Introduction
Bringing life into this world is one of the greatest experiences of life. But the following days and weeks can be filled with a rollercoaster of emotional and physical changes.
Whether you are a first time mom or an experienced mom, taking care of a newborn while healing from childbirth is not easy.
This blog covers everything about postpartum and newborn care to make your healing and parenting journey a lot smoother.
Importance of Postpartum and Newborn care
While childbirth is a tedious and the most crucial part of pregnancy, postpartum care and newborn care is equally important.
The first 6 weeks after delivery, be it vaginal or c-section, the mother’s body requires an ample amount of rest and nourishment to heal.
Ensure to prioritize your health and give your body the time to heal.
Postpartum Care
Breastfeeding positions and tips
When talking about postpartum and newborn care, breastfeeding is one of the crucial factors. Breastfeeding the newborn for at least the first 6 months is crucial.
However, breastfeeding can be taxing on the mother as they need to wake up every few hours to feed the baby.
Postpartum care for the mother is crucial and hence it is important to sit in a proper position while breastfeeding to make the experience more comfortable for the mother.
Weight gain after pregnancy
While navigating postpartum and newborn care, weight gain is yet another concern for new moms.
It could be due to various factors including hormonal changes, increased food intake to support breastfeeding, physical inactivity and genetic factors.
First period after pregnancy
Ideally, the first period after pregnancy can arrive at different timelines depending on individuals.
Ideally, for mothers who do not breastfeed their babies, the periods will return anywhere between 6 to 8 weeks of delivery.
However, if you’re exclusively breastfeeding your newborn, your periods may take longer to return typically around 7 to 8 months after childbirth.
Mastitis during breastfeeding
Mastitis during breastfeeding is when inflammation occurs in the breast tissues often accompanied by bacterial infection. It can cause swelling, pain and redness in the breast region.
Mastitis is a common occurrence for most mothers with a newborn baby and it can be caused due to various reasons including blocked milk ducts, improper latching or even bacterial infections.
Newborn Care
Hiccups treatment for newborn
Newborn hiccups are pretty normal and they resolve on their own in a few minutes. To stop hiccups,
- Try burping your baby
- Gently massage your baby’s back
- Feed the baby on demand but ensure that the baby isn’t too hungry as feeding the baby when it is too hungry can result in hiccups
- Avoid over feeding the baby as it may also lead to hiccups
- Contact your doctor if the hiccups are accompanied by symptoms such as fussiness, excessive crying, or refusal to feed
How to clean newborn tongue
In the early weeks of birth, postpartum care and newborn care is crucial.
With regards newborn tongue cleaning, they do not require major tongue cleaning as they only consume breastmilk or formula milk.
Simply wiping the tongue with a soft cloth or a baby tongue cleaner is sufficient.
But as the baby grows and starts consuming solid foods, it is important to use a baby tongue cleaner and clean the baby’s tongue frequently to minton proper oral hygiene.
Oral thrush in babies
When a mother is in her postpartum and newborn care phase, Oral thrush in babies and nipple thrush in mothers are common. It is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida.
Candida is a yeast that lives in our body but overgrowth of this can lead to thrush in mothers and oral thrush in babies.
This is because breastfeeding the baby creates a moist environment for fungal growth leading to candida causing discomfort.
Ensure to consult with your doctor to treat oral thrush and thrush.
Overfeeding a newborn
Overfeeding a newborn is one of the common issues among mothers especially with first time moms.
In the initial days of birth, it is important to feed the baby every few hours but overfeeding the baby is a major concern here. Here are a few signs to know if you are overfeeding your baby:
- Fussy baby
- Frequent diaper change
- Smelly poop
- Excessive regurgitation
- Inactivity
Diaper rash in babies
Diaper rash is yet another common concern for mothers with a newborn.
Diaper rash is a skin irritation that occurs in the area covered by the diaper. It can be caused due to various factors including
- Prolonged exposure to urine and poop
- Wearing tight fitted diaper making no room for airflow
- Bacterial infection
- Having sensitive skin
- Allergic reaction to skin care products
Diaper rash is often accompanied by other symptoms such as redness, dry and flaky skin, tiny bumps, irritation and itching.
In order to prevent diaper rash, make sure to change the nappies every few hours and clean the area with wet wipes or a cloth and moisturize well.
If diaper rash is severe, ensure to contact your doctor immediately.
Conclusion
Taking care of yourself and your newborn baby after childbirth is crucial.
Whether you had a vaginal delivery or a cesarean section, your body needs a minimum of 6 weeks to 8 weeks for the body to heal.
Apart from eating nutritious healthy food, keeping yourself hydrated and consuming postnatal supplements, it is equally important to monitor your health by visiting your gynecologist for a routine checkup.
Book your consultation with Dr. Deepthi Jammi to ensure your health post delivery.
Why choose Jammi Scans?
- Trusted Expertise: Led by Dr. Deepthi Jammi, the best fetal medicine specialist in Chennai with 15+ years of experience.
- Hi-tech Equipment: Hi-tech scanning equipment for clearer and precise images of your baby.
- Hygienic Restrooms: Clean and neat restrooms to ensure hygiene and comfort.
- Clear Reporting: Detail-oriented reports and clear explanations to ensure clarity.
- Compassionate Staff: Professional and friendly staff trained to care for patients.
- Private Consultations: Private consulting rooms to ensure comfort.
- Comfortable Resting Area: Calm resting area for patients to relax.
- Easy Appointments: Flexible and easy appointments.
Book your appointment with Jammi Scans today. Expert and individual care for every patient to ensure your health.
