June 2018 Moms
llamamama14
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March STM Tell All/ AMA- Postnatal Recovery
llamamama14
member
Postnatal Recovery (Mom's Mental and Physical Health)
Let's talk about how to take care of ourselves in those crazy first few weeks (or honestly months...) As a reminder "Newborn care/sleep" and "Feeding" are topics for upcoming months so we can go into depth on those topics later. The main focus here is taking care of mom.
(I just bring that up because I feel like getting your baby to sleep is a form of self-care for mom!)
Monthly Topic Schedule is in the spoiler.
Let's talk about how to take care of ourselves in those crazy first few weeks (or honestly months...) As a reminder "Newborn care/sleep" and "Feeding" are topics for upcoming months so we can go into depth on those topics later. The main focus here is taking care of mom.
(I just bring that up because I feel like getting your baby to sleep is a form of self-care for mom!)
Monthly Topic Schedule is in the spoiler.
December-What to expect in 3rd tri./later in pregnancy
January-1. Med-free/birth center/home birth
-2. C Section/VBAC (Have 2 simultaneous threads because these topics don't include everyone.)
February- As a FTM I wish I had known...
March-Postnatal recovery (mom's physical and mental health)
April-1. breastfeeding/pumping 2. Formula feeding
May- Signs of labor ("How soon after your bloody show did contractions start?" type questions)
June- Newborn care/ sleep
Re: March STM Tell All/ AMA- Postnatal Recovery
Make sure to talk to someone if you aren't doing okay. Ppd/ppa can be very scary and irrational. I wish I would have gotten help so much sooner. It took me casually chating with the psych NP I work with about some of the things I would think/experienced after dd to realize how commonly it presents that way and how easy (and bf safe) some medications are for it. I suffered so needlessly and my dh did too because I was scared to talk to someone. I don't have super fond memories of my maternity leave and many of dd's first several months because of it.
Physical
• Colace (or other choice of stool softener)
• Keep up with water intake because your body will get busy diuresing (peeing out) the extra fluid you’ve accumulated
• Soothies (gel pads) for nipples
• Take home at least 2 squirt bottles from the hospital to freshen things up down yonder when wiping is just too painful
Mental
• Keep in mind your own personality- If you have hard time “just relaxing” when people are in your house, have a list of simple things they can help you with so you don’t feel the need to entertain them
• Just be aware that the hormones may get worse in the days following birth. Even if you don’t have PPA/PPD, you may still feel very overwhelmed and emotional about everything.
- Ask the hospital for "extras" - I was sent home with extra peri bottles, pads, ice packs, undies, dermoblast. I also packed them away every few hours so it looked like I needed more. Then you can keep some in every bathroom in your house.
- Donut pillow. Buy 2.
- Coconut oil works just as well as nipple cream.
- Nipple soothie pads.
- Buy the largest water bottle you can find with a handle and a straw. And fill it all the time.
- Plan to buy healthy snacks before the baby is born. We were not prepared and I was hungry all the time and stuck under the baby. My husband floundered trying to find me food.
- Find out if any LCs are covered by your insurance now. If they are, find their numbers. Call them before it becomes an emergency.
- Sitz baths (the things that go on your toilet) or baths in the tub help with recovery a lot and keep things clean - - peri bottles are good, but they don't clean everything.
- Blot, don't wipe!
- Colace. Start taking some immediately after delivery. The hospital should provide you with some or something similar and ask if they don't.
- Remember to take care of yourself too. It's okay to take a shower to feel more human.
- Breastfeeding is f*ing hard. Trust your instincts if something seems off. Ask for help.
- Don't be afraid of formula (like I was). Fed is best.
- I've been seeing a lot of 'pad-sicles' on pinterest lately, anyone hear of these/do it? {I can link to what they are if you ladies don't know what I mean specifically}
- post pardum walking - is it a good idea to do it when you feel good enough or should it be 'wait until a certain time' ? Or is this one of those "depends on the delivery/person" ?
Greenco Bidet Fresh Water Spray Non-Electric Mechanical Bidet Toilet Seat Attachment https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A17T3N6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vjxMAb582DK6B
(They spray clean water, not toilet water in case you think the same thing I thought at first lol)
As for post-partum walking, I would ask your doctor. I think it may depend on the person/recovery situation.
BFP#4- 9/26 edd 6/5/18
Husband: 35
Married: June 2007
Son Max born 1/10/17
BFP #2: 10/5/17; EDD: 6/11/18
Okay stupid question, are the pads that huge or can you actually buy them from a store? {I keep picturing overnight style pads for heavy flow}
BFP#4- 9/26 edd 6/5/18
The peri is portable so you can use it in any bathroom or if you're at a friend's house or out at a public restroom.
You can also direct the peri where you want it to go and squeeze hard or gently. Not sure the bidet would aim where you want the rinsing.
I can't think of why the bidet would be any better than a peri though I'm pretty ignorant on bidets never having used one myself!
My hospital didn't hand out ice packs. Instead and easy trick is to cut open a newborn diaper, fill with ice, and use that as a disposable ice pack. They're absorbant, you have them on hand, and you can throw them away after you're done, and they're just about perfectly sized for the area you want them in.
I also used the heck out of tucks pads and dermoplast (I had lots of tearing and stitches).
I'm planning to buy depends this time around to use with a heavy pad, etc instead or ruining granny panties. I was surprised how little control I had of my bladder at first (it improved but I peed myself several times in the early days)
l've sometimes heard the "rule" to wait 6 or 4-6 weeks before doing full intensity exercise like running but I don't know how broadly that's followed by OBs. My fit runner friend said was cleared to resume running sooner than that by her doctor.
I would think a lot depends on each woman's personal fitness/activity/health prior to giving birth as well as how complicated the birth was.
Here's an article from ACOG on postnatal exercise: https://m.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Exercise-After-Pregnancy?IsMobileSet=true
I've mentioned before I have depression and anxiety, so my dr has said that even sitting outside on a bench is ideal for any woman - even without a predisposition to mental health issues.
We have a patio table in our backyard, so I plan on taking full advantage of that even while pregnant B-)
Mail box isn't that far either, I can see it from my front step.
The ice ice packs are like the size of overnight pads but the pads from the hospital are huge - almost like twice the size. I didn’t use depends but am thinking about it this time.
1) my hospital would freeze water in condoms. Wrap them up in paper towel and stick in your undies/between your legs! Very little mess and oh so helpful!
2) I bought depends to use, especially at night. I found it hard to hold my bladder, especially if it was full. I peed myself more than I'd like to admit (I'm talking full on pee, not just dribbling)!
DS born 9/24/2020
I honestly never used a peri bottle or anything, but I'm sure if I tore they would be very helpful! My biggest issue was my sore nipples, so finding a cream for that was a must.
Also, random tidbit but my boobs were HUGE right after birth. Like, pornstar huge. But after like 2 weeks they shrunk to a more normal size and none of the nursing bras I bought fit anymore. Just something to keep in mind!
My hospital had me "do laps" around the nursing station post-c-section while using a rollable bassinet as a walker. I actually think that helped my recovery more than anything. (Also helped with the constipation, because HELLO!)
I'm having a RCS this time around and have a house with stairs now. (Didn't with my first.) Another mom advised me to set up doubles in the house, both upstairs and down. That way, you aren't trying to climb stairs all dang day. I already felt like walking with a CS recovery made my insides feel like they were going to fall out. I can't imagine it with stairs. So, the goal is to only climb stairs at the end of the day for bedtime. (Or just as little as possible.)
If anyone has a girdle or belly binder recommendation, I'll gladly take it.
I kinda got a shell shock last night with a newborn hat.
Husband: oh it's so tiny!
Me: yeh .... well ... *holds near vagina* Not small enough
Husband: Wait ... what
Me: yehhh .... THIS *points to hat and vag* is why I want you waist up entire time
{note: it's not because I think he'll be grossed out or weirded out or whatever - it's me}
In addition to all the super helpful info up above - Remind yourself that your maternity leave is not just a normal "vacation" from work/life. I totally over did it when my second child was born. I was in my best friends wedding 5 weeks post partum and then we traveled to visit family across the country for 2 weeks. And then we came home and packed up our house and moved .....all of this before I went back to work at a new job 8 weeks post partum. It was hell! I was exhausted both physically and mentally from all of that! In hindsight - I should have said no to nearly all of that. I am taking that wisdom with me into this baby and already practicing my ability to say NO! DH is going to be the one that struggles with it the most because last time I was so willing to do it all, but I'm already setting myself up for success this time and warning him and the older kids that mom is going to spend a lot of time this summer resting. Just know your limits. Speak up when it's too much for you to do!
And I can't emphasize the importance of snacks enough! I was STARVING after the baby was born! I didn't bring any food with me to the hospital and was begging the nurses to bring me more food. I have plans for this time to go in a little more prepared. But that feeling sticks with you for a while.