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Caring For Yourself |
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A Guide to Self-Care After Vaginal Birth
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In the recent past new mothers stayed in bed for several days to a week after giving birth. Much of this time was spent in the hospital where the mother and her new baby received constant care. Studies now show that early discharge is generally safe for both mother and baby. Bonding begins sooner, less time away from home is less upsetting for the household, and mothers feel more confident at home.
Once your baby is born, your body will change both physically and emotionally throughout the next year. Many of these changes happen in the first 6 postpartum weeks, called the postpartal period. The postpartal period is not a time of illness, but a period of healthy change. Some changes restore your body to its non-pregnant state. Other changes allow you to provide food, care, and love for your newborn.
In addition to telling you about changes in your body, Caring For Yourself tells you about ways you can speed healing and prevent problems, when to ask for help or advice, and what you can do to take the best care of yourself. In the margins there are TIPs to make self-care easier and FYI (For Your Information) when you want to get a little smarter. Resources are given in Learn More About It when you are ready to learn as much as you can.
Caring for yourself includes monitoring your health by learning what to expect, what is normal, what can go wrong, and how to tell if there is a problem. Caring For Yourself will tell you what to expect and how to monitor your health while your body is healing and changing.
This 24 page booklet tells you about the basics of caring for yourself from the time you return home from the hospital until your first postpartum visit. This booklet is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or any member of your healthcare team. The following are topics covered in Caring For Your Yourself: |
Perineal Care
Episiotomy Care
Proper Perineal Care
Proper Handwashing
Ways to Speed Healing
Ways to Relieve Discomfort
Kegel Exercises
Physicial Changes and Healing
About Lochia
How to Recognize Hemorrhage
Hemorrhoids
Afterpains
Other Physical Changes
Breast Care
For Bottle Feeding Moms
For Breast-Feeding Moms |
Activities and Healthy Exercise
Nutrition and Diet
Vitamin Supplements
Weight Loss
Resuming Sexual Intercourse
Birth Control and Family Planning
Normal Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?
What To Expect At Your Postpartum Check-up
The Importance of Getting As Much Rest As You Can
When To Call Your Doctor
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| For most uncomplicated births, healing should progress without problems. Don't spend your time worrying about what could go wrong once you read Caring For Yourself and learn what to watch for. Do spend some time everyday caring for yourself! |
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