Postpartum Care: Tips for the Recovery Process
Every mother feels the indescribable joy of holding her newborn child in her arms. But amidst all that, she may sometimes have to endure an unbearable animosity towards the child, which is known as postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety.
You’ve been looking forward to the time when you bring baby home ever since you found out you were pregnant. You may have had visions of a well-equipped nursery, a smiling happy baby and a supportive partner. In reality, things don’t always work out this way. Even if everything is going your way, you may not be feeling as happy as you think you should. So what can you expect in the postpartum period and how can you best handle this sometimes stressful time?
Postpartum is about six weeks from the time of birth until your body makes the adjustments it needs to return to normal. There are a few things that can go wrong, and if you’re aware of these you’ll be prepared, and they won’t seem so frightening.
Postpartum recovery – what to expect?
Establishing a postpartum plan of care is essential for a healthy recovery following childbirth. A woman go through many changes in her body during pregnancy and childbirth, most notable is her posture. The postpartum process is the period of recovery for the mother that begins as soon as the baby is born.
During the first six to eight weeks after delivery, the mother may experience a variety of physical symptoms including sore breasts, hip soreness, vaginal bleeding or soreness from an episiotomy or vaginal tear, problems urinating or with bowel movements, and even hair loss or skin changes.
Tips for the postpartum recovery process
Get plenty of rest
In order to cope with the tiredness and to let your body heal itself, you must rest and sleep as much as you can. I know it can be very hard to rest and sleep after having a new baby but you can try to get some sleep each time your baby is sleeping.
Ask for help
Having a newborn baby is very exciting but it can be very stressful too, especially as a new mom that needs to learn how to be a mom and take care of her new baby. Don’t think twice and ask for help. Ask your family or friends to help you. They can cook meals, keep an eye on your baby while you are sleeping or just be there with you if you need to cry to someone.
Maintain a healthy diet
It is important to eat well in postpartum as much as it is important to eat well during pregnancy, especially if you breastfeed your newborn. Your body needs highly nutritious foods to heal itself faster.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic can play an important role in managing a healthy postpartum recovery. Consulting with a chiropractor and developing a postpartum plan of care can help speed the recovery process and provide for optimal postpartum health.
Chiropractic is an all-natural healthcare practice, which focuses on hands-on techniques, natural therapies, proper diet and nutrition, and the overall health and biomechanics of the body as a whole.
During an initial chiropractic postpartum examination, a chiropractor will review daily lifestyle activities since the delivery. These may include diet, hydration, sleeping patterns, and level of activity.
It is important for a new mom to create an approved exercise program, stay hydrated, get as much sleep as the newborn will allow, and eat the right kinds of foods. For example, drinking plenty of water and eating foods high in fiber can help women with voiding issues.
Exercise programs
Home exercise programs such as Kegels and exercises that strengthen the core are also important for optimal postpartum recovery. Core strengthening exercises can be completed in as little as five minutes a day and may include exercises as simple as controlled breathing techniques and stretching exercises. These beginner exercises are not strenuous and can be performed early in the postpartum period. Many of these can be performed while the mother is holding and caring for the baby. Thus, the mother can still use the baby’s sleep time to attend to other important matters, such as the mother’s own sleep time.
As the postpartum period progresses, the mother can transition into more active home exercise programs to strengthen her core. Indeed, she will need this strength to have the energy to lift and carry her baby, and later to keep up with the baby as the baby moves into the toddler years.
Related: 3 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BABY CARRIERS FOR NEWBORNS
For women who experience specific pain and/or dysfunction during the postpartum period, adjustments and other physiotherapy modalities used by chiropractors can help safely and gently return lost function and relieve pain. Also, a mother receiving chiropractic care will be less inclined to need pharmaceuticals for her pain or dysfunction, which is particularly crucial for women who are breastfeeding.
Establishing care through a chiropractor is beneficial on many levels. Chiropractors provide personalized care, specifically designed for each patient’s needs and goals. The health benefits received from chiropractic during postpartum care can significantly improve the speed and quality of recovery. Moreover, it provides the foundation for a healthy and active lifestyle.
Related:
HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT AFTER DRINKING ALCOHOL TO BREASTFEED?
FIRST MONTH WITH YOUR NEWBORN – WHAT TO EXPECT?
