Osteopathicare In UK
5 Recovery Tips for Vaginal Delivery
Vaginal Delivery
Your long-awaited delivery will eventually come. You may deliver the baby full-term, early-term or late-term through normal or vaginal delivery. After delivery, a woman's main concern is to recover and deal with the results of the delivery. So here are some tips to help you in your recovery:
Enough Rest and Sleep
After all the strenuous and exhausting experience of delivering a baby, for sure all you want to do is to get enough sleep and rest. Sleeping is essential in gaining back your energy and it also helps you in your recovery. But doing so might be impossible from all the needs your newborn requires.
To secure your sleep, take some sleep when your baby sleeps. Your baby can sleep for hours, so grab this opportunity at once. Although you tend to focus more on your baby's needs, do not forget that you also need to take care of yourself. So ask for help from your partner or your family. They can extend help in changing the diaper of the baby, cooking and doing the chores without disturbing your sleep.
Managing Bleeding
Vaginal bleeding and discharge known as lochia are normal after giving birth. This happens because your uterus starts to heal and is returning to its size. Heavy bleeding is common for the first few days and will gradually lessen over time. Do not use tampons for this could increase the risk of infection and interfere with the healing of your stitches. Use a maternity pad or maxi pad and make sure you change the pads every two hours to keep the area clean.
Taking Care of Your Stitch
Most women will have a vaginal tear from 1st degree to 4th degree. Firstdegree and second-degree tears are minor and will heal after a few weeks but 3rd and 4th degree will need repair and the healing can take longer. Soreness and pain from all vaginal tears are normal that will last for a few weeks or longer depending on the degree of the tear.
You can use ice to alleviate the pain and swelling. Simply wrap some ice in a clean cloth and place it on the swollen area for ten minutes but not more than 15 minutes since cold can also burn the skin. It is also recommended to wear loose clothes to avoid irritating the stitches. Wear cotton underwear so your skin can breathe. If you notice some changes like fever, pus around the stitches, and offensive smell, contact your physician to treat the infection.
Pelvic Exercise
You can start doing Kegel exercises once you feel comfortable doing them. When you are ready for the exercise, lie down in a comfortable position then start by squeezing and tightening your vagina and holding it for five to ten seconds and relax. Repeat this up to ten times. This set can be done as many times in a day. Also Read: Tech Breakthrough that Improve Health
Nutrition Eating a balanced diet is essential for your recovery. Make sure you eat a lot of vegetables, fruits and protein to increase your calorie intake. This will help in healing your body and give you energy as you take care of your newborn. Drink at least 2 litres of water.
Have a good source of calcium and iron too to recover from your bleeding. It is also recommended to consult physiotherapy in Ashford to ease your muscles.