10 Tips to Manage Your Health During and After Childbirth
Motherhood is one of the most wonderful experiences a woman experiences in her life. From the moment you receive a positive test result until the end of the third trimester, you work hard to take the best care of your health. The strength required during labor to deliver your child and to care for your newborn after that necessitates that you stay healthy. Making healthy lifestyle choices during and after childbirth is, in fact, very crucial for you.
Here’s a list of best tips to help you improve your health while you’re pregnant and after your baby is born:
Taking Care of Yourself during Childbirth
Feeling nervous about childbirth is natural; every woman experiences anxiety when labor approaches. However, if you have prepared well during pregnancy and taken good care of your health, you can sail smoothly through childbirth without any complications. Here are some tips from health experts to manage your health during pregnancy:
Tip # 1 – Seek Help from a Qualified Gynecologist
Mother and child health greatly depends on how your healthcare professional handles pregnancy and childbirth. Whether you’re choosing a midwife or a gynecologist for delivery, their quality of care matters the most. Medical negligence can lead to complications in both mother and child. It may result in several birth injuries in the child, including brain damage, cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, and skull damage.
Healthcare professionals are responsible for upholding high care standards and safely delivering your child.If they fail to respond to emergencies properly, they could cause damage to you or your child. Any resulting conditions like cerebral palsy need life-long management or early diagnosis and treatment to stop it from aggravating. You can file cerebral palsy lawsuit cases for medical negligence against the healthcare professionals that caused your child’s condition. A cerebral palsy lawsuit case helps to get financial compensation for your child’s treatment and bar such professionals from future practice to keep others safe from the poor quality of care these healthcare professionals provide.
Tip # 2 – Daily Exercise Builds Your Stamina and Keeps You Away from Anxiety of Childbirth
Exercising has great benefits for everyone. Exercising during the third trimester is extremely important for building the strength and stamina you need during labor. Exercising makes you feel good about yourself and distracts you from the stress of upcoming delivery. Antenatal exercise classes are a great way to prepare your body for exhausting labor. These exercises are specially planned to get the baby into the perfect labor position, help your body respond quickly to contractions, and make the childbirth process easier and less painful.
Tip # 3– Use Relaxation Techniques Before and After Childbirth
Some expecting mothers are terrified of labor. Breathing techniques can help you manage pain and calm your nerves before and during labor. As you may have seen in many TV shows and movies, a woman in labor uses breathing and relaxation techniques to calm herself, which is what happens in real life. Practicing breathing techniques throughout pregnancy helps you feel more comfortable when you need it the most.
Tip # 4 – Eat, Drink, Walk
Eating healthy prepares your body for easy delivery. Always remember to take your daily vitamins. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, even if it increases your visits to the toilet. Try walking more after the signs of labor appear. Walking helps get your baby into the birth position and opens your cervix to prepare for childbirth.
Tip # 5 – Get Plenty of Sleep
Getting enough sleep (7-9 hours) is important for you and your baby. During the last trimester, most women complain of sleep deprivation due to increased pressure on the belly, skin tightness, and restless leg syndrome (most pregnant women develop it temporarily during the first and last trimester). Try sleeping on the left side to improve blood circulation in your baby and increase their oxygen levels.
Managing Your Health after Childbirth
Finally, your baby has come into this world, and you can’t be happier to see that tiny human who’s here to change your life forever. A mother needs to be healthy enough to care for her child. Here are some tips to take care of your health after childbirth:
Tip # 1– Take Good Rest
You have been through a lot of pain during childbirth. You can only take good care of your child if you take the proper amount of rest. Not taking enough rest will only result in a decline in your health conditions. A newborn sleeps more during the day, and you can take this opportunity to get a power nap. Limit your number of visitors and take help from family members to take care of the baby.
Tip # 2– Avoid Climbing Stairs Too Frequently
Whether you delivered naturally or had a C-section, it’s always best to avoid climbing stairs too often during the first couple of weeks. Give your body time to heal, and don’t put excessive pressure on your uterus during the first few weeks.
Tip # 3– Stick to Healthy and Clean Eating
Maintaining a balanced diet with a large portion of protein will help your body recover faster and adjust to the growing needs of your newborn. Although carbs are necessary to balance the nutritional requirements, you should opt for complex carbs like whole grains, high-fiber fruits and vegetables, pulses, and legumes. Your body is prone to weight gain after childbirth, and eating simple carbs or starches will result in rapid weight gain. Add good fats like nuts, olive oil, butter, and avocado oil to your diet and consume them in small portions. Use dairy in divided portions 2-3 times a day.
Tip # 4– Start with Light Exercises
After the first couple of weeks, start daily exercises to accelerate recovery and get back into shape. It also helps you boost your energy, relieve stress, and have a good sleep cycle. Always start with light exercises such as a brisk walk. Keep yourself well hydrated. Working out may seem difficult with a newborn, but you can always ask for help from your spouse or other family members.
Tip # 5– Seek Professional Health in Case of Postpartum Depression
Many new mothers go through postpartum depression – a common mental health condition that develops due to excessive sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, and increased anxiety in new mothers. If you feel symptoms of postpartum depression, it’s always better to seek professional help.
Final Thoughts
Being a mother puts you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and stress. Childbirth anxiety, exhaustive labor, sleepless nights, and poor nutrition can rapidly deteriorate your health. Your baby’s mental and physical well-being depends on your health. Making minor lifestyle changes and taking time out for yourself can help you better care for yourself and your child.