Post-delivery, every mother looks forward to meeting the soul she carried in her womb for nine months. Many women opt for a caesarean section, willingly or unwillingly. It is a procedure that requires time to recover. The following tips might help in a quick recovery.
Plenty of rest
Caesarean section, being a major surgery, requires hospitalisation for 2 to 4 days, which might extend if complications arise. It takes almost 6 to 8 weeks for the wound to heal completely.
Take it easy, as the popular saying goes, “Sleep when the baby sleeps,” i.e., follow the baby’s sleeping routine.
Always ask for help, whether changing the baby’s diapers or doing household chores. Rest whenever possible.
Pay special attention to your body.
Special care is required for the body to heal faster.
Do not climb stairs or sit on the floor. Any kind of pressure on the abdominal muscles should be avoided.
Frequently used items such as diapers, food, and snacks should be kept within reach.
Avoid lifting things heavier than the baby and ask for help whenever required.
Hold a pillow over the belly to avoid pressure while sneezing or coughing.
It can take up to 8 weeks to return to one’s usual routine. A doctor’s consultation is a must for all activities such as exercising, driving, or starting work.
Walking is recommended for the body to heal faster and for the prevention of constipation and blood clots.
Avoid physical contact as well as the use of tampons and douches.
Relieve pain
Only a doctor’s prescribed pain medications are to be taken, especially while breastfeeding.
A hot bag may be used to relieve discomfort, while special care and hygiene must be maintained.
Postpartum bleeding should be monitored. If it continues beyond 6 weeks, consult the doctor.
Good Nutrition
The mother should drink lots of water while breastfeeding to promote milk supply and avoid constipation. This reduces pressure on the abdomen and the chances of injury. Additionally, a variety of fruits and vegetables are to be consumed for the body’s recovery.
Postpartum check-ups are a must
Visit the doctor regularly for post-delivery check-ups. These help in the diagnosis of physical and mental health, energy level, chronic diseases, and other pregnancy-related complications like hypertension, diabetes, etc.
Time to call a doctor.
Some degree of pain, bleeding, or discharge at the incision site is usual within 6 weeks of a caesarean section.
The doctor should be consulted immediately if the following symptoms occur, as these could point to an impending infection:
Redness, swelling, pus discharge, or pain at the incision site.
Temperatures above 100.4°F (38°C)
Foul-smelling discharge of or heavy bleeding from the vagina
Redness, swelling, or pain in the leg.
Difficulty breathing or chest pain.
Also consult the doctor if the new mother feels sad, depressed, or feels like hurting the baby or herself.
Dear MoMsters don’t compare your own recovery with others’, as it varies with every individual and their body.
Focus on your self-healing by giving your body the time it needs to recover.
The baby should only be fed breast milk for the first six months since breast milk contains an adequate amount of water. Breast milk has a water content of over 80%. Start nursing the infant even while they are having hiccups, and then properly burp the child for at least 8 to 10 minutes. (A baby under six months old should never be given water to relieve hiccups.)
Now let’s talk about the why?
Up to the age of six months, a baby’s kidneys cannot handle water. In general, water can disrupt a baby’s electrolyte balance for infants less than 6 months, which can ultimately result in seizures. A baby who becomes intoxicated by water runs the risk of having serious health consequences and having their growth and development stunted. Consequently, six months is the recommended age for introducing water to a newborn (at that time, you should still only offer your baby a little bit of water). But as your child gets older, his or her kidneys develop. It might also be unhealthy to add too much water to baby formula. Always stick to breast milk or correctly prepared infant formula to prevent these issues. Visit www.caringmomster.in for more pregnancy and parenting advice.
Dear New Mom’s generally after child birth women required extra care.
Preserve your body heat.
Post delivery, women are requested to cover their head with scarf the whole day according to Indian tradition. This is because generally the body heat is lost primarily, covering your head is believed to keep you warm and protect you from unnecessary cold.
Keep yourself Stress-free.️
Stress plays an important role in decreasing breastmilk (BM). Hence find a way to take rest, nap with baby. Try to assign housework to other members during your nap.
During this period your digestive system will be very sensitive, hence proper diet plan should be maintained.
Always prefer fresh food and avoid leftover food.
The new mother is advised to eat on time and not too much or too little.
At first take plenty of oral liquids including water, juice, and milk.
Milk contains calcium which boosts milk production, drink 1 glass of milk morning and before bedtime.
*[Limit drinks that contain caffeine like coffee, soda. Too much intake of caffeine can cause irritability to your baby and also it can interfere with your baby’s sleep.]*
Cook dill leaves with 10 pieces of garlic cloves, consume medium quantity in the morning and night for 3 days.It is rich in fiber, vitamin K, iron, and antioxidants which promotes enough BM and easy to digest. Garlic cloves stimulate lactation (galactagogue).
For non-vegetarian eat mutton thrice a week which boost BM.
Among fish you can go for Salmon which is rich in omega-3, it also helps to boost lactation.
take spinach noon time it contains iron, folic acid, vitamins which is beneficial for both mom and baby.
Soak 5 almonds overnight & morning grind it, mix with milk and drink. Almonds are rich in calories, vitamins & minerals which boost BM.
take iron rich foods like pulses and legumes, green leafy vegetables, red meat, beetroot,
for vitamin D – exposure to morning sunlight will help, because during delivery mom would have lost calcium and vitamin. Till 6 month, doctor would have given calcium and vitamin supplements , continue the same.
Do not skip breakfast.
Avoid oily food, spicy and junk food like chips, chocolates, cakes and soft drinks, also avoid gassy veggies like cabbage, potatoes and cauliflower for the first three weeks after childbirth, as they disturb the digestive system.
Among Fruits: any fruits which doesn’t trigger cold. You can take apple, melons, small banana, papaya etc.
Avoid foods which cause indigestion, it depends on individual, check and go accordingly.
Take care dear MoMsters and follow our tips, stay healthy.
“When I step out without sweater, I feel an extreme chill, even though there is no temperature dip down at our place.”
Do not worry moms that are usually a sign of postpartum chills.
And it is observed that most women haven’t heard about postpartum chills. We’ll try to explain to you, it is after delivery and during the first few days, you may feel extra cold and chills.
What could be the reason behind postpartum chills?
Postpartum chills can be witnessed by either caesarean section or vaginal birth.
Generally, proper blood circulation helps to maintain our body temperature, but during delivery, the amount of blood loss results in changes in our body
temperature.
Hormonal changes after delivery.
If you have an episiotomy during delivery and that is not healed yet.
If you are breastfeeding and nipple has some soreness/ pain, then you may experience the chill.
Anaemia and thyroid imbalance also could be a reason.
“Don’t stress yourself MoMsters;
these kinds of chills are just temporary, you will have a speedy recovery.”
When to contact your Doctor?
If you feel chills with body ache and fever then this indicates infection or flu.
Breast infection also called Mastitis, symptoms such as swollen breasts, chills, soreness or pain are suggested to contact a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Chills when you have a urine infection.
Suggestions:
Check the haemoglobin level…
Check whether you have lumps in the breast.
Check whether your urine as foul smell.
Check your BP.
In order to avoid sore breasts, nurse your baby every 2 hours once.
After delivery, in order to reduce soreness around the vagina, a sitz bath is necessary that is sitting in a warm water tub for 5-10 minutes till recovery.
Take a good rest and proper sleep (when the baby asleep, you too sleep).
Drink warm water and stay hydrated.
Eat nutritious food.
Take vitamin and calcium supplements for 6 months post-delivery which should be suggested by the doctor.
Do not lift anything heavier.
Keep yourself warm by wearing a scarf, socks and sweaters at least for 6 months.
After delivery till 1 year avoid water-related work example washing clothes, utensils etc.
“Dear MoMsters incorporate our tips and stay healthy.”
To encourage us, kindly share your views in the comments section below.
Dear parents stay positive. Your child will consider you as a role model and will cultivate
habits by just watching you. Be cautious about your behavior in front of your child.
Some children find themselves less attached to their parents and feel insecure just because of negative emotions shown by their parents. Parents should respond quickly or positively to all the infants’ questions. If a parent does not respond consistently in a warm caring way like – holding, rocking, cooing, stroking or talking softly- the baby might not feel safe and secure.
Handling naughty kids will sometimes make you frustrated. In that case, first, try to control your emotions and relax. Don’t yell at your kid or any of your family members.
Try your kid to take his/her own decision, wrong or right. It will help them to build self-confidence.
Advise them politely.
DO NOT beat them, they will become stubborn. Try to find out their weaknesses and divert them with that thing at that point in time. DO NOT bribe them.
Try to take a walk with your kids in the park (morning or evening time), go for shopping or grocery stores in your free time.
So, dear cool Momsters, Say goodbye to stress or depression. Stay motivated and keep reminding yourself that it is just a matter of time. You are preparing your kid for the future to be a good human being, to achieve success and that begins with your own self-love, to stay happy and be a role model to your kid.
Postpartum Depression is just a phase and it happens with most of the moms. So, create the best version of motherhood. Take a few simple steps to stay happy and motivated. It is all about will power. No one knows everything, they learn over a period of time. So, don’t feel bad if you have done a few mistakes. Feel happy that you are trying to give your best to your child.
“If you have expertise in managing your kids, then half of the stress will vanish”.
Over 90% of the world population is in the same situation. You are not alone. But the choice for a better life is up to you. If you select happiness over depression, love over hatred, spread love, give hope, live your dreams, share peace, be strong in raising your child.
“Motherhood is a gift to a woman. Not all women can become a mother. So, be thankful and give your best shot. Fill your motherhood journey with love, care, and happiness. ”
Share what you feel. The most important factor to overcome depression.
Come on Moms, you all are brave and strong to raise a strong and confident child….!! You need no support or sympathy to fulfill this task of your life.
Let us be happy and make our family happier.
Difficult but possible!
Spread this chain of love and care and concern to other moms. They need it.
As discussed in the previous post, you would have been familiar with the term Postpartum Depression by now.
Now, the question is how can someone know if they or others are suffering from PPD? Let’s see in the symptoms section.
Symptoms of postpartum depression:
It typically lasts from a few hours to several days to several months. Few of the symptoms are :
Irritability
Insomnia (Lack of sleep)
Feeling like crying without any reason.
Unable to concentrate.
Headache
Trying to avoid talking or sharing anything with anyone.
Fear
Anxiety
Loss of appetite
Weight gain or weight loss.
These are a few of the common symptoms. Most of the new moms suffer from this. But, the GOOD NEWSis that these can be overcome by following a few tips or steps :
First of all, Ignore the symptoms and pretend that you are fine.
(In severe case if untreated, the condition may last for months or longer. If the symptoms are mild, follow our tips. If you find very tough to cope up with PD or not able to tackle with it, then you need professional help, treatment can include counseling, antidepressants or hormone therapy.)
Few tips to cope up with postpartum depression:
Depression is an individual trip, what works for me or other moms might not work for you. No matter which approach do you choose, the goal is to figure out which self-care strategies work best for you.
Proper sleep: A good sleep can have a huge and positive effect on how you feel both emotionally and physically. When you’re tired, your body releases cortisol and other stress hormones that can promote weight gain. Many moms follow this strategy and find it helpful. ” Whenever your baby sleeps, take some rest/sleep” You will feel energized and happy. Yes, you need to make yourself mentally prepared that a new mom doesn’t get more than 4 hours of sleep at a stretch. It might be fewer hours than this.
Healthy Foods: Have an early dinner, somewhere between 7.30 pm and 8 pm, so that you are done before 8.30 pm. It will boost your metabolism and let you reduce extra weight.
Do not skip meals. While looking after a baby, many moms forget to eat. If you do not eat, you will have less energy, and it will not help you to take care of your baby.
Self-care: It is very very important to make sure that you are taking good care of your body, mind, and soul every day. “Taking care of yourself is also a part of taking care of baby-unknown”
“Dear Mommies, Loving others begins by loving yourself first” Love your inner beauty as it needs care and affection to grow.
Try to practice this activity today :
stand in front of a mirror, look at it and SMILE. Now, what will you receive? You will receive a smile back” which will help you to feel good and will provide positive energy to look after your kid.
Take control of yourself instead of trying to control others’ thoughts or comments. Try to overcome negative thoughts. DO NOT WORRY STAY HAPPY.
Listening to some nice music: you need to listen to some good music that makes you smile. Everyone has some favorite songs, listen to yours.
Staying with Positive people:Surround yourself with sensible and positive people. Share your motherhood journey or seek to advise from someone who has a positive approach towards motherhood.
“No one is totally peaceful. So stop worrying about things you can’t change and focus on the things that you can change.”
Kid’s world: talk with your kids, make them comfortable, cuddle, play with them, be happy by watching their smile, innocent act.
Prayer: take some time for prayer, make yourself relax.
Inspirational Videos /Book/Article: watch some morally based movies or read something that inspires you and teaches you something new and good.
Rewarding yourself: Do not forget to reward yourself. If you feel like you have done or learned something new to handle your thoughts or baby or any situation. Please be happy and pat your back. It is very difficult and if you have achieved a reward yourself.
Cultivating time Management:We moms are strong enough to achieve anything, Time management is the key. prioritizing the list and manage accordingly will help you to have control over time and then you can see yourself transforming into a supermom.
If your husband/family members support in sharing household work then well and good. If not. no worries, we moms can handle both kids and other required works single-handedly. One of the best examples of time management which many moms practice every day.
Waking up early and trying to finish all household work before the baby wakes up; in that way you get plenty of time to spend with your baby and enjoy their activities.
Practice Yoga:You can get good relief and peace by practicing proper breathing techniques and meditation.
Anger Management:Do you often find yourself expressing your emotions through anger? Most of the moms do, so don’t worry, it is very common. But, here lies the secret of good child management skills. Working on your anger will provide more positive energy to handle your kid and situation. Less anger more happiness and in turn, you will become more optimistic towards motherhood journey.
{During this phase, it is better to ignore a few situations which demand opinion or a long conversation.}
Respecting elders: Regarding baby, if you find any suggestion from elders then just respect them, say ok or yes and later without hurting their ego follow your proper treatment by consulting pediatrician
Stay active: It is true that if we do exercise everyday it helps in maintaining our mental health in good condition. We remain active and positive throughout the day. But, just after delivery, it might not be possible. But, being active doesn’t require a heavy work out. You can take a small walk with your baby in the morning or evening. At home also don’t sit for a longer period. Keep walking or doing certain household works. Staying active will keep you active in taking care of the baby and yourself.
Taking a shower and relaxing:Don’t skip a shower. Taking a shower helps in relaxing the whole body.
Helping someone in need. By helping especially other new moms in terms of knowing about this term, you will feel good and happy. If you find any mom who needs your suggestion, talk to them. Only listening to them make them feel relaxed and clam..
Believe in yourself
You will have to believe in yourself that you are doing your best for your kid and will keep doing. Don’t let others’ opinions ruin your belief system. They are just an opinion. Smile and keep doing your work.
Waking up early and drinking a glass full of water in an empty stomach.
learning something new.
Try to appreciate genuinely someone every day
Value your ambitions and work on them daily.
It is difficult to take out time to work on your life goal if any. But you can think or try to discuss it with someone in your free time. The kids will not be of the same age, they will grow and whatever you have worked during these periods will help you to restart your career or to work towards your goal.
Not to forget to love yourself.
Hope, by this time you know what you have to do to keep yourself happy and cope up with PD in case you are suffering from this.
Stay Happy Mommy, as your kid totally depends on you. He will connect positively if you stay positive. Are you still thinking about where to start … !! Then, take a tour of your home once 🙂
temperature.
Dear parents stay positive. Your child will consider you as a role model and will cultivate
Irritability
” Whenever your baby sleeps, take some rest/sleep” You will feel energized and happy. Yes, you need to make yourself mentally prepared that a new mom doesn’t get more than 4 hours of sleep at a stretch. It might be fewer hours than this.
so that you are done before 8.30 pm. It will boost your metabolism and let you reduce extra weight.
“Dear Mommies, Loving others begins by loving yourself first” Love your inner beauty as it needs care and affection to grow.
music that makes you smile. Everyone has some favorite songs, listen to yours.
journey or seek to advise from someone who has a positive approach towards motherhood.
based movies or read something that inspires you and teaches you something new and good.
to handle your thoughts or baby or any situation. Please be happy and pat your back. It is very difficult and if you have achieved a reward yourself. 
We moms are strong enough to achieve anything, Time management is the key. prioritizing the list and manage accordingly will help you to have control over time and then you can see yourself transforming into a supermom.
practicing proper breathing techniques and meditation.
Most of the moms do, so don’t worry, it is very common. But, here lies the secret of good 
hurting their ego follow your proper treatment by consulting pediatrician
helps in relaxing the whole body.
