Postnatal care is the care that you receive after giving birth. It includes physical, emotional, and practical support for you and your baby.
Congratulations on the birth of your child! As a new parent, you have a lot of new things to learn and take care of. One important aspect of postnatal care is taking care of yourself and your baby. This blog post will discuss some tips for taking care of yourself after giving birth.
What is postnatal care?
Postnatal care also known as postpartum care is the care that you receive after giving birth. It includes physical, emotional, and practical support for you and your baby.
Postnatal care includes a systematic examination of the mother and baby and appropriate advice given to the mother.
It is important to have postnatal care because it:
- Reduces the risk of complications such as infection
- Allows early detection and treatment of problems
- Provides support and advice for the mother
- Promotes bonding between the mother and baby
Why is postnatal care important?
Postnatal care is important because it helps you recover from childbirth and adjust to life with a new baby. It can also help prevent or treat problems such as postpartum depression.
Examination of the mother after childbirth
The routine examination of the mother includes recording weight, pallor, edema, tone of abdominal muscles, and blood pressure.
The fundus of the uterus is palpated to ensure that it is decreasing and there is no excessive bleeding.
The breasts are examined for engorgement, mastitis, or cracked nipples.
The abdominal examination includes palpation of the liver edge and auscultation of bowel sounds.
A pelvic examination is done to check for uterine enlargement, tenderness, or discharge.
Examination of the baby
A pediatrician should do this. The baby is weighed and examined for any birth defects or abnormalities. The routine examination of the newborn includes an assessment of the following:
- Appearance
- Gestational age
- Birth weight
- Length
- Head circumference
- Vital signs
- Reflexes
- Muscle tone
- Skin color and texture
The newborn’s head is examined for size, shape, and symmetry. The eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat are checked for any congenital defects. The lungs are assessed for respiratory rate and effort. The heart is checked for rate, rhythm, and murmurs.
The abdomen is examined for the size and shape of the liver and spleen. The genitals are examined for size, shape, and symmetry. The extremities are checked for a range of motion and strength.
The newborn’s skin is examined for color, texture, turgor, and temperature. In addition, the newborn’s fontanelles are palpated for size and shape.
Advice to the mother
- Newborn care includes bathing a newborn, changing a diaper, cord and circumcision care, feeding, and sleeping.
- Postnatal care for the mother
- episiotomy wound care
- perineal and vaginal care
- urination and defecation
- constipation
- perineal pads
- lochia
- diet
- sleep deprivation
3. Postnatal visits
4. Family planning
When should you call a doctor?
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should call a doctor:
- Excessive bleeding
- Foul-smelling lochia
- Engorgement or mastitis
- Pain that is not relieved by medication
- Fever
In the case of a baby:
- Fever
- Poor feeding
- Jaundice that does not go away
- Lethargy
- Increased sleepiness
- Difficulty breathing
What are some tips for taking care of yourself after giving birth?
Here are some tips for taking care of yourself after giving birth:
- Get plenty of rest. This is important for your physical and emotional health. Try to nap when your baby naps.
- Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of fluids. This will help you heal and give you energy.
- Avoid caffeine, smoking, alcohol, and drugs.
- Exercise gently. Walking is a great way to start.
- Take time for yourself. Find someone you trust to watch your baby so you can take a break. Get a massage, read a book, or take a relaxing bath.
- Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have.
