Self-Care Tips To Ensure Health And Comfort After Giving Birth

All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Self-Care Tips To Ensure Health And Comfort After Giving Birth 

Soon-to-be-moms often think about the things that they need to do to care for their baby. However, most pregnant women don’t have a self-care plan in place, which they’ll need after coming home from the hospital or giving birth at home. Failure to properly care for yourself after giving birth may result in postpartum complications, such as excessive bleeding, which is the leading cause of maternal mortality all over the world. Apart from that, you may also experience having a urinary infection and constipation, among other conditions. To ensure your safety and wellbeing, you need to listen to your body, consult your healthcare provider, and take care of yourself to reduce pain and discomfort. Here are some easy ways to take care of yourself after giving birth.  

Don’t rush your recovery period 

Giving birth in the presence of medical professionals and trained experts is one of the best ways to ensure that you don’t experience one of  the most dangerous postpartum complications, which is excessive bleeding. To prevent postpartum hemorrhage, a doctor can clamp and cut the umbilical cord immediately after the delivery of the baby, while a delivery nurse may administer uterine massage after the placenta comes out. New moms are often advised to make the most of their recovery period by staying in the hospital for two days after giving birth. While some women may choose to go home after 24 hours, it may be in your best interest to stay longer so your healthcare provider can monitor your condition and ensure that you don’t experience health complications after giving birth in the hospital.  

Bring a few self-care essentials 

Apart from your toiletries, you’ll need a few additional items to help you deal with the pain and discomfort after giving birth. You’ll need maternity pads to absorb blood and discharge, as well as several pairs of large, comfy underwear or maternity underwear. You’ll also need a squirt bottle or peri bottle, which you’ll fill up with warm water. This is used to administer water to your perineum to lessen the sting while urinating. An ice pack is also essential to reduce pain and swelling, as well as some numbing products, such as a lidocaine spray, which can decrease the pain and discomfort from the stitches in your perineum. You may also use witch hazel pads to relieve itching and discomfort in the perineal area, and don’t forget to bring a donut pillow so you can sit down without putting pressure on sore or painful spots.  

Continue to care for yourself once you’re home 

Once you’re home, continue to care for yourself, as the first six weeks after giving birth is when sudden complications may occur. Sit in a warm sitz bath to heal your perineum, and if you’re cleared to take pain medication, take it to relieve postpartum discomfort. You can also take a stool softener everyday to make bowel movements easier and less painful. Observe the amount of discharge and blood in your pads, and if you pass large clots, or if there’s a sudden increase in blood flow, make sure to speak to your doctor about your health concerns. 

Your health and wellbeing is just as important as your newborn baby’s health. Consider these tips to care for yourself after giving birth so you can stay safe, healthy and comfortable while navigating the first few weeks of motherhood.  

During your time at home, you should consider giving yourself a spa day. It may sound too soon, but visiting a great med spa can help you improve your health after giving birth. For example, a postpartum massage relaxes your muscles, lowers stress, and increases blood circulation. It also helps your body heal from the trauma of childbirth. Generally, experts advise that a mother would be eligible to take a spa day four weeks after returning home. However, you should consult your doctor to ensure this is the right choice for you.