Pregnancy can take a toll on a woman’s body. So we put together some tips that will help with the healing process after delivering a baby. This by no means is a substitute for what your doctor advises you to do.
- Rest
- Wear Extra Pads
- Obtain Mesh Undies
- Ice Packs
- Eat Good & Drink Lots of Water
This is a pretty obvious tip, but can often be forgotten or ignored. You are now a mother and are completely taking care of a little human being. Your child will have his/her ups and downs, meaning there will be times of utter restlessness and screaming and times of totally tranquility and quietness.
It is important for you to get the time to sleep and heal your body, so get the help and support you need from your significant other and/or family members and get some rest. You should always sleep and rest your body when your baby does.
After carrying your child for 9 months and not experiencing any period, post-birth bleeding can be quite heavy. Your lower parts will be quite tender, so extra padding will help. Don’t worry about doubling up if you think you are having excessive discharge, this is normal and extra coverage and protection won’t hurt.
Although they can be quite ugly, they are disposable and will help salvage all of your good underwear. Because you can’t use a tampon for at least 6-8 weeks (ask your doctor), there will be times of heavy flows and sometimes the pads won’t catch it all.
Take a few extra pairs from the hospital or order them online. Just Google, Bing, or Yahoo search mesh underwear and you’re on the right path.
It is common for nurses to provide you with ice packs post delivery in a hospital. Whether you sit or tuck one in your undies, ice is going to help bring the swelling and tenderness down and provide an analgesic effect.
Don’t leave ice on your skin for longer than 15 minutes. It is common practice to do it in 15-minute windows, meaning 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off and 15 back on and so forth. The doing two rounds with the ice pack on and try to keep a light layer of cloth between you and the ice pack.
Drink plenty of fluids, meaning lots of water. Staying hydrated is an essential step to good recovery. Also eating foods high in dietary fiber and nutrients is important. This will help ensure your bowels are working regularly and smoothly. Straining to poop because of poor diet and constipation is going to increase the pressure on parts that are trying to heal and you want to avoid that.
These are just a few tips to help you in your recovery process after giving birth. You should always consult with you primary physician on any questions or concerns you may have. Learn more about Virginia Beach OBGYN’s amazing obstetrics team, and see if we can help you on your journey through pregnancy. You can also schedule a consultation with one of our top Chesapeake, VA gynecologist