After delivery care for the mother

Research shows that sleep is essential for our bodies and brains to function normally. Immediately after delivery, this becomes even more important for two reasons.

One, your body has been through a lot already. Periods after pregnancy, vaginal tears, pain and hormonal imbalance will most probably leave you feeling tired and irritable all the time. Your muscles may feel sore and weak for a few days after delivery, and your uterus will take about six weeks to shrink back to normal.

And two, you will be taking on new responsibilities like breastfeeding, and learning many new things (like caring for your baby's umbilical stump till it falls off naturally in about three weeks), which can also add to the feeling of fatigue.

Here are a few tips you could use to rest and recover during the postnatal period:

• Apart from feeding your baby and taking care of yourself, you need to delegate the rest of the work to your spouse, a trustworthy nurse or a relative or friend. Remember that if you don't take care of your health, your baby will suffer too.
• Sleep when the baby sleeps, even if the duration seems short. The hours will add up gradually and you won’t be at the end of your tether.
• Place your baby close by. Do not share a bed with the baby, but keep his or her cot nearby so that getting up and reaching out to the baby doesn’t tire you at any time of day or night.
• While friends and family might want to visit to see your newborn, don’t feel obliged to entertain guests. Instead, if it’s time for the baby’s nap or feed, then go ahead with that so that you can stick to your routine.
• Step outside your home at least once every day so that you get some fresh air and sunlight. If your healthcare provider suggests it, you can even start with some postpartum exercises.

We hope you paid special attention to foods to eat and foods to avoid during pregnancy. The weight you gained in those nine months will help in the postnatal period, but you need to maintain a balanced diet which includes grains or carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, dairy products and proteins. Eat a diet rich in fibre to avoid postnatal problems like constipation. You will also need healthy fats from nuts and seeds, and drink enough water and milk to stay hydrated. Dehydration in the postnatal period can have serious consequences for you and for your baby since you are breastfeeding. If needed, your doctor will also give you vitamin and mineral supplements if a deficiency is observed.

Read more: Diet after delivery: what to eat after giving birth

If you’ve had a vaginal delivery, then your postnatal care will be comparatively easy to manage. While you have to make sure that you get enough rest and nutrition during this period, there are a few symptoms that may need your attention also. Read on to know about these symptoms and what to do for relief.

1. Vaginal soreness after normal delivery
2. Vaginal discharge after normal delivery
3. Afterpain or contractions after vaginal delivery
4. Urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery
5. Haemorrhoids after normal delivery

If you don’t breastfeed enough, then your breasts can swell up, become firm and you might experience tenderness or soreness. This is called engorgement, and it can lead to difficulties in your baby latching on during feeding. Here’s what you can do to relieve this symptom:

• Use a breast pump or manually pump the breasts to discharge a small amount of breast milk before feeding your baby.
• Apply a warm washcloth or take a warm shower before breastfeeding to make feeding easier.
• Place a cold washcloth over your breasts between breastfeedings.
• If you’re not breastfeeding, then wear a proper bra to support the breasts better.

Read more: Nipple pain

Increased hormone levels might have given you a pregnancy glow and a stunning head of hair, but this changes after delivery. Hair loss and lack of glowing skin can ail you for up to five months after delivery, as your hormone levels go back to normal. On the other hand, if you had dark patches on your face during pregnancy (melasma), then they will slowly fade away. Stretch marks might also look ugly during the first few weeks after delivery, but they will slowly turn silver and fade away if you take ample care.

Read more: Home remedies for stretch marks

If pregnancy mood swings are natural due to elevated hormone levels, then they are equally natural after delivery as your hormone levels decrease. This can cause mood swings - particularly feeling low, anxious, frequent crying spells and difficulty sleeping - which are called the baby blues. Usually, the baby blues disappear within two to three weeks, but you should take good care of yourself in the meantime. Communicate with your partner, share your feelings and ask your family and friends for help, if needed. 

In many cases, however, the baby blues can take a turn for the worse and lead to postpartum depression. If you still feel fatigued, depressed, experience severe mood swings, loss of appetite and a general lack of happiness beyond two weeks after childbirth, chances are you have postpartum depression. It’s very important to seek medical help to deal with this situation, because many women can suffer from it for years without realising what’s happening to them.

You might have gained some weight during your pregnancy. During delivery, the baby, the placenta and the amniotic fluid are all removed from your body. So, you will naturally lose a lot of weight immediately after delivery. However, you will still have a baby bump because of your enlarged uterus.

The uterus usually starts shrinking back to normal within hours of delivery, so patience is key here. Don’t try to rush the process of weight loss by putting unnecessary pressure on your body by adopting a diet or cutting off food groups like carbs.

You need ample nutrition in the postnatal period, and can start on a weight loss journey - if absolutely needed - at least eight weeks after delivery.

Read more: How to lose weight after pregnancy

If your doctor decides that you or your baby is at risk, and you need a cesarean or c-section to deliver your baby safely, then you should understand that recovery from it needs a little more care than vaginal delivery.

A C-section is basically the surgical removal of your baby, and it takes between 45 minutes to an hour to perform. The mother is put under general anaesthesia, and two incisions are made - one in the lower abdomen and the second near the uterus.

Since this is a surgery, a new mother who has delivered her baby via C-section has to take care of her surgical stitches and wound, and also take care of the baby. In this case, appropriate help from the spouse, relatives or a nurse is recommended. Here are a few things you need to take care of if you’ve had a C-section delivery.

1. How to treat the C-section incision
2. How to breastfeed after a C-section
3. Postnatal symptoms after C-section

Whether you’ve had a vaginal delivery or a C-section delivery, postnatal checkups are very important. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, postnatal health checkups should not be limited to one. It is an ongoing process to make sure that your baby’s health and development are as per their age, and that you are recovering from your pregnancy properly. 

You have to go in for a checkup with your baby at three weeks, six weeks and 12 weeks after delivery. If you went through a C-section, then you might need to add an extra checkup session to make sure the surgical incision is healing fast enough. Your postnatal checkups are also a good opportunity to ask questions you might have about your recovery and how to care for your baby. Remember that there are no wrong questions, and it’s good to be aware of your doctor’s recommendations about caring for your child and yourself.

World Health Organization data show that most maternal and infant deaths occur within the first month after delivery, with almost half occurring within the first 24 hours. This is, therefore, a very important period. The utmost care and attention are required during the postpartum phase to ensure the good health of mother and child.

The postpartum period is divided into three phases: the first 6-12 hours after birth are known as the acute phase. The next phase lasts anywhere between two weeks and six weeks and the final phase can go up to six months during which the body returns to normal. It's important to look out for any signs of postnatal complications like uterine prolapse and amniotic fluid embolism during this time. 

If you are a new mom, make sure to eat healthily, and talk to your doctor and partner about how you are feeling. Baby blues affects 80% of all new moms and are nothing to be ashamed of. While baby blues usually pass on their own, postpartum depression is a more serious condition that requires medical intervention - remember that they are both the result of hormonal imbalance and seeking the help of your doctor, friends and spouse will help you remedy the situation better and faster.

Take the help of an older relative or medical practitioner to learn how to breastfeed - it isn't easy. So if you don't succeed immediately, try not to get frustrated. Some postnatal symptoms are temporary, like hair and skin changes. Try some home remedies for these, if you like. Don't stress about losing the pregnancy weight yet. There is so much to do and soak in. Focus on that, focus on staying happy and healthy.