Childbirth is an endearing experience for both the mother and her immediate family. A newborn brings an immense amount of joy. Motherhood in itself is magical and to make the most of it, a mother should be healthy. Taking care of the baby is undoubtedly the most important thing to do post-childbirth, but a mother should also take care of her own health. A woman generally goes through a lot of changes, both mental and physical, post pregnancy. Weight loss, hair loss, baby blues are some of the issues which a woman gets subjected to during the postpartum period. The first six weeks post pregnancy is pretty difficult for a woman. So, she should take good care of herself. Here are a handful of health mantras to be in good shape both mentally and physically post pregnancy.
Sleep:
A mother during her postpartum period should ensure that she sleeps well. Babies generally wake their mothers up within a span of two-three hours. So in such a scenario a mother’s sleep inevitably gets perturbed. In order to make things easier, a mother should sleep while her baby is sleeping.
Eat healthily:
A mother should have healthy food. Her diet should be a complete platter of protein, fibre, carbohydrate etc. Also, she should have plenty of fluids as she needs to breastfeed her baby at regular intervals. Fruits are a must for a mother during her postpartum days.
Exercise:
A woman during her post-pregnancy days should exercise well. Not that it should be strenuous. Some sort of drill which is easy to do and keeps her fit. Also, brisk walking is good for her health.
Mental health:
Postpartum depression is pretty banal. Irritability, insomnia, mood swings, fatigue, bouts of crying, sadness are some of the symptoms of postpartum depression. In such a scenario, the mother should seek medical help. Visiting a psychologist and taking meds isn’t a bad idea.
Breast sores:
Breastfeeding results in breast sores which are at times pretty painful. It might be problematic at first, but you will soon get used to it. Apply cream or ointment in order to cure the sores. There’s nothing to worry about it, it’s normal.
Goodbye hair loss:
Hair loss post-childbirth is not at all alarming. Mothers often lose it over rampant hair loss during the postpartum period, but then it’s common. First and foremost, mothers should keep calm and have a diet which is rich in Vitamin C, B complex, iron and zinc. Plus they should have a lot of water to keep themselves hydrated. What more? Proper oil massage, avoid hair color, and apply curd, these are some of the mantras which will keep a mother’s hair healthy and luscious.
Hygiene:
Suppose, your family has planned to fly down to Hampton's to usher in the childbirth, what would be their immediate lookout while booking one of the Hampton's houses? There are a lot of things to look out for, because postnatal hygiene is the most important thing every new mother should take care of. Hygiene should always be a mother’s priority. She should not only take care of her baby’s hygiene but also hers. Often, mothers fall sick owing to lack of personal hygiene. To talk about it, frequent urination is common for mothers post pregnancy. A mother should ensure that she cleans her genitals properly with warm water in order to avoid infection. Also the loo she is going to should be spick and span. Firstly, they should check whether the house has a neat and clean washroom. It’s imperative especially when it comes to postnatal hygiene. So wherever the mother goes, she should make sure that the bathroom is clean. Besides genitals, a mother should also ensure the hygiene of her breasts. She should rinse it water regularly post breastfeeding or else there are chances of infections. Similarly, ensure you change your sanitary pads at a regular interval of 2-3 hours, as a mother tends to have heavy bleeding post pregnancy. And last but not the least keep a mother should always keep her hands clean as that will ensure both her and her baby’s hygiene. So, these are some of the aspects which a mother should be concerned about during her postpartum period. A healthy mother will take care of her baby in a better way than an unhealthy one. Here’s a big shout out to all the new mother out there. Don’t get carried away and start ignoring your health post pregnancy. Visit your doctor regularly if needed to ensure that you and your baby are in perfect health.