Normal delivery is a term to describe vaginal delivery. This type of delivery in fact has little difference with delivery by cesarean section because the vagina is bound to be injured and needs to be treated properly. How to take care of your body after giving birth. Treatment also includes many things, such as mental health care, maintaining food intake, and doctor’s checks.
There are two types of labor that are well known, namely vaginal delivery and delivery by cesarean section. Vaginal delivery, also known as normal delivery, is done naturally without surgery. Meanwhile, cesarean delivery is a birth with a surgical procedure in the lower abdomen that is carried out to help babies who are difficult to be born normally. But keep in mind, vaginally or surgically, these two methods are normal deliveries.
If the mother is judged to be able to perform vaginal delivery or normal delivery, then there are several stages that the mother will go through. Starting from the stage of opening the birth canal, expelling the baby, expelling the placenta, and observing or monitoring the mother’s condition for two hours after the placenta comes out.
Normal Postpartum Treatment
For vaginal delivery or vaginal delivery, the following are the treatments that need to be done:
Rest
The labor phase is a long process. That is why, after the delivery process is complete, mothers need to rest to avoid excessive fatigue. Mother can steal time to rest while the child sleeps. Bring the child’s bed closer to the mother’s mattress to facilitate the breastfeeding process. Don’t forget to share tasks with your husband so that the mother is not overwhelmed in taking care of the household and the newborn.
Take care of your food intake
The important thing that needs to take care of your body after giving birth is food intake. Because after giving birth, mothers need proper nutrition to support the breastfeeding process and support the baby’s growth and development. The following are recommendations for food intake for breastfeeding mothers according to the 2013 Nutritional Adequacy Rate (RDA):
- Protein = 76-77 grams per day.
- Carbohydrates = 65 grams per day (first 6 months of breastfeeding).
- Unsaturated fat = 71-86 grams per day (first 6 months of breastfeeding) and 73-88 grams per day (second 6 months of breastfeeding). This need will decrease with the age of the mother.
- Iron = 32 mg per day (first 6 months of breastfeeding) and 34 mg (second 6 months of breastfeeding).
- Potassium = 1200-1300 mg per day (needs decrease with age)
- Vitamin C = 100 mg per day.
- Vitamin E = 19 mg per day.
- Potassium = 500 mg per day.
Read also: What To Eat After Giving Birth And Breastfeeding
Vaginal Care
After giving birth, the vagina will experience sores and it will take time to heal. Therefore, mothers need to provide special care for the vagina after childbirth. These treatments include:
- Keeps the vagina clean and dry.
- Using sanitary napkins to treat bleeding after delivery.
- Washing the vagina from front to back to prevent infection after delivery.
- Dissolve the antiseptic lotion in water and wash it over the vagina or pour it over the stitches to prevent infection after delivery.
If you feel unusual pain, such as swollen vagina and smelly discharge, you need to talk to your doctor immediately. Because it could be, this is a sign of infection.
Physical Activity
If done regularly, physical activity or exercise can help speed up the recovery of the body after giving birth. Mothers can do it gradually, starting from a leisurely walk for 20 to 30 minutes every day.
After the mother feels quite ready, she can start to do more strenuous exercises such as pelvic floor and abdominal muscle exercises. Of course, the ability to exercise depends on the condition and ability of the mother. As long as you feel capable, you can exercise. But if you are in doubt, you can talk to your doctor before exercising.
Mental health
After giving birth, mothers may experience emotional changes. That is why, some mothers experience the baby blues, namely mood disorders after giving birth that can affect the mother’s ability to care for the baby and interfere with sleep. This condition certainly cannot be ignored. The mother should immediately talk to the doctor if after giving birth the mother experiences prolonged feelings of sadness for more than 2 weeks.
Doctor Checkup
How to take care of your body after giving birth. Postpartum care is an ongoing process and not a single visit after delivery. Make contact with the doctor in the first three weeks after delivery. Within 12 weeks of delivery, see your doctor also for a comprehensive postpartum evaluation.
During this appointment, the doctor will check your mood and emotional well-being, discuss contraception and birth spacing, review information about baby care and feeding, discuss sleep habits and problems related to fatigue, and perform a physical exam. This may include an examination of the abdomen, vagina, cervix, and uterus to make sure the mother is recovering well.
This is a good time to talk about any concerns you may have, including continuing sexual activity and how you are adjusting to life with a new baby.
When Can I Do A Diet After Giving Birth?
Post-delivery, the mother’s body must completely recover before going on a diet. Launching from the Baby Centre, mothers should at least wait up to six weeks before trying to lose weight. Breastfeeding mothers are advised to wait until the baby is at least 2 months old before trying to lose weight. Avoid going on a diet too soon after giving birth.
Starting a diet too soon after giving birth can delay recovery and leave you feeling even more tired. The reason is, the mother must muster all the energy to adjust to life with the newborn baby into the world. In addition, diet affects the supply of breast milk in nursing mothers.
That’s what mothers need to know about what to pay attention to after normal delivery. Make sure the mother’s body is completely recovered before doing strenuous activities.