You just had a baby. You are radiant inwardly, but you fall from exhaustion. And that sore crotch. Give yourself time, everything will be back to normal soon. It is worth knowing in advance what awaits you after giving birth and how to deal with typical ailments in the puerperium.
It is impossible to hide:puerperiumit is a difficult period, regardless of whether you gave birth through nature or throughcaesarean section . You are happy that your little one is already with you, but at the same time you think that you will not be able to cope with it: you suffer from pain in the perineum, sutures pull, and you tire of frequently changing sanitary napkins. Fortunately, this does not last forever. And although a few daysafter giving birthyou may think that your puerperium will never end, believe it will get better each day. The first 6-8 weeks are the hardest. What is happening to you right now is very unpleasant, but fortunately it is not a disease. All you need is time, care for hygiene and help from your loved ones, and nature itself will take care of the rest.
After childbirth: changes that must go back
There have been many changes in your body during your pregnancy. Now everything has to go back to what it was like. The puerperium begins with the expulsion of the placenta - after the baby is born, its role is over. Right after the baby is born, another party contraction (much weaker) will push them outside. At this point, huge hormonal changes begin in your body. The placenta no longer produces pregnancy hormones, and the pituitary gland begins to work on producing lactation hormones so that you can breastfeed your baby. After giving birth, the uterus must return to its former size. The so-called puerperal cramps. If your stomach hurts a lot while breastfeeding (like a painful period), don't worry, it's completely natural and badly needed contractions. It is oxytocin, which allows the milk to flow out, at the same time shrinks the uterus, expels unnecessary tissues from it (bleeding may then intensify) and atrophy of the degenerated muscle fibers. The sooner the so-called the narrowing of the uterus, the faster you will recover. Postpartum faeces that come out of the vagina (for 3-7 days bloody, with remnants of unnecessary tissue and clots, then pinkish, yellowish or colorless at week 5-6), although it looks quite unpleasant, in facttestify to the fact that the reproductive organ is healing and the uterus is cleansing. Good to know: an incised or broken perineum heals about 10 days. The seams are removable on the 5th-6th. one day after childbirth.
5 things you don't know about puerperium
After childbirth: rinses, airing
Fortunately, you don't have to endure the puerperal ailments completely passively. There are many proven, old and new ways to help yourself in this difficult time. First of all, you should make sure that the perineum area is always clean and dry. Postpartum excrement is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, so it's easy to get some nasty infection. Take a shower before each change of sanitary napkin and after each urinating or stool, using a lukewarm stream of water. Then gently dry your perineum with disposable towels. It is also a good idea to dry the perineum with a lukewarm (not hot!) Stream of air from a hair dryer. At the beginning of the puerperium, put on large urological pads or Bella Baby disposable diapers (they look like very large pads). Ask for them at pharmacies. They are much larger and more absorbent than regular pads. Do not use tampons as they can cause infection and can be painful to insert and remove after giving birth. Some moms decide to put on the so-called nappies (also available in pharmacies). This is a good solution for 1-2 days after childbirth, but then it is better to wear large pads and airy cotton panties, because the healing perineum must have constant access of air. It is for this reason that you should ventilate your perineum when you have free time. Take off your panties, put a towel on the bed and rest there for a moment with your legs bent at the knees. This will greatly accelerate the healing of the perineum. Some mothers find it a great relief to get cold compresses on the sore perineum. Try this way. Place an ice bag wrapped in a boiled and ironed cloth against intimate places. Apply ice for 10-15 minutes and take 10-minute breaks. Apply chamomile or arnica and calendula compresses. These herbs have soothing and disinfecting properties. Brew the herbs, cool the brew and gently apply a sterile gauze pad soaked in it. You can also make a soup (but only when the stitches are removed). Then you pour the herbs into a scalded bowl and when they get cold, you sit in the bowl so that the perineum is immersed in the infusion. Also recommendable are rinses with potassium permanganate in the form of crystals or a special preparation called Tantum Rosa - to be dissolved in boiled water. The perineum, washed with a solution of Tantum Rosa, heals faster and is less painful. Potassium permanganate also acts as a disinfectant and antibacterial. Good to know: when the perineum hurts andthey pull the seams, sitting down is very unpleasant. To relieve yourself, get a baby inflatable swimming ring and put it under your bottom.
ProblemWhat happened to my belly?
You were glad that when you give birth, you will immediately jump into your favorite jeans, and here, after giving birth, your belly looks like in the sixth month of pregnancy. It can actually be depressing. The skin on it is pendulous, folded, it looks unattractive. Don't worry, give yourself some time and a lot of it will fix itself. If you additionally breastfeed, eat he althy and exercise a little, you will put on your beloved jeans in six months at the latest.
After giving birth: toilet difficulties
Problems with urinating and stools are often psychological (fear of bursting stitches), but also physiological. During labor, the pelvic floor muscles can overstretch, giving the bladder more room and time to fill. On the other hand, for example, displacement of the rectum due to childbirth can cause difficulties in passing stools. Meanwhile, no later than 8 hours after giving birth, a woman should pee, because it helps to prevent urinary tract infections. Pij plenty of still water, run the tap water while visiting the toilet, and if that doesn't help, take a shower and try to urinate there. Before your first postpartum stool, apply a glycerin suppository (suppositories can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription), and support the perineum with a sanitary napkin, this will give you a greater sense of certainty that nothing bad will happen to the stitches. Try to eat a lot of apples and whole grain bread - these foods contain fiber that improves intestinal peristalsis Good to know: hemorrhoids may appear as a result of pressure. Be sure to tell your doctor about it at the first visit - he will prescribe stronger agents (not only ointments, but also tablets).
"M jak mama" monthly