Childbirth is a critical time for a mother and her baby. Marked by strong emotional and physical changes, and adjustment to new roles and responsibilities, the postpartum period begins an hour after the delivery and continues for six weeks. This involves your moving through many changes, both emotionally and physically. You also learn how to deal with all the changes needed with becoming a new mother. The postpartum period also involves parents learning how to care for your newborn and learning how to function as a changed family unit. But don't forget to take care of yourself. Your baby needs you to be as healthy as you can be.
Post pregnancy tummy exercises are especially delicate, since abdominal muscles get stretched during pregnancy, and you’ll need to wait longer before performing them safely. Walking is one of the easiest post baby exercises, and it can help you ease into a more intense routine. Aerobic activities, such as walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming can help you lose weight and improve your overall health. Make sure you take rest and be careful not to exercise excessively. Yoga can have many benefits for your body before, during, and after pregnancy.
When it comes to weight loss, alcohol provides extra calories without much in the way of nutrition. The safest option for infants is for breastfeeding mothers not to drink at all. Alcohol might be hard to resist during any celebration but it can be replaced with unsweetened sparkling water.
Drinking enough water is vital for anyone trying to lose weight. It is advisable to stay hydrated. However, women who are breastfeeding or exercising strenuously may need more. For breastfeeding women, there’s no question that staying hydrated is important to replace fluids lost through milk production. You can make the change in the intake as per your weight and calorie intake. Also, water keeps you hydrated and provides extra energy as well.
For new mothers, getting enough sleep can be a challenge. Asking for help from family and friends and limiting your caffeine intake can be really helpful as you can catch up on your sleep. Your health is just as important as baby’s health, and taking rest is a key. After sleep you can bounce back more energetically and can take better care of your child as well.
The baby blues are different from postpartum depression. Postpartum depression occurs when symptoms last for more than two weeks. Additional symptoms may include feelings of guilt and worthlessness, and loss of interest in daily activities. Some women with postpartum depression withdraw from their family, have no interest in their baby, and have thoughts of hurting their baby.
Postpartum depression requires medical treatment. Speak with your doctor if you have depression that lasts longer than two weeks after giving birth, or if you have thoughts of harming your baby. Postpartum depression can develop at any time after giving birth, even up to a year after delivery.
Human breast milk is the optimal food for newborn infants. It is recommended that the baby be given to the mother to hold immediately after delivery, to establish skin-to-skin contact and for the baby to start suckling within an hour after birth.
Supplementary feeds should be avoided because a healthy baby does not need extra fluids or nutritional supplements before breastfeeding. Further, bottle feeding may interfere with the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. Keeping babies with their mothers in the same room or on the same bed after birth prevents infections and increases the success of breastfeeding.
Most mothers want to lose their pregnancy weight, but extreme dieting and rapid weight loss can harm you and your baby if you are breastfeeding. It can take several months for you to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy. You can reach this goal by cutting out high-fat snacks. Focus on a diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, balanced with proteins and carbohydrates. Exercise also helps burn calories and tone muscles and limbs.
• Grains: Foods that are made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain are grain products. Examples include whole wheat, brown rice, and oatmeal.
• Vegetables: Vary your vegetables. Choose a variety of vegetables, including dark green, red, and orange vegetables, legumes (peas and beans), and starchy vegetables.
• Fruits: Any fruit or 100% fruit juice counts as part of the fruit group. Fruits may be fresh, frozen, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed.
• Dairy: Milk products and many foods made from milk are considered part of this food group. Focus on fat-free or low-fat products, as well as those that are high in calcium.
• Protein: Go lean on protein. Choose low-fat or lean meats and poultry. Vary your protein routine. Choose more fish, nuts, seeds, peas, and beans.
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The joy of motherhood is accompanied by numerous responsibilities and duties. Since the baby can only communicate his needs by crying, mothers have a big challenge trying to figure out the tone of crying and the associated need of the baby. If you are not healthy and happy after delivery, it’s your baby who will suffer more. So you need to take good care of yourself to keep both you and your little one healthy and happy.
Source: Medline Plus, University of Rochester Medical Center
Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kindly contact your Doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.
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Published on November 25, 2021