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When you are pregnant, your focus will often be on your birth plan throughout your pregnancy. You might already be putting your hospital bag together and diligently attending those Lamaze classes. The only other important thought that comes to your mind immediately after your delivery would be breastfeeding. In between all such important stuff, you would have forgotten about your postpartum recovery. Like most new moms, I too was caught unawares of how to deal with my postpartum situation. And let me admit, it can be quite overwhelming to fit everything in when you are busy 24/7 with your newborn. But thanks to my mom and her experience, I was able to get a hold of the situation before losing it completely. So, the next time when my baby sis was ready to have a baby, I prepared a postpartum healing checklist (based on my experience) and shared it with her. Here I’m sharing it with the rest of you:
Get A Postpartum Belly Wrap
There is an old wives’ tale that your belly will shrink immediately after childbirth, especially after a normal delivery. This may not be true. Since the skin stretches quite a bit, it’ll take a while for it to get back into shape. But it isn’t about your belly as much as it is about the support the belly wrap provides to your back whether you’ve had a normal delivery or a C-section. It might also help in reducing your postpartum cramping as it helped me. Worth a try!
Create A Postpartum Care Kit
Trust me, once you’ve come back home from the hospital, the last thing you’d want to do is search for your mesh panties or maxi pads. Keep a dedicated basket or a large box that is well stocked with these essentials so you can grab them in a jiffy every time you need a change. You can also add witch hazel pads and tucks (recommended by the hospital staff where I delivered) and postpartum healing baths to this.
Prepare Your House For Postpartum Healing
Just like preparing your hospital bag, prepare your house too for what’s coming up. Stack up on essential household items much before your due date. Keep easy-to-cook foodstuffs and healthy snacks like nuts and fruits within comfortable reach. Get your house decluttered before the D-Day. It’ll help you maintain your sanity after delivery.
Get Yourself Comfy Clothing
We can’t emphasize enough about the importance of wearing comfortable clothing. Wear clothes that are made of soft material so they don’t pull against your stitches. They should help you stretch easily and must be easy to change into.
Make Your Own Padsicles
You can make your own padsicles by sprinkling some witch hazel along with some aloe vera gel into the postpartum pads. Fold the pad back in and place it into the refrigerator. Use it once it is cool. It can help in relieving the cramping and pain down there.
了解康复过程
Once you settle with your baby, try to find some time to read about the healing process. You can read up about it on your phone or tablet while feeding the baby. Or spend a few minutes before dozing off once your baby is asleep.
Take Postpartum Herbal Baths
My mom had prepared a herbal bath for me as it was a customary family tradition. She had mixed quite a few soothing herbs and created a paste with which I could bathe. It did relieve me of various itching and irritations in my body which occurred postpartum. Although I’m unaware of the ingredients, you can always order some herbal bath preparations online.
The postpartum period is a necessary phase of recovery for a woman who has just undergone the wear and tear of childbirth. So, make sure you take good care of yourself and don’t neglect your health. If you face any issues, do consult with your doctor immediately.
