Postnatal care

It’s All About The New Mother Taking Care Of Herself

The postpartum period begins after the delivery of your baby and ends when your body has nearly returned to its pre-pregnant state. This period often lasts 6 to 8 weeks.

The postpartum period involves your moving through many changes, both emotionally and physically. You are also learning how to deal with all the changes needed with becoming a new mother. The postpartum period also involves you and your partner learning how to care for your newborn and learning how to function as a changed family unit.

You need to take good care of yourself to rebuild your strength. You will need plenty of rest, good nutrition, and help during the first few weeks.

Postnatal care includes care of the mother and the newborn immediately after the birth till the whole post partum period which lasts upto 6 to 8 weeks post delivery. It includes

• Identification and treatment of any early complication of pregnancy(if any)
• Counselling on breastfeeding
• Encouragement and guidance on immunization
• Advice regarding methods of birth spacing/family planning techniques

Immediate management during postpartum phase

• Emotional support
• dequate rest followed by Early ambulation after delivery increases the confidence of the mother
• Post delivery you can have a diet of your choice!! Diet should include high calorie, adequate protein and vitamins and mineral rich food.
• After normal vaginal delivery patients are encouraged to pass urine as soon as convenient.
• Dressing of vaginal and vulval episiotomy stitch would be done by nurse using sterile techniques
• Breast care: both nipples should be washed with sterile water before each feed.
• Good night sleep always helps for physical and mental rest.
• Rooming in helps mother and baby bond.

Postpartum exercise

• It helps improve the muscle tone which are stretched during pregnancy and labor.
• It also reduces the risk of post delivery venous thrombosis
• Prevent backache
• Prevent genital prolapse and long term stress urinary incontinence.

When to resume sexual activity after normal delivery?

May be resumed after 6 weeks. By that time the episiotomy stitches are healed, perineum is comfortable and bleeding has stopped.

Diet and nutrition during postpartum period

Lactating mothers need an additional 700 kcals average above the routine daily requirement. Diet must include food rich in energy, minerals, vitamins. Iron and calcium has to be supplemented in oral tablet form for 100 days post delivery.

Exclusive breastfeeding for six months is encouraged

• Breast milk is ideal food for new born with easy digestion and low osmotic load
• Protection of newborn against infection
• Essential for baby’s brain development
• Improves immunity
• Readily available food for the newborn at body temperature
• Breastfeeding act as a natural contraceptive to the mother
• No risk of allergy or contamination
• Incidence of rickets and scurvy are reduced.
• No cost!!!!