What to Do Right After Giving Birth

What to do right after giving birth is crucial for a new mom. A new baby can be extremely stressful, and there’s nothing worse than worrying about all the things you need to do after giving birth.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for a lot of firsts (including your first trip to the washroom). You can also read about postpartum depression and hemorrhage symptoms. Read on to find out how to prepare for all the firsts.

Skin-to-skin contact with your baby

Studies show that skin-to-skin contact with your newborn can improve breastfeeding and help your infant adjust to life outside the womb. Research shows that mothers who engage in skin-to-skin contact with their babies after giving birth are less likely to experience postpartum bleeding, are more likely to breastfeed and experience lower maternal stress levels. This contact can also increase oxytocin levels in the mother, which is a hormone associated with the mother-infant bonding process.

The rate of skin-to-skin contact with your baby after birth varies widely by region, but it has consistently been shown to be more common in birth centers with freestanding labor and delivery rooms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 83% of birth facilities reported routine skin-to-skin care in 2015, compared to just 43% in 2009.

In some cases, skin-to-skin contact with your newborn is not possible immediately after birth. Some babies have health conditions that make this impossible or can’t be immediately touched after birth. In addition, if you gave birth via a c-section, you may not be able to place your newborn on your chest. Fortunately, many hospitals offer immediate skin-to-skin contact after c-sections.

Postnatal care includes constant vigilance for your baby’s health. During skin-to-skin contact, you and your baby should continue to conduct the usual observations, including calculating the Apgar score. However, your baby should not be left unattended if the mother experiences any kind of health concerns. The research is also clear that skin-to-skin contact after giving birth improves the baby’s wellbeing.

Symptoms of postpartum hemorrhage

A postpartum hemorrhage occurs when a woman suffers a blood clot or a hemorrhage into a hidden space or tissue in the pelvis. This bleeding is typically found in the vagina or vulva, where the placenta covers the cervix. The other most common cause is an overly large baby or too much amniotic fluid. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately.

In some women, the bleeding continues for several days. Symptoms may include more than one sanitary pad per hour and a blood clot larger than a golf ball. It can also cause shock, and it can be deadly if it is left untreated. Learn about postpartum hemorrhage from the Society for Matern-Fetal Medicine.

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, it is time to seek medical attention. A quick diagnosis will help prevent complications, such as hemorrhage. Often, this is a complication of routine episiotomy. A complication of routine episiotomy can result in a postpartum hemorrhage.

Preventing a postpartum hemorrhage is crucial for your health. It can be devastating, resulting in large blood loss, low blood pressure, restricted blood flow to the brain, and shock. In some cases, postpartum hemorrhage is life-threatening. Fortunately, it’s highly treatable. You can reduce the risk of complications and death by knowing how to recognize the signs and symptoms.

Symptoms of postpartum depression

Many women may not realize the warning signs of postpartum depression. However, if you experience any of the following signs, you should see a doctor immediately. You may not feel depressed for a few days or even weeks after giving birth. But you should never ignore these signs and wait for them to improve. Visit the Mayo Clinic website for free health advice. While emotional and physical factors may play a role in postpartum depression, you should never ignore them.

Most new mothers experience baby blues after childbirth. These feelings are caused by the hormonal change after delivery, stress, and exhaustion that a mother experiences. They generally go away after a few days or a week, but if they last longer than two weeks, they may be signs of postpartum depression. Symptoms of postpartum depression can be debilitating, so it’s important to seek help immediately.

Sleep patterns are affected after giving birth. New mothers usually sleep less than before. Their sleep is often disrupted by the newborn. They’ll experience irritability, fatigue, and sadness. If these signs are present, it may be a sign of stress that has occurred in the previous few months. A stressful life event, such as a fight with the partner or family, or the death of a close friend, may trigger postpartum depression.

Symptoms of postpartum depression can include:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
• Feeling irritable or angry
• Having trouble bonding with your baby
• Feeling like you’re not a good mother
• Having intrusive thoughts about harming yourself or your baby

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to reach out for help. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that can have a major impact on your life, but it is treatable.

Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about what you’re going through. You’re not alone in this, and there is help available.

Preparing for your first trip to the bathroom after giving birth

As a new mother, you’re likely worried about your first visit to the restroom after delivery. You’re likely worried that the incision on your abdomen is too large or that you’ll strain to poop. Fortunately, going to the bathroom after delivery is less traumatic than you might imagine. In addition to a sitz bath, there are other simple ways to prepare for the first trip to the bathroom after delivery.

Before giving birth, you’ll need to prepare yourself for the bowel movement. Luckily, you’ve been pre-prepared for this moment by learning about your body’s functions. Learn about the effects of episiotomies and perineal tears and make sure you’re ready for it. Also, take a deep breath and focus on breathing deeply to prepare yourself and your baby.

Water is one of the best things to drink right after delivery, as it will make a big difference in how often you urinate. Water acts as a natural stool softener. Also, eat foods rich in fibre, such as leafy greens, prunes, or prune juice. Fibre also helps regulate bowel movements. Also, avoid alcohol while breastfeeding or taking narcotics.

While it’s difficult to remember to urinate for the first few days after delivery, you can prepare yourself for the onset of the process by following a few basic tips. A few of the best practices include taking a fiber supplement and using a stool softener. Your healthcare provider can also suggest other ways to position yourself so that you can be comfortable while pooping. If none of these tips work, talk to your doctor or gynecologist about other ways to prepare for the first trip after delivery.

Taking prenatal vitamins

Although it is not mandated that a pregnant woman take prenatal vitamins, many do so for nutritional reasons. But these vitamins contain more nutrients than a woman’s body needs. The iron in prenatal vitamins is only half of what she needs as a pregnant woman. Taking extra iron can cause digestive upset and may even lead to iron toxicity. It is best to consult with your OB-GYN before discontinuing your prenatal vitamins.

When choosing a prenatal vitamin, look for one with adequate levels of iron, calcium, riboflavin, folic acid, and zinc. It is also important to consider your overall diet before taking prenatal vitamins. Prenatal vitamins are not intended to replace a well-balanced diet, but they may help you conceive. You can purchase prenatal vitamins over-the-counter for $19-$59, although they may not contain all the ingredients you need. In addition, if you buy a lower-dose vitamin, you may have to take it more often to get the required dose.

If you are breastfeeding, you can also continue to take prenatal vitamins. Breastfeeding affects the nutrition of your newborn, so it’s important to get the right nutrients from your diet. You can discuss this with your doctor, and ask him about any additional supplements you may need after giving birth. A good idea is to continue taking the prenatal vitamin for a few months after giving birth, but you don’t have to!

Avoiding heavy lifting

While it is true that the most common recommendation is to avoid heavy lifting right after giving birth, this may not be possible for everyone. Heavy lifting creates intra-abdominal pressure, and if your pelvic floor is not strong enough to handle the pressure, your organs may protrude or drop. For this reason, many doctors recommend that you avoid heavy lifting for 6 weeks after delivery. However, even if you do decide to lift heavy objects, be sure to start with gentle walks. You can also avoid swimming for a week after giving birth. You should wait until your six-week postnatal checkup to begin vigorous physical activity.

Perineum Soreness

It’s no secret that giving birth is tough on a woman’s body. From the physical stress of labour to the emotional roller coaster of postpartum life, it’s no wonder that many new moms experience some form of perineum soreness. But what is perineum soreness, exactly?

This condition is characterized by discomfort, burning, or itching in the perineum, which is the area between the vagina and anus. While it’s most commonly experienced by women who have given birth vaginally, it can also affect women who have had a c-section or those who are postmenopausal.

There are a few different things that can cause perineum soreness, including:

• Excessive stretching of the perineum during childbirth
• Tearing of the perineum during childbirth
• Episiotomy (a surgical incision made to enlarge the vaginal opening)
• Dryness or inflammation of the perineum

Fortunately, there are a few things that new moms can do to ease perineum soreness and promote healing.

Here are a few tips:

• Wash the perineum with warm water and mild soap after each bowel movement.
• Apply a perineal pad or ice pack to the perineum for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
• Take a sitz bath (a warm, shallow bath) for 10-15 minutes, several times a day.
• Avoid constipation by eating a high-fibre diet and drinking plenty of fluids.
• Empty your bladder regularly.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
• Avoid activities that put unnecessary pressure on the perineum, such as biking, horseback riding, or Rollerblading.

If perineum soreness is severe or persists for more than a week, it’s important to see your healthcare provider.

They can rule out other potential causes of your symptoms and recommend additional treatment options.

In the meantime, these simple self-care measures can help you find relief from perineum soreness and get on the road to recovery.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to do after giving birth, but don’t worry – you’ve got this. First, you’ll want to spend some time bonding with your baby. Get to know their cues and learn their sleep patterns. You’ll also want to start thinking about your postpartum recovery. Start by talking to your doctor about your birth plan and what you can expect. Then, make sure you’re taking care of yourself by eating healthy, staying hydrated, and getting enough rest.

Make sure to read about how to get through the transition stage of labour here.

You’re a mom now, and you’re amazing!