is not your fault, and it can be treated.
• You are not alone! Postpartum depression affects about one in every eight new moms, which means that many people have dealt with it before you.
• There are several different kinds of treatment available that can help with the symptoms of depression and help you get back to normal as soon as possible.
Complications:
Postpartum health concerns may include complications resulting from pregnancy and childbirth.
Complications include:
• Postpartum depression. Women with postpartum depression experience feelings of sadness, anxiety and guilt after giving birth. They may have trouble bonding with or caring for their baby.
• Breast engorgement. Nipples become swollen, painful and tight due to a buildup of milk in the breasts during breastfeeding or pumping sessions. Pain can subside when you feed your baby or express milk manually by hand-massaging your breast tissue until the milk releases.
• Vaginal bleeding that doesn't stop within two weeks after giving birth is called lochia (pronounced "lock-EE-ah"). This is normal and usually lasts between six to eight weeks—but if you're still bleeding after this time frame, contact your doctor.
• Infections such as urinary tract infections and yeast infections are common in women who've just given birth, but they're easily treated with prescription antibiotics or over-the counter creams.
• Blood clots are very rare during pregnancy but can happen during delivery if there's trauma to the cervix during labor; however these generally dissolve on their own without causing problems (unless they move into another part of the body).
• Uterine prolapse occurs when muscles supporting your uterus begin stretching out after pregnancy due to changes in hormone levels; this causes it to slip down from its normal position into the vagina where it bulges outwards at times.
• Hemorrhoids are a common symptom of pregnancy, but they can also occur after delivery due to the stress of pushing your baby out. They're small, swollen veins around your anus that cause itching and discomfort when they bleed; this happens when you strain during bowel movements or if you hold in bowel movements for too long.
You can motivate yourself without being mean to yourself:
Being kind to yourself is good for your health. If you’re overwhelmed, it’s okay to ask for help. You can motivate yourself without being mean to yourself. You can be kind to yourself and still achieve your goals, be productive, and even be a good friend!
Conclusion
If you want to make the most of your postpartum health and re-enter the world a happy, healthy person, then make sure to set goals for yourself.
Be honest about what is realistic for you at this time in your life, as well as what will benefit both you and your baby.
Try not to focus on how much weight you lost during pregnancy or breastfeeding; instead, think about how good it feels when you exercise or eat better than usual!
It’s important not to get down on yourself if things don’t go exactly according to plan—you have already accomplished so much just by giving birth!