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The hospital stay
Your hospital stay will depend on
your special needs and your insurance. For a vaginal birth, one
day is long enough for most women. If you had a cesarean birth, you
should expect to stay in the hospital several days longer. Hospitals are
a breeding ground for germs—not rest. The sooner you can be
released, the better—a warm grandmother and your own bed is much
nicer for rest and pampering.
During the first few days after the
birth, the mother’s dependency needs are significant. Mature and
healthy women abandon involvement in everyday responsibility and rely on
other’s to respond to their needs for comfort, nourishment, and
physical care. When others meet the needs for the mother, she is able to
give her energy to baby rather than to herself. By the third day after
birth her desire for independence reasserts itself. But keeping in mind,
this may vary if the birth was difficult.
Personal care
Lochia—(vaginal discharge following
birth) will be the same for vaginal or cesarean birth. Anticipate
wearing a feminine pad for 2–6 weeks after birth. If the lochia
returns to bright red, becomes foul smelling, or is so heavy that you
soak a pad every hour, you should call your doctor or midwife. You
should expect to see some small to medium clots the first day or two
after birth. Don’t be alarmed by an increase in bleeding if you go out
and do too much activity. This is a sign that you still have not
completely recovered and to rest.
Bladder—expect to use the bathroom
more often for the first few days. The fluid that has been stored in you
hands and feet during pregnancy is no longer needed. Your body will take
care of ridding this fluid through you kidneys and bladder– the body
is a fine thing!
Expect your bottom to be sore after
giving birth. Weather you have had an episiotomy or not will depend on
the degree of discomfort you have. The best tip I can give a new mother
in the first few days after your baby is born is that lying down is preferred
to sitting. But on the other hand taking short walks will not only build
your strength but will help your stitches heal if you have had a repair.
There are several things you can do to promote healing after the birth.
Rinsing with warm water after using the bathroom. You can do this by
filling a small plastic bottle with plain warm water or by using a few
drops of witch hazel to the water. An ice pack on your feminine pad will
feel soothing for the first day or two, this reduces swelling and
discomfort. Soaking in a warm tub will bring about healing and keep the
perineum clean. Follow your bath by patting dry and use a blow dryer
(cool setting). Take the medication that has been prescribed for the
discomforts. And resume doing the Kegel exercise as soon after birth as
you can.
Breasts
Your breasts will begin to
make milk after the birth whether or not you plan to breastfeed. Once
the placenta (afterbirth) has delivered, hormones are released to make
milk. If you are not breastfeeding, a binder should be worn 24 hours a
day for the first week. Do not stimulate the breast in any way; this
includes showering, bathing, or touching. It may take a couple of weeks
for the milk to dry up. Breast binders are a comfortable garment to
assist in the aid of milk cassation. They can be purchased in maternity
stores or mail order catalogs. If you are breastfeeding, no special care
is needed to prepare your breast for nursing. It is only necessary to
bathe or shower daily as usual.
Breast engorgement may occur 3–7 days after birth. The blood vessels around the milk ducts
swell to prepare the breast for milk production. Pacifiers interfere
with a good start in breastfeeding and should be avoided in the first
week of life. Massaging the breast and expressing some milk before a
feeding will help the baby latch-on. Warm compresses and frequent
feedings are endorsed. Nursing the baby often (every 1-3 hours) will
considerably reduce engorgement—breastfeeding is a fine thing!
Note: Mom’s
who are bottle feeding should be cautious not to stimulate the nipple or
breast during this time of engorgement.
Recovering from birth
Rest is something most of us
enjoy and take advantage of when available. Some people need
more than others Keep in mind the need for
rest and good nutrition is what keeps us
healthy physically and emotionally. I have told
many new moms over the years to keep their night clothes on for the first
week to insure recuperation. The day you put your street clothes on, your
loved ones will except you to return to your pre-pregnant lifestyle.
Coupleness
Intimacy may be the last thing on your
mind. Men usually long to return to their pre-pregnant intimacy before
women are ready. Couples may return to having sex once vaginal bleeding
has stopped, the vagina has healed, and you are both ready. Some women
are more ready then others and impassioned by their new status. While
others may need a week of fore-play before they are ready, and some new
mothers just feel over-touched by the close physical contact with the
baby. Most doctors will want you to wait six weeks before resuming
intercourse. Remember to protect yourself from becoming pregnant again.
Over the years I have had many women come back for a refresher
childbirth course, leaving their sixth month old baby with a sitter at
home. Can you imagine going to your six week post partum check up at the
doctor's and finding out you are one month pregnant!
Baby blues
Post partum depression
(a let-down or feelings of sadness) normally occur a few days after
birth. and may last for a week. You may feel weepy or cry
unexpectedly and may not be able to give a reason for crying. You may
feel like you are unable to cope with the new demands of motherhood. But
keep in mind, your little one has little knowledge of the world around
them. Babies only want to be fed, kept warm and dry. Home keeping can
always be put off for another day—I think I just began doing mine!
If feelings of depression do not go away with adequate rest and
nutrition, you need to tell your doctor, midwife, or their nurse. Most
women today expectation of themselves are high. The demand on mothers is
great. Babies depend on consistent emotional care.
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