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Features of the postpartum period: advice for mothers. Video
The birth of a child is a joyful event in the life of any person, but it is especially important for women – givers of life. As soon as the doctors completed all the necessary procedures, they went to the next woman in labor. A young mother is left alone with her baby, getting used to her new responsibilities and to a stranger and at the same time very dear person. How to be prepared for the postpartum period and what you should not be afraid of.
Physiological postpartum period – how to prepare yourself?
A woman is able to remember all of the first hours of her child’s life. However, the most memorable moment for most mothers is their own learning to understand what the baby wants in certain moments of the first minutes of his existence. Sometimes this process is difficult, but each mother, after some time, begins to understand the needs of her own child.
First of all, the baby needs a healthy mother. In the event that the birth was successful, and the treatment was prescribed by the doctors correctly, then after a few days of the postpartum period, a completely healthy woman can be discharged from the hospital. However, at this time, a young mother needs care and a special regime, the violation of which can provoke the appearance of dangerous diseases that can significantly affect not only the life of the mother herself, but also the well-being of the child.
In general, the postpartum period of a woman’s adaptation depends on her behavior, on whether she knows about all the changes that her body experiences after the birth of a child. Of course, you must also follow the regimen prescribed by the doctor who monitors the pregnancy, follow all his recommendations, as well as monitor personal hygiene. Experts believe that it is at this moment that maternal feelings are formed and a restructuring of the woman’s behavior model takes place.
The physiological postpartum period lasts for six to eight weeks, during which the female body is fully restored to the state in which it was before pregnancy. This applies to the whole body, with the exception of the mammary glands, the functionality of which increases due to breastfeeding of the baby. If the postpartum period is going well, the young mother feels great.
Immediately after childbirth, women have a decreased appetite, which is gradually restored. A short-term increase in body temperature up to 37 degrees is considered to be quite common. Gradually, the capacity of the lungs increases, thus the woman’s breathing returns to normal and becomes deep. Quite often, young mothers have postpartum circles under the eyes. You should not be afraid of this, gradually it will pass.
Blood pressure normalizes, the pulse returns to normal and is capable of reaching 80 beats every minute. Some young mothers notice a slowdown in their heart rate, which is about 60 beats every minute. Six to seven days after giving birth, the mother’s blood comes back to normal.
For several days after giving birth, women may have problems urinating. The reason for this is the large swelling of the urinary system. Urination returns to normal in three to four days after the birth of the child, the general tone of the ureters returns to normal in 14–20 days. At this time, women need to be especially careful about their body and not overcool, otherwise serious pains may appear in the perineum.
Hypothermia can cause inflammation of the uterine appendages. In conditions of weakened immunity, inflammation can provoke the appearance of serious consequences that require surgical intervention.
After childbirth, the abdominal press of the woman in labor is in a relaxed state, and the intestinal muscles function rather sluggishly, so women can suffer from constipation for some time. In some cases, anal fissures and hemorrhoids, which are actively developing during childbearing, can interfere with bowel cleansing. In order to restore the function of the intestinal tract, it is necessary to adhere to proper nutrition, which during the first four days after the birth of a child should be high in calories, but the amount of fiber in the menu should be limited. Women should be aware that when the rectum or bladder overflows, the uterus is displaced and contractions are delayed.
In the first 4–5 months after the birth of a child, a young mother loses 10–12 kilograms, which she gained while carrying a baby. Immediately after giving birth, she loses about five kilograms due to amniotic fluid, afterbirth and the baby itself. In the first six to seven days after the birth of a child, she loses up to five kilograms due to the abundant release of electrolytes and fluids. Approximately the same amount will go away in the next five months due to the phase melting of fat masses on the abdomen, buttocks and thighs.
The most important postpartum changes take place in the uterus and reproductive system. After the birth of a baby, the uterus looks like a large stretched sac, its mass is about a kilogram. Gradually, the muscles of the uterus contract, and it returns to normal. The fastest way the uterus contracts is in the first week of the postpartum period, later it happens more slowly.
In women who become mothers for the first time, uterine contractions usually go away quickly and painlessly. But for women who give birth not for the first time, bringing the uterus back to normal can cause painful sensations. It should be noted that in women who played sports before pregnancy and while carrying a baby, the uterus contracts much faster. After giving birth, the uterus closes completely after about a month.
See also: runny nose in a child.