An Art of Parenting

Archive for the ‘Postnatal Care’ Category

While in the period of pregnancy, the mother has to take immense care of herself, always keeping in mind that she is living the life of two. She should be mentally prepared to face the forth coming months and the sufferings that she would have to encounter are all her tribulations to bring a new soul happily to this earth! Apart from the doctor’s medications and advice, it lies solely in the part of the carrying mother to be ready to welcome the little one! Being happy at all times is very essential, as they all do affect the foetus in the womb.

Just listen to light music when something gets you into a troublesome thinking that you feel diffident or not sure of a successful delivery. This little task would make things better. And who knows! May be your son or daughter could become the next greatest musician in the world!

While conceived, in general, the doctor’s advice the carrying mothers to do simple exercises in order to have a normal delivery. That is the reason why in some countries, the carrying mothers do the household duties all by themselves. It does not mean that they should do the different heavy work as the same might become dangerous for them. Exercise would help you to have the pregnancy in shape, would reduce the risk of miscarriage, and thus would make you feel healthy.

Proper exercises that are done under the guidance of practitioners would help the carrying mother to be even psychologically strong ready to face any critical situation in the time of labor pain. Hence, it is an advisable fact to have a little amount of body work to have a healthy pregnancy.

Are you in the mid-period of your pregnancy and you do not know as how to come up successfully as a healthy and happy mother? First of all, you should stop thinking about unwanted things that are highly injurious for your health. Even thinking of such ill-effects could cause danger for the life in you.

Keep your mind fresh and relaxed and take time to admire everything from nature to your task that you are doing. Do not simply sit in front of TV all the time as it could also be of great harm for both of you! Go in for small and easy exercises or at least do the house hold duties to maintain good health for you and your kid.

Pregnancy is a period where the mother leads a life of two! The little foetus within her should be given adequate care in order to have a healthy baby in the end. At this period, the mother must be cautious of her nutrition as she is taking food for two lives again. That is the reason why doctors specifically define as what is to be eaten during this time. Apart from proper diet, medication is also essential.

We of course know that the essential micro-nutrients are not available in our normal course of diet and hence should strictly follow the doctor’s advice regarding the intake of medicines and come up for regular checkups. Only, when the mother is happy and healthy, the same is transmitted to the little one, making him or her ready to lead a happy life on Earth.

For those who are pregnant, additional care has to be shown as it is one body carrying two souls! Staying healthy during the pregnancy period is fully in your hands and apart from the regular medication, a lot of mental exercise is necessary to stay healthy. Remember, when you are healthy both physically and mentally, you are also making the little foetus within you too to be healthy and happy.

The nutrition, which you prefer to eat directly, affects it and so, always consult with your family doctor regarding the diet you have to follow. Never skip your regular checkups with the doctor and do not fail to follow the medicines assigned by them. Always keep in mind, whatever you do, has its direct influence on your kid.

The uterus increases to about 40 times its original size over the period of pregnancy. This is because it has to accommodate a child weighing approximately 6-7 pounds. The lower abdominal muscles and the overlying skin are also stretched. Ordinarily, the uterus goes back to the original size, about 2-3 months after delivery. In order that the muscles of the stomach return to the pre-conception state, exercise is essential.

The exercise recommended is very simple. Lie flat on the back. Breathe deeply. Repeat this 15 times. Remain flat on your back. Raise each leg in turn without bending at the knee joint. This exercise should be done within 10 times. Do not be lethargic and inactive. Movement within the house is better than lying down all the time. Exercises restore the stretched muscles to their original condition. The abdomen contracts in size.

Extra fat accumulates due to the intake of oil-rich food. Much doting on the new mother by relatives and friends specially in the form of heavy food and fancy, calorific preparations is responsible for extra weight. Sweets with plenty of ghee, pannier, butter and “special” treats for the post-natal period should not be consumed in large quantities.

A lazy, passive lift style provides no opportunity for the calories to burn or the fat to work itself off. On the contrary, the heavier the body, the greater the laziness. Breast feeding is one way to reduce weight.

A mother should not be bathed on first day of delivery but simply sponged with Luke warm or natural cold water (not iced but she can herself take bath after 2^nd or 3^rd day of delivery). Following safeguard and cautions are imperatively essential for general maintenance of health of the mother in post-delivery period. Remember mother’s good health is a launching pad for the new born baby’s care and health.

• She should take complete rest-in-bed for, at least 5-6 hours after delivery.
• She should pass urine, stool in bed during first 24 hours but she can sleep or turn in bed as per her convenience.
• From 2^nd to 7^th day she should not exert bur spend most of her time in bed. She may use an easy chair and relax.
• She should adjust her sleeping time with her child’s sleeping/awakening times.
• It takes about 6-8 weeks for her to return to preconception stage, hence she must take reasonable rest, but keep up with moderate activities like visit to closet, taking bath, looking after and feeding her child, nursing the child.
• After period of 6-8 weeks she can attend to normal house work, attend to her office.
• In order to ensure free movement of bowels and urinary flow she should consume plenty of fresh water and other fluids but avoid taking all types of spices, fats, condiments, alcohol and smoking.
• She should resume her normal physical activity by way of morning and evening walk, cooking, doing domestic work.
• Her diet should contain high protein, milk, curd, fruits and vegetables, calcium and iron etc.

The first 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy see a very rapid growth of the foetus towards human features. The possibility of adverse side-effects of drugs is, therefore, greater in his period than at other times. Infections or other illnesses also pose hazards. They may precipitate miscarriage or congential birth defects (e.g. mental retardation, heart disease, blindness, deformity of limbs). Therefore during the first trimester of pregnancy no medicine whatsoever should be taken without previously consulting a doctor. One should be especially wary of sleep-inducing drugs, tranquilizers, anti-depressants and such like. In recent times, it is the practise in developed countries to forbid even vitamins and tonics if the woman enjoys normal health.

After the first 3 months of pregnancy, the potential of drugs to harm mother and foetus is considerably reduced. However, antibiotics and analgesics continue to be hazardous to foetal development.

Only a doctor should decide on and prescribe medication for a pregnant women. Drugs which affect the development of the foetus only slightly, do not become cause for undue worry. But, it might be necessary indeed vital to the mother’s health to prescribe medicines which are positively harmful to the foetus. In such cases, abortion may be considered as the alternative to compromising the mother’s existence.

Pregnant ladies who are easy going, sloth and inactive, have rigid joints with painful swelling, digestion related problems, swelling offset, pendulous abdomen, extra weight, suffer from acidity, belching, eructations flatulence, colic, constipation, head-ache, general malaise etc. are advised not to lead a sedentary life nor overwork their bodies. Rest is needed to calm down your tired limbs & agitated nerves but rest does not mean you should remain inactive and abstain from your normal domestic chores (routine work). A woman who leads a sedentary and inactive life is most likely to give birth to a mentally and physically inactive/retarded children who mental faculties and physical movements would be found wanting.

After lunch you should rest for a while but never sleep-if you wish, you can have a short nap. Never asleep or lie down immediately after taking your meals. After dinner, you can have a stroll (but no fast walking). Even normal movement and mobility in the house, while doing normal domestic jobs, will suffice to ensure your and your baby’s proper development but you must take proper and requisite diet in proportion to the calories expended during activity – whether it is light, moderate or medium or heavy. In any case, you must avoid rigorous activity and avoid (rather rule out) all situations where you feel to get tired, exhausted and weak.

Reasonable activity, requisite diet and rest are the three parameters of a regulated and healthy life and you have a strike a proper balance with and amongst all the three facets.

Immediately after birth the umbilical cord is cut about 8 cm to 10 cm from the baby’s stomach. Pressure is exerted by a clamp and the stump shrivels and drops off within ten days or so. Some babies develop umbilical hernias, but these nearly always clear up within a year of their own accord. If your baby has one and it enlarges or persists consult your doctor.

The Breasts: Both male and female babies can have swollen breasts at birth, they may even have a slight discharge of milk. This is caused by the pressure of maternal hormones in the baby’s body and it resolves itself naturally. Never try to squeeze any of the milk out. The swelling will subside within a couple of days.

The Genitals: The genitals of both boys and girls are naturally larger at birth than the rest of their bodies. The scrotum or vulva may even look rather red and inflamed. This is a natural occurrence and is caused by the mother’s hormones crossing the placenta into the baby’s bloodstream. Such hormones may also cause a clear or white discharge in female babies and even a small amount of vaginal bleeding. Once again, this is perfectly normal and will clear up naturally after a couple of days. However, it you’re at all worried by this, contact your doctor for reassurance.

Stools: A baby’s first stools are usually dark green and sticky and may have very little smell. This is because they are mainly meconium which is digested mucus from the mucus glands in the bowel. It is the only kind of motion your baby will pass for the first two or three days. The appearance and consistency will depend on whether your baby is having breast or formula milk.