Posts Tagged ‘lochia’

Your body after the birth
I’ve heard about “afterpains”, but what exactly are they?
The term “afterpains” refers to the discomfort felt after the birth as the uterus starts to contract back down  to its normal, pre-pregnancy size. These pains are often described as feeling similar to period pains. So times, women having their first baby may not notice any afterpains, or they are fairly mild; they are more commonly felt by women having their second or subsequent baby. due to the fact that the uterus has to work harder to regain its usual size after being stretched on more than one occasion. who are    also tend to be felt more in women
are breastfeeding their babies, as breastfeeding stim ates the release of the hormone oxytoch which in turn triggers the uterine contractions that are I elt as afterpains.
Getting enough rest
helping  your body to X recover
0    Whether you had a vaginal or
Caesarean birth, you are likely to feel exhausted in the first few weeks. It’s important that you don’t take on too much and give yourself time to recover. * Rather than try and catch up on chores while your baby sleeps, have a nap to catch up on sleep lost through interrupted nights.
•    Avoid heavy lifting as much as possible.
•    It’s fine to stay indoors at first and take things at your own pace while you get used to life with your new baby.
* Don’t feel you have to entertain visitors — 13k them to make you a cup of tea!
If you experience particularly uncomfortable afterpains, it is perfectly safe to take a mild analgesic or a painkiller such as paracetamol. You should find that the discomfort disappears after a few days. Taking warm baths can also be soothing.
I’m still bleeding heavily. How long will this last?
The bleeding you experience after birth is known
as lochia, which is a heavy, bloody vaginal discharge made up of blood and tissues from the uterus and from the site where the placenta was attached to the wall of the uterus. This is how your body gets rid of I he lining of the uterus that supported your baby. Most women find that the bleeding looks initially
like a “period” type of blood loss, and then gradually turns to a brownish or pinkish, watery discharge. The final colour may be yellowish and the discharge quite scanty This bleeding can last for anything from two to six weeks after giving birth. If you are breastfeeding it may finish sooner as the let-down reflex stimulates oxytocin, which in turn triggers uterine contractions.
Is it safe to use tampons while I’m bleeding?
It is not advised to use tampons for around six weeks after giving birth. This is because you are more vulnerable to contracting an infection during this period, so it is important to pay close attention to personal hygiene at this time to keep your vaginal area free from any bacteria, which can be introduced through the use of a tampon. So you should avoid using tampons while you have the post-pregnancy bleed known as lochia.
You can start to use tampons again for your first period after the birth, as long as this occurs at least six weeks after the birth.

LABOUR AND BIRTH
A NEW LIFE
Ouch! My stitches are really uncomfortable. What’s the best way to ease the pain?
Stitches do cause discomfort fora few days after giving birth, so keep the area as clean as possible as this will help prevent infection and minimize your discomfort. You should wash the area with warm water several times a day and make sue you change your pad frequently. Many women find the following techniques for reducing discomfort helpful: * Using a cold pad. You can use a cooling gel pad that has been specially designed for the purpose of soothing the discomfort caused by stitches in the perine area. These have been demonstrated to effectively reduce swelling, briusing, and pain. Or make y:)ur own cool pad by placing crushed ice in a pla tic bag and wrapping this in a dry flannel. * Taking the homeopathic remedy arnica, which is thou ht to help reduce bruising.
* Having a warm bath with a few drops of lavender or camomile essential oil.
* Taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprof n. Ask your doctor or midwife for advice.
take a f w months or more. whichever category you fall to, it is important not to adopt a strict diet during e early weeks and months of parenthood, especi y if you are breastfeeding. However, it is sensib14 to eat a healthy, balanced diet and take some e ercise.You should aim to lose your “baby weight” ,gradually as this will ensure that you are receiv’ g enough nutrition in the postnatal period, and wi give your tummy more time to adjust its shape. eome women do attend professional sessions such as Weight %Vatchers, but it is important that you inform , e trainer or person in charge that you have recentl had a baby.
Coping with constipation Helping your bowels ‘Lo work after the birth
It’s common for bowel movements to be fairly sluggish after giving birth as your abdominal muscles have been stretched during the pregnancy and so exert less pressure, which slows down the movement of faeces through the bowels causing constipation.
You may also feel uncomfortable after the birth and be anxious that opening your bowels, and possibly straining, could damage stitches if you had any However, this is extremely unlikely. The best way to avoid constipation is to drink plenty of fluids each day, preferably water (also important if you are breastfeeding), and to eat tots of fibre-rich foods, such as fresh and dried fruits, cereals, and other wholegrain foods. Once you have recovered from the birth, gentle exercise that tones the abdominal muscles may also help your bowels to become more efficient (see pp.268-269).
How can I get rid of my stretchmarks?
Unfortunately, there is no magic way to get rid of stretchmarks, which affect a large number of pregnant women and seem to be influenced by genes as they often run in families. You will find that the marks fade over time from bright red to a paler pink, and then to a silvery colour that blends in with your skin tone. Massaging a natural oil into your skin may help them to fade.
If, after time, your stretchmarks are still troubling you, you could discuss treatment options with your doctor, which include Laser treatments to reduce the redness of stretchmarks. However, you should be warned that treatments for getting rid of
stretchmarks are often not completely effective and simply speed up the natural fading process rather than eradicate the stretchmarks altogether. Also you would have to pay for these treatments privately
varies widely.
How quickly will I lose the weight I put on during pregnancy?

I’m losing weight fast, but my tummy is really flabby - how can I tighten it up?
This i . a common problem after giving birth. The flabb i ess you are experiencing is caused by the muse :-s and skin having stretched to accommodate your bregnancy and baby After the birth, these muse  es relax and have lost their tone. However, you shoule find that the muscle tone gradually returns, altho gh it may never be quite the same as it was befor’ your pregnancy.
Yo u can try some gentle toning exercises (see pp.2t8-269) as soon as you feel able to after the birth,although you should wait for at least six weeks if yo ‘have had a Caesarean. Your midwife will be able io give you more information about what is safe to do land what is not. If you do go to a professional exert se class or gym, make sure you inform the train4 that you have recently given birth and what type of birth you had so he or she can give you appropriate advice and guidance.
I’ve still got a huge appetite - is this because I’m breastfeeding? Ho much should I be eating now?
This ould be because you are breastfeeding, which requi es an extra 500 calories each day However. this iay not equate to as much food as you think -it wo s out at about two slices of toast with baked bean ! Your big appetite therefore isn’t a problem
in itself, but how you satisfy it can be! As long as you are eating a healthy, balanced diet. you shouldn’t find that ou gain weight (and you definitely shouldn’t be tryinsi to diet while you are breastfeeding). Ensure
that our diet is providing sufficient quantities of prole and carbohydrates and plenty of fresh fruit and –getables. Also avoid filling up on “empty calor es” such as sweets, biscuits, and crisps, and insle.: d try to snack on foods such as fruit, nuts, and seed.. This will ensure that you receive the best nutri on during such an important time, which will bene it you and your baby, and will also help you to lose ..ny extra weight you have gained during the co -e of your pregnancy.
I’ve heard that breastfeeding helps you to lose the weight quicker. Is this true?
Breastfeeding can help you to lose weight moi e quickly after the birth as your body is using up energy to provide an adequate milk supply for
your baby. Some of the 500 extra calories a day you need may be taken from fat supplies deposited in pregnancy Often, extra fat laid down on the hips and thighs in pregnancy is lost first, providing the “fuel” required to make milk and breastfeed your baby. Gentle exercise such as walking and swimming will also help to shift the pregnancy pounds.
I’m not breastfeeding my baby at all - when will my periods start again?
If you are not breastfeeding, you can expect your first period to arrive any time from four weeks after the birth. Most women find that the first period is a little different from normal. It may be heavier or Lighter and it may last for longer or shorter than usual. A more regular pattern should establish itself over the next few months.