Post Natal Recovery- Top 5 Tips
Congratulations on your new little bundle of joy. Although your tiny baby can be so demanding it is so important to think of your own post natal recovery. Your body has grown a baby for 9 months, it will take some time to adjust to now not growing a baby. You will need to be in full working order to care for your baby so it’s important to remember yourself … You can’t pour from an empty cup.
Eat well
Have a diet iron rich to replenish any blood lost through childbirth and the weeks after. Being low in iron can make you feel pants as well as making you more susceptible to infections. Also, eat high fibre and drink plenty of water. It will help with the dreaded first poo. Foods to eat: almonds, apricots, prunes, wholemeals, red meat, spinach, seafood, beans, dark leafy veg.
It’s OK to not be OK.
The baby blues can happen at about day 3. It is caused from hormones, sleep deprivation and feeling overwhelmed. You may cry if the toaster burns your toast and your partner forgets to put a sugar in your tea. If these feelings last it could be something more such as post natal depression or anxiety. Nowadays we are lucky to be part of a culture where these issues are spoke about a lot more than what they were even 10 years ago. Speak to a mum friend, they may be experiencing similar feelings. If they aren’t then speak to someone else about it.
You will find someone who will say, “Yes I know what you are going through”. It will immediately elevate any mum guilt or rubbsihy feelings just to know someone is feeling the same.
It is also important to tell your GP, health visitor or midwife how you are feeling. They will not frown upon you or judge you in anyway, they will understand and are there to help you. It is Ok to not be Ok.
Stitches and bruising
You can use tea tree or lavender in your bath to help with healing your stitches. Just a couple of drops. It is also very relaxing. Arnica tablets can be used to help with bruising. The British Homeopathic Association says you can take a a high potency powder/crushed tablet of arnica at the start of labour, one in labour and then for 3 days after. It helps with reducing swelling and bruising from childbirth.
Sanitary Pads
Stock your cupboards with sanitary towels. The ones that resemble adult size nappies or super thick mattresses are the best for your new Bridget Jones style pants. You will be grateful for the padding when you sit down. Bleeding after childbirth can last for up to 6 weeks. Although it does reduce in the first couple of weeks. You may find that if you go for a walk or have a busier day then your blood loss may be more than a day when you stayed at home.
After pains
You will have your baby and then your uterus, that has accommodated a full size baby in, will need to reduce back to its pre pregnancy size. So, to do this, it will continue to contract after your baby has been born. Some mothers don’t notice them, where as some mothers (more commonly when it is baby number 2 or more) will feel them quite strongly, although not as strong as labour contractions. Have some paracetamol and ibuprofen to hand as it may last a couple of days, especially while breastfeeding as this is when it happens most.
Want to know more about how you can prepare for your birth and baby? Over on The Bump to Baby Chapter’s Instagram we are having chats like the above on the regular. Come and join the conversation.