Post Partum Issues And Solutions
Bowels/Hemorrhoids
Try to avoid constipation by increasing the fluids and fiber in your diet.
Drink at least 6 glasses of non-caffeinated fluids per day.
Include whole grains, raw fruits, and vegetables in your diet.
If hemorrhoids are a problem, frequent warm tub baths are soothing.
Avoid straining when trying to pass a stool.
Over-the-counter medications and stool softeners can be used.
Nutrition
Eat a well-balanced diet that includes the basic food groups.
Do not try to lose weight quickly by drastically cutting back on calories.
If you are breastfeeding, drink at least 8 glasses of (non-caffeinated) fluids per day and
increase your intake by 600 calories a day.
Breast Care
If you are not nursing, wearing a tight fitting bra is important
Limiting fluid intake after 1 or 2 days following a delivery may be advisable if your breasts
are becoming engorged.
Avoid nipple stimulation and apply cool (not icy cold) compresses to the breasts for
comfort as needed.
Postpartum Blues
Following delivery, your body is going through a drastic change in hormone levels. You may
find yourself crying for no apparent reason and unable to cope with all the changes. This is
a normal response. Give yourself time to adjust. If these feelings persist after several weeks,
contact professionals that can help you.
Kegel Exercises
Start this exercise right after delivery. You can do it while standing, sitting, or lying down.
Tighten your stomach muscles as well as the muscles surrounding your birth canal. Hold
for a few seconds, and then relax. Repeat often during the day. Choose special times during
the day when you will remember to do this. Repeat 5 times each time you do the exercise.
Make Kegel exercises a part of your daily routine to maintain the tone of muscles that
support your vagina and bladder.
Start the following exercises a few days after you have returned home with the baby. Use
them to help tone your muscles. Begin aerobic exercise after your six- week check-up. If
you are interested in a weight loss plan, talk to your health care provider or a dietician at
your six-week check-up. Together you can plan a program of regular eating and exercise
that will be right for you.
Pelvic Rock
Pelvic rock can be helpful for easing pelvic pain and discomfort. You can do this exercise in
any easy position, such as standing, sitting, lying down, or on all fours. Tighten your
stomach muscles, pulling in and up, and tighten your buttocks. Rock your pelvis upwards,
flattening your lower back as you straighten the back of your neck (hollow). Slowly relax
your belly (abdomen) and buttocks, allowing the small of your back to relax. Repeat this
exercise five or six times slowly. Repeat before each meal and at bedtime, as well as more
often if desired.
Abdominal Lie
Lie on your abdomen with a pillow below your naval. Use this position during your rest
periods and at bedtime for at least ten minutes. Before turning over, stretch from head to
toe. Tighten all your back muscles without arching your back. Repeat stretch four times.
Arm Raise
Lie on your back with your arms stretched to your sides. Raise your arms straight up and
touch your hands, and then return them to your sides. Begin by repeating three times,
increasing by one each time until you reach a total of ten. Repeat before each meal and at
bedtime. This helps tone muscles that will support your back.
Leg lifting
Lie on your back with your arms to your side. Bend one knee, the lift the other leg slowly
and keep it straight. Hold it up as high as you can comfortably and let it down slowly.
Repeat with the other leg. Begin by doing this three times. Increase by one each time until
you reach a total of ten. Repeat before each meal and at bedtime.
Head and Shoulder Lifting
Lie on your back with your arms at your sides. Tighten your stomach muscles, raise your
head and shoulders, and hold for a count of six. Do not hold your breath. Lie and relax.
Being by dong this three times. Increase by one each time until you reach a total of ten.
Repeat before each meal and at bedtime.
Hand to opposite knee
Lie on your back with your knees bent. Later you can leave your legs straight. Tighten your
stomach muscles. Raise your head and shoulders, and run one hand down the opposite
thigh, reaching for you knee. Repeat on the opposite side. Begin by doing this three times.
Increase by one each time until you reach a total of ten. Repeat before each meal and at
bedtime.
Birth control choices
Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent pregnancy from
happening in a sexually active woman.
Below are some birth control choices to help avoid pregnancy.
Abstinence is the surest form of birth control. This requires self-control. There is no risk of
acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.
Periodic abstinence requires self-control during certain times of the month. They include:
Calendar method, which is timing your menstrual periods form month to month.
Ovulation method, which is avoiding intercourse around the time you produce an
egg (ovulate).
Symptotherm method is avoiding intercourse at the time of ovulation, using a
thermometer and ovulation symptoms.
Post ovulation method is the timing of intercourse after you’ve ovulated.
Birth control pills (BCPs) contain estrogen and progesterone hormones. These medicines
work by stopping ovulation.
“Minipill” birth control pills have only progesterone.
Emergency contraception is often called “the morning after pill.” This pill can be taken
right after sex or up to five days after sex. It is used if you think the birth control failed, or
you failed to use contraception. It is most effective the sooner you take the pills after having
had intercourse.
Condoms are a thin sheath of latex, synthetic or lambskin worn over the penis during
intercourse.
Sponge is a soft piece of polyurethane foam with spermicide in it that is inserted into the
vagina before intercourse.
Diaphragm is a soft, latex, dome-shaped barrier that must be fitted by a physician. It is
inserted into the vagina, along with a spermicidal jelly. The diaphragm should be left in the
vagina for 6-8 hours after intercourse. Removal and reinsertion with a spermicide is always
necessary after any use.
Hormonal injections are given every three months to prevent pregnancy. These injections
contain synthetic progesterone and no estrogen. This hormone stops the ovaries from
releasing eggs. It also causes the cervical mucus to thicken and changed the uterine lining.
This makes it harder for sperm to survive in the uterus.
Birth Control Patch (Ortho-Evra) contains hormones similar to those in birth control
pills. Therefore, its effectiveness, risks, and side effects are similar. It must be changed once
a week.
Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing) contains hormones similar to those in birth control pills. It is left
in place for three weeks, removed for one week, and then a new one is put back into the
vagina. It comes with a timer to put in your purse to help you remember when to take it out
or put a new one in.
Lunelle is an estrogen and progesterone hormone injection that is given every 28 to 30
days. It can be given in the upper arm, thigh, or buttocks.
Intrauterine Device (IUD): copper T or progestin filled is a T-shaped device that is put
in a woman’s uterus during a menstrual period to prevent pregnancy. The copper T IUD
can last ten years, while the progestin IUD can last five years. The progestin IUD can also
help control heavy menstrual periods.
Norplant is six small plastic tubes filled with a progestin. These tubes are inserted on the
inside of the upper arm. It stops the ovary from ovulating, changes the lining of the uterus,
and thickens the cervical mucus to block sperm from going into the cervix and uterus.
Cervical cap is a round, soft latex or plastic cup that fits over the cervix and must be fitted
by a caregiver. You do not need to use a spermicide with it or remove and insert it every
time you have intercourse.
Spermicides are chemicals that kill or block sperm from entering the cervix and uterus.
They come in forms of creams, jellies, suppositories, foam, or tablets, and they do not need
prescription. They are inserted into the vagina with an applicator before having
intercourse. This must be repeated every time you have intercourse.