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Before and while birthing, you received great care and support from your doctor. Postpartum attention that you receive is usually more mellow. Not that your doctor is washing off his/her hands from you after delivering the child, but somehow there is less focus on the postpartum advice that most of you moms must receive. Here are some of our top picks on what doctors don’t tell new moms:
1. You Aren’t Advised On Newborn Care
Most of the new moms especially need to have a basic familiarity with how to care for a newborn, as most of these moms put their babies at risk. A startling number of women have been known to smother their babies unknowingly in their beds. There is a time when your baby should sleep in your bed although it’s good your baby sleeps in your room in a baby cot. A recent study suggested that fifty percent of women were clueless about where their babies must sleep. Twenty percent of women didn’t know that their babies must be positioned to sleep on their backs to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Most women have problems breastfeeding their babies because they can’t position them well on their chest.
2. You Aren’t Advised On Continuing The Supplements
While pregnant, you must have popped in a lot of vitamins. Although your doctor might not mention it, it’s important that you not only continue your supplies of vitamins but also add iron and calcium supplies as well. As a nursing mother, most of the nutrients reach your baby from the foods you eat. Hence, it’s important you don’t give up on the prenatal supplement post delivery.
3. DHA To Reduce Post-Partum Depression
Did you know that DHA is not only helpful for the development of your child’s brain, but it also helps in overcoming the baby blues? The first six weeks post delivery are the times when new mothers especially go through postpartum depression. Consuming foods that are rich in DHA, for instance, fish oil might be one way to keep the depression at bay.
4. Take Care Of Your Adrenals
Heightened stress, exhaustion and sleep deprivation due to demands of caring for your adorable yet helpless baby makes your cortisol levels shoot up. Don’t allow it take a toll over your baby’s care as well. You can beat stress through breathing exercises, meditation, light physical exercises, music, good company and keeping yourself busy with activities. There are herbal formulas to help achieve a balance in your adrenals. Go for it!
5. Eat Healthy
Healthy food and a balanced diet are the keys to your wellbeing. Don’t curtail food intake because you want to lose weight after birthing. In fact eating healthy will help you to keep your baby’s milk supplies adequate. Three meals a day with interim snacks (go for salads) and plenty of water should do. Eating well not only nourishes you and your baby, but also helps in elevating postpartum mood swings!
6. Seek Help
Don’t be ashamed of asking help from neighbors, relatives or friends to help you while you are caring for your baby. In cultures with nuclear families, parents are left to themselves in the whole business of taking care of the child. While your partner is always there to support you, some help from a third person comes as a boon as it removes all the stress and gives your partner some time to himself and his tasks as well. Call them, schedule their visit or simply welcome an uninvited guest and ask for a favor by helping you to handle your baby for few minutes while you can have the much needed relaxed bath.
Your doctor might not have advised you of taking care of yourself and your post baby delivery. But it is a duty on your part to take care of the well-being of both of you. What were the ways you were advised? Write us back with your tips on postpartum care.
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