During the postpartum period, a woman’s body is very vulnerable to various infections, so it is important to be especially attentive to intimate hygiene; for this it is necessary to adhere to certain rules.
Rules of intimate hygiene
- in the first 7-10 days after childbirth, it is necessary to wash yourself after each visit to the toilet, as well as in the morning and evening before bed;
- you need to wash yourself with warm water, with cleanly washed hands in the direction from the perineum to the anus;
- You should wash yourself in a strictly defined order: first the pubic area and labia majora, then the inner thighs, and lastly the anus area. The stream of water should be directed from front to back, without penetrating deep into the vagina, to avoid washing away the beneficial microflora of the vagina;
- do not use sponges and washcloths;
- after washing the skin of the perineum, you need to blot it with a towel intended purely for intimate hygiene, or for these purposes use a cotton diaper, which must be changed daily; in the postpartum period, you can use disposable towels. The direction of the blotting movements should be the same as when washing - from front to back;
- Sanitary pads should be replaced at least every 2-3 hours or when soiled;
- If you have had stitches placed on your perineum, it is not recommended to sit for 3-4 weeks so that the stitches do not come apart. You will have to feed the baby while standing or lying in bed;
- for hygiene in the postpartum period, you can use baby soap, soap with an antibacterial effect, or special products for intimate hygiene;
- if you can’t wash yourself, you can use damp toilet paper or special wipes for intimate hygiene;
- regularly carry out such a procedure as airing the perineum; for this it is convenient to use a disposable diaper.
To ensure that self-care for the first days after childbirth is as comfortable as possible, for our bags we have selected everything you need from the best manufacturers. Most of the products are from Hartmann, which is one of the leading European suppliers of medical and hygiene products.
The first thing you need is postpartum (urological) pads. Our bags contain pads from the MoliMed series from the German medical company Paul Hartmann. MoliMed pads are significantly more absorbent than regular feminine pads, are dermatologically tested and are suitable even for sensitive skin.
MoliMed pads have an antibacterial effect and maintain a skin-friendly pH of 5.5, which provides maximum protection against skin irritation. If you change pads every 3 hours for a standard 3 days in the hospital, you will need approximately 24 pads.
In the first day after birth, discharge from the uterine cavity is maximum, so we recommend using MoliMed Premium Midi pads. After a day, when there is less discharge, you can start using MoliMed Premium mini pads.
For reliable fastening of the pads and greater comfort when moving, we recommend using mesh shorts to fix the Molipants Comfort pads. Lightweight, soft, breathable, made of especially durable material that fits tightly but does not tighten the stomach. For 3 days of stay in the maternity hospital you will need at least 3 pieces. They can be washed, but it is better to use new ones every day.
Immediately after giving birth, you will need to shower every time you go to the toilet, as well as in the morning and evening before bed. To do this, you will need solid baby soap or a special intimate hygiene product. Most gynecologists recommend using baby solid soap, especially if stitches have been applied. We can also offer you special intimate hygiene products. It is quite natural that after washing you will need a towel or diaper. We recommend using disposable napkins: they are of a convenient size, it will be much more pleasant for you to use a new napkin after each shower, and after using it, simply throw it away.
In case it is not possible to take a shower, we have prudently included wet toilet paper or MENALIND professional wet sanitary napkins from Hartman in our bags. Kleenex wet toilet paper is hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin as it contains no alcohol. Dissolves in water.
MENALIND professional wet sanitary wipes refresh and deodorize the skin, have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect thanks to the content of chamomile extract. The wipes can be used to cleanse the entire body without using water or soap. Maintains skin pH and does not contain alcohol. Dermatologically tested and clinically tested. Napkins are a very convenient size 20x30 cm.
Disposable diapers MoliNea Normal 60×90
For such a procedure as airing the perineum, it is very convenient to use disposable diapers. They absorb very quickly, because the absorbent layer of these diapers is environmentally friendly, fluffy cellulose. The top layer is made of soft, pleasant-to-touch non-woven material, and the bottom layer is made of waterproof non-slip film, which prevents the diaper from moving on the bed and protects against leakage.
Our ready-made maternity hospital kits are created taking into account the highest requirements and will help you avoid unnecessary worries.
Childbirth, as we know, ends with the expulsion of the child's place. From this moment the postpartum period begins, which lasts 6-8 weeks.
In the postpartum period, those changes in the mother’s body that arose in connection with pregnancy and childbirth gradually disappear and undergo reverse development.
Along with the processes of reverse development, the activity of the mammary glands begins to develop in the postpartum period. Every postpartum mother should have a correct understanding of the complex processes that occur in the body in the postpartum period. This is necessary for the correct behavior of a woman, which contributes to the normal course of the postpartum period. First of all, we need to dwell on the importance of the nervous system.
Currently, as a result of the outstanding works of I.P. Pavlov, it is firmly established that the decisive role in the life of the body belongs to the higher department of the nervous system - the cerebral cortex.
The cerebral cortex, as I.P. Pavlov pointed out, is the manager and distributor of all the activities of the body, despite the fact that this does not clearly and openly appear. From here it becomes clear what importance we should attach to the state of the nervous system and, first of all, its higher department. It is known that childbirth is accompanied by tension, and often overstrain of the nervous system, especially during its pathological course. Therefore, it is very important that the mother is given complete rest immediately after birth, ensuring deep, long sleep. The child is brought to the mother for the first time after birth, usually 12 hours later - this period is enough for both mother and child to rest. In the future, it is also important that the most favorable conditions are created for both mother and child.
CHANGES THAT OCCUR IN A WOMAN’S BODY AFTER CHILDREN
Let us now consider the changes that occur in the body after childbirth and, first of all, focus on the general condition of the woman. The general condition of a woman in the postpartum period, with its normal course, is usually good. Sleep is not disturbed. Appetite is initially somewhat reduced. A few days after birth, it intensifies, especially in breastfeeding women. Sometimes good health in the first days is disturbed by soreness in the external genitalia and perineum; Multiparous women often have painful postpartum contractions that occur irregularly.
The temperature of postpartum women is somewhat unique. In the first days of the postpartum period, three physiological rises are observed: in the first hours after childbirth, on the 3-4th day and approximately on the 6-8th day, when the woman begins to get up. During the first two rises, the temperature can reach 37.8°, the third rise in temperature is insignificant (37.1-37.2°). On other days, the temperature is normal or slightly elevated, and in the latter case, starting from the 4th day of the postpartum period, it steadily decreases and at the end of the first or at the beginning of the second week after birth it becomes normal. These temperature rises are explained by absorption processes in the uterus; the increase in temperature on the 3-4th day also depends on engorgement of the mammary glands. It should be noted that many postpartum women experience increased sweating, especially when drinking heavily or wrapping themselves up.
In the first days of the postpartum period, urination is often increased. Often after childbirth, urination is impaired. This disturbance usually goes away soon. Sometimes urination is difficult due to pain due to the fact that the first drops of urine falling on cracks and abrasions of the mucous membrane of the vaginal opening cause pain. More often, the cause of difficulty urinating is the weakness of the stretched abdominal wall, as well as the lack of habit of urinating in a lying position. Due to the relaxed state of the abdominal wall, the bladder can stretch unhindered, and often, when it is significantly full, the woman in labor does not feel the urge to urinate. A full bladder causes the uterus to shift and prevents its normal contraction. With this in mind, the postpartum woman should monitor regular bladder emptying and, without waiting for the urge, urinate approximately every 3 hours. In the first days of the postpartum period, stool is usually delayed, especially if there is a tendency to constipation. Retention of stool is facilitated by relaxation of the abdominal wall and forced stay in bed. In some cases, bowel movements are hampered by painful and swollen hemorrhoids, which are relatively often formed during the expulsion of the fetus.
The first emptying of the rectum after childbirth is often achieved with the help of a laxative or an enema. They are usually prescribed on the 3rd day (if there are stitches on the perineum, a little later). In this regard, the first 2-3 days after birth, rough, heavy foods should be avoided so as not to overfill the intestines.
REVERSE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENITAL ORGANS AND ABDOMINAL WALL. HEALING OF BIRTH WOUNDS
Since during pregnancy and childbirth the greatest changes occur in the genital organs, in the postpartum period processes aimed at eliminating these changes acquire particular importance. We are talking about the processes of reverse development of the genital organs and the healing of birth wounds, which are closely related to each other.
At the beginning of the postpartum period, the uterus is about 15 cm in length, its weight reaches 1000 g, the cervix resembles a flaccid thin-walled sac, which is like a continuation of the vagina. The inner surface of the uterus immediately after childbirth is a large continuous wound. Throughout the birth canal - on the cervix, vagina and perineum - tears and hemorrhages are visible.
The process of reverse development of the uterus in the postpartum period begins with a contraction of its muscular elements. Small vessels located in the inner part of the uterine wall, due to the contraction of muscle fibers, are compressed and bent, as if tied up, and larger vessels in the area of the attachment of the child's place are clogged with the help of blood clots formed in them.
The blood supply to the uterus decreases, and therefore the supply of nutrients to its tissues decreases. All this leads to reverse development of the uterus.
After 6 weeks from the day of birth, the uterus weighs only 50 g, and its length is usually no more than 6-7 cm. The reverse development of the cervix occurs from the inside out. The cervical canal is passable for the hand immediately after birth, but after 3-4 days it barely allows a finger to pass through. The cervix closes completely only in the third week. At the end of the reverse development, the cervix and body of the uterus remain somewhat thicker and more voluminous than they were before pregnancy.
During childbirth, the vagina, the ligaments that support the uterus, and the pelvic floor muscles are subject to great stretch. In the first days after birth, they contract poorly. As a result, the vaginal slit remains open, and the pelvic organs tend to prolapse when straining. The elasticity of the ligaments and muscles of the pelvic floor is gradually restored. Gradually, but more slowly, the vagina, which was greatly stretched during childbirth, narrows. All this makes it clear why postpartum women should stay in bed in the first days after childbirth, and after getting up they should avoid heavy physical work. It should be mentioned that in a woman who has given birth, the vagina and external genitalia do not return completely to their pre-pregnancy state. The external genitalia become less elastic, the vaginal opening does not close as well, and the vaginal lumen remains wider and the walls are smoother than before pregnancy.
The abdominal wall gradually contracts, but rarely reaches its former elasticity. The so-called pregnancy stripes that form on the skin of the abdomen in pregnant women turn from wide and reddish to narrow and whitish. The separation of the rectus abdominis muscles, which occurs at the end of pregnancy and during childbirth, remains forever in some women. The belly takes its final shape only a few months after birth. The reverse development of the genital organs, as well as the abdominal wall, largely depends on the management of the postpartum period and the behavior of the postpartum woman.
The birth act is accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the woman’s birth canal. As indicated, wounds are observed throughout the birth canal, the healing of which occurs simultaneously with the reverse development of the genital organs. Minor wounds to the cervix, vagina and perineum heal quite quickly, within a few days.
If there are tears in the perineum, they must be stitched up to restore the integrity of the pelvic floor. Unsewn perineal tears can further lead to prolapse and prolapse of the genital organs.
As mentioned above, the inner surface of the uterus immediately after childbirth is a large continuous wound. During the healing process of wounds, wound discharge is formed on their surface. Postpartum discharge is the same as wound discharge. As the postpartum wound of the uterus heals, its appearance changes. In the first days after childbirth, the discharge is brightly bloody, sometimes small clots pass (the passage of larger clots indicates an abnormal condition). Starting from the 3rd day of the postpartum period, the discharge becomes brownish-red, brown, then yellowish-white. By the 10th day after birth, the admixture of blood in the discharge from the uterus disappears. Postpartum discharge becomes scanty, becomes light, ichorous and then whitish. After 3-4 weeks, the discharge becomes the same as normal discharge from the genital tract. Postpartum discharge has a musty, sweetish odor.
Proper healing of postpartum wounds is very important for the prevention (prevention) of postpartum infection.
POSTPARTUM INFECTION AND ITS PREVENTION
Puerperal infection is a serious complication of the postpartum period. It is caused by pyogenic (septic) microbes - staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli, etc., i.e. the same microbes that lead to inflammation and suppuration of wounds. All these microbes are found on the human body - on the skin and in open cavities (in the pharynx, nose, vagina and intestines).
Postpartum infection can develop as a result of infection with both one’s own microbes and microbes introduced from outside. In the first case, the disease is more mild, in the second - more severe. Microbes can independently penetrate wounds from neighboring areas of the body (for example, from the vagina into the uterine cavity) or they can be introduced as a result of direct contact (transfer with hands, instruments, care items, linen - if they are not sterile, i.e. contain microbes). Further, germs can enter open wounds from the air (airborne infection). Finally, droplet infection should also be distinguished.
When breathing, and especially when talking, coughing and sneezing, tiny droplets of liquid are released, which are carried over a relatively large distance. Each of us has observed this in the frosty air, when such droplets condense and form steam. Along with them, microbes that live in the mouth, pharynx and nose are also released. Droplet infection can occur when infected droplets either land directly on an open wound or are deposited on it from the air. In order for a disease to occur, it is not enough for microbes to get into the wound. This requires either a weakening of the body and a decrease in its resistance, or an increase in its sensitivity to infection. The latter often happens in cases where the body is exposed to pathogenic microbes for a long period of time.
Manifestations of postpartum infection can be very diverse - from a mild form of the disease (in the form of minor inflammation of the uterus) to severe forms. It is important to remember that under unfavorable conditions that contribute to a decrease in the body’s resistance and an exacerbation of the inflammatory process, mild forms can turn into severe ones.
Currently, in our country, severe forms of postpartum diseases are extremely rare. We owe this to the achievements of Soviet healthcare in the prevention of postpartum diseases, as well as their treatment. It should be emphasized that treatment will be more successful the earlier it is started.
Prevention of postpartum infection consists of constant care to strengthen the body and increase its resistance. In this regard, a prominent role belongs to the antenatal clinic, whose task is to prevent possible complications of pregnancy, treat existing diseases, help the woman organize the correct work and rest regime, rational nutrition, and acquire the necessary sanitary and hygienic skills. All this ultimately helps to increase the body's resistance. The prenatal leave provided to women for rest is of utmost importance.
After childbirth, it is necessary to create such conditions so that the mother’s strength can quickly recover. It is clear that this can best be achieved in a maternity hospital, where the mother in labor is provided with the correct regimen and care, and in case of the slightest complication during childbirth or the postpartum period, she will be provided with qualified medical care.
Along with this, the prevention of postpartum infection requires measures that would protect the woman’s body from microbes and, most importantly, prevent the possibility of microbes penetrating birth wounds.
Essentially, prevention of postpartum infection begins during pregnancy.
Of great importance during pregnancy in terms of protection from germs is strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene, impeccable cleanliness of the room in which the pregnant woman is located, no contact with patients with infectious diseases, cessation of sexual intercourse at the end of pregnancy, etc.
Prevention of postpartum infection during childbirth and in the first days after it is of exceptional importance, since during childbirth wounds arise that can serve as an entry point for infection.
The best way to protect against infection and create the most favorable conditions for rapid wound healing is in the maternity hospital.
All work of the maternity hospital is organized in such a way as to prevent the possibility of postpartum diseases and provide proper care for the mother and newborn after childbirth. In addition, in the maternity hospital, a woman receives the necessary information about the course of the postpartum period and the necessary skills for caring for a child.
PREVENTION OF MASTITIS (INFANTS)
Complications of the postpartum period include inflammation of the mammary gland (mastitis, or breastfeeding). Inflammation of the mammary gland can occur at all periods of a woman’s life, but it is observed mainly in the postpartum period and mainly in nursing women. In postpartum women who, for one reason or another, do not breastfeed, mastitis is rare. Inflammation of the mammary gland generally exhibits the same patterns that are characteristic of postpartum infection. The causative agents of mastitis can be various pyogenic microbes (usually staphylococci and less often streptococci).
In most cases, the occurrence of mastitis is facilitated by cracks in the nipples formed during feeding, which serve as wound entry points for infection. In addition, the infection can enter the mammary gland directly through the milk ducts that open on the nipple.
An important factor contributing to the occurrence of mastitis is microbial contamination of the mother’s skin and, above all, the nipples. In the early postpartum period, postpartum secretions, which contain a variety of microbes, including pathogens, can become a dangerous source of microbial contamination. Infection of the skin of the nipples can occur due to the transfer of germs by hand, contact with contaminated underwear, etc.
Non-sterile care items (for example, breast pumps and nipple shields) can also be a source of infection. In addition, microbes can get onto the skin and nipples as a result of airborne and droplet infections.
It must be emphasized that in the occurrence and development of mastitis, as well as in postpartum infections, the general condition of the body is of decisive importance.
All basic provisions related to the prevention of postpartum infection also apply to the prevention of mastitis. All measures aimed at strengthening the body and increasing its resistance, protecting the body from infection and eliminating contamination by microbes remain important for the prevention of mastitis. However, this does not mean that the prevention of this disease does not have its own characteristics.
First of all, special attention should be paid to preventing cracked nipples. This requires proper nipple care, which should be carried out during pregnancy. As one of the most effective measures to prevent cracked nipples, general hygiene measures are recommended both throughout pregnancy and in the postpartum period; in particular, daily washing up to the waist with cool water is of great importance. In general, caring for nipples comes down to keeping them spotlessly clean and carefully hardening them. For this purpose, washing the nipples with a 1% solution of boric acid (room temperature or lukewarm) is used. This is especially necessary to do if crusts form on the nipples due to the release of colostrum. The skin covering the nipple becomes wet under such crusts and loses its resistance.
In the postpartum period, the mammary glands should not be wrapped. Some women mistakenly believe that this is necessary to avoid mastitis. However, wrapping does not protect against mastitis, but rather contributes to its occurrence. It is necessary to take into account that in the postpartum period there is increased sweating, and that regardless of the baby’s attachment to the breast, milk may be released, which wets the nipple and skin of the mammary gland. In this regard, when wrapped, the mammary gland and nipple are exposed to moist heat. As a result, the skin loosens, its resistance decreases and, very importantly, conditions favorable for the development of microbes are created. If the breasts are large and saggy, they should be lifted with a scarf, leaving the nipple and upper half of the breast free.
Correct attachment of the baby to the breast plays a prominent role in preventing cracked nipples. A nursing mother must learn and follow all feeding rules.
The nutrition of pregnant and postpartum women is also of certain importance. A lack of certain vitamins in the food of a pregnant and postpartum mother can contribute to the formation of cracked nipples.
Of course, if cracked nipples appear, you should immediately seek medical help. The use of home remedies for treatment (lubricating with various oils, etc.) is not beneficial and can cause infection.
Further, it is necessary to take into account that damage to the milk ducts and glandular lobules of the mammary gland can also favor the formation of mastitis.
In practice, such injuries are associated with rough and inept expression of breast milk or massage of the mammary gland; they involve kneading and crushing of individual glandular lobules and ducts. You should resort to expressing milk after consulting your doctor, and only when it is really necessary. Most often, in the postpartum period, the need to pump occurs if the baby is weak or premature and does not suck well. The postpartum woman should receive instructions from the doctor on how to express.
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOTHER'S REGIME IN THE MATERNITY HOSPITAL
The main task of managing the postpartum period is to protect the postpartum woman from possible harm and promote the normal physiological course of this period. For this purpose, in our maternity hospitals, a medical and protective regime is carried out, providing for the creation of the most favorable psycho-hygienic and sanitary conditions.
All activities related to the management of the postpartum period are carried out in the maternity hospital by medical personnel, but this does not mean that the postpartum woman herself can be passive towards them. Much depends on her behavior, conscious compliance with doctors’ orders and adherence to the regime. Sometimes you have to observe how the unreasonable behavior of a woman in labor (shaking the thermometer, standing up without the doctor’s permission, unauthorized expression of milk, etc.) leads to serious complications in the postpartum period.
In the first days of the postpartum period, bed rest should be observed. A woman in labor needs not only rest for her nervous system, but also physical rest. However, it would be a mistake to require her to lie quietly on her back. Prolonged immobility has an adverse effect on both the general condition of the postpartum woman and the reverse development of the genital organs. Lying on your back for a long time can lead to posterior displacement of the uterus, contribute to urinary retention and constipation, and also lead to circulatory problems (slowing blood flow in the veins). A healthy postpartum woman can turn on her side by the end of the first day. A small stitched tear in the perineum is not an obstacle to this, but if there are stitches in the perineum, you should turn without spreading your legs. For large perineal tears, the woman in labor should lie on her back for at least 3 days.
A healthy woman, if she feels strong enough, can carefully sit up in bed on the 3rd day after birth (by this time, superficial cracks and abrasions of the external genitalia heal), sit on the 4th day and stand up for a short time on the 5th day. e day. It is not recommended to get up earlier, since on the 3-4th day after birth, as we indicated, a rise in temperature is observed. By the height of this rise one can judge whether the postpartum period is proceeding correctly. Of course, you shouldn’t get up until this is clarified. If there are stitched perineal tears, you can sit and stand up only after the stitches are removed (sutures are removed on the 6th day, and sometimes a little later). For poorly healing or large perineal tears, it is advisable to first stand up and walk, and only then sit.
Every mother in labor must remember that she has the right to turn and sit only after receiving permission from a doctor. After difficult goals of operative childbirth, in the presence of any diseases that arose both in connection with pregnancy (toxicosis) and those that preceded it, as well as in the presence of various kinds of abnormalities during the postpartum period (fever, poor uterine contractions, etc.) d.) the postpartum woman is considered sick and is prescribed the appropriate regimen and treatment.
PHYSICAL EXERCISE AFTER BIRTH
Physical exercise (gymnastics) is of great importance both for raising the general condition (tone) of the body, and for the reverse development of the genital organs and strengthening the muscles of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor.
Physical exercises after childbirth are prescribed only to those women whose childbirth and postpartum period proceeded without any complications.
It is clear that it is not enough to do gymnastics only in the maternity hospital - this must be done after discharge from it. Light physical exercise is recommended at home during the postpartum period. Exercises involving significant stress are prohibited. When conducting exercises at home, you should remember that without observing general hygiene rules, physical exercises do not give the full effect. It is necessary to keep the body clean, and after physical exercise, wipe with water at room temperature.
Physical exercises should be performed in a well-ventilated room and preferably with an open window or window, depending on the time of year (see lecture “Physical education during pregnancy and the postpartum period”).
HYGIENE IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD
Observance of the strictest cleanliness is extremely important for the correct course of the postpartum period. The postpartum woman should wash her face and brush her teeth twice a day (morning and evening).
Particular attention should be paid to hand cleanliness. Nails should be cut short, hands should be washed often with soap and always before each feeding of the baby (if your hands are dirty, you can infect the baby and get an infection on the nipples). As soon as the postpartum woman receives permission to get up, she should wash her mammary glands with warm water and soap when performing the morning toilet; this is one of the preventive measures against mastitis.
Among hygienic measures, keeping the external genitalia and surrounding skin clean is of particular importance in the postpartum period; they should be washed thoroughly at least twice a day. Postpartum discharge, which always contains many microbes, contaminates the external genitalia and perineum and easily decomposes.
Until birth wounds have healed, the strictest adherence to the rules of protecting wounds from germs is required. In the maternity hospital, washing (toileting the external genitalia) is done in the same way as dressing wounds in surgical practice: using sterile instruments, using sterile cotton wool. For irrigation, a weakly disinfectant solution of potassium permanganate, etc. is used. After washing, an oilcloth treated with a disinfectant solution and a lining diaper, disinfected by sterilization with hot steam in an autoclave or ironed with a hot iron, are placed under the mother.
After being discharged home, the woman should also wash her external genitalia throughout the postpartum period. You should wash yourself with warm boiled water and soap (baby or boron-thymol), with a running stream, pouring from a kettle or small jug; The genitals should be washed from front to back (from the pubis to the anus). Before washing, you need to wash your hands clean.
Vaginal douching during the normal course of the postpartum period is unnecessary and can cause harm, as it contributes to the introduction of microbes into the upper genital tract and injures the vaginal walls and cervix.
In the first weeks after childbirth, a woman has discharge from the genital organs, so a clean oilcloth and ironed bedding should be placed on the bed over the sheets, which must be changed daily. Bed linen should be changed every 5 days.
In the postpartum period, when a woman begins to lead an active lifestyle, it is advisable to use cotton-gauze dressings; they absorb secretions from the genitals and protect the inner thighs and underwear from contamination. Sterile dressings can be purchased at pharmacies and hygiene stores. If they are not sterile, then they need to be carefully ironed with a hot iron. You can make such dressings yourself from linen or other material that absorbs liquid well. Of course, before use they must be well washed, boiled and ironed.
You can wash your entire body with hot water 2 weeks after birth (that is, 5-6 days after discharge from the maternity hospital). In the future, the woman should wash her entire body with warm water and soap every 5 days and change her underwear after that. For the first time after childbirth, you should wash yourself at home in the shower or standing in a basin. When visiting Bami, you also need to wash while standing, preferably in the shower, but you can’t take a steam bath.
Taking a bath is prohibited for the first 6 weeks after birth. This is due to the fact that the entrance to the vagina is not yet closed enough and pathogenic microbes can penetrate into it along with water. It is clear that at this time you cannot swim in a river, lake, or sea.
NUTRITION FOR A PURPOSE WOMAN
A woman’s nutrition after childbirth should meet the needs of the mother and child. A healthy breastfeeding mother usually has a good appetite and should not restrict what she eats. However, it should be borne in mind that consuming food in excessively large quantities is harmful, not beneficial.
A healthy postpartum woman does not need to be prescribed a special diet. Nevertheless, in the first days after childbirth, before emptying the rectum, food should be light and digestible, the amount of food should be limited. The postpartum woman should eat dairy, meat and vegetable dishes. Such mixed food contains proteins, fats and carbohydrates, mineral salts and vitamins necessary for the body.
It should be noted that vitamins are very important for a nursing mother, since their content in breast milk depends on the amount of vitamins in the nursing woman’s food.
It must be remembered that the human body is not capable of independently producing most vitamins and receives them from food, especially plant foods. Therefore, a nursing mother should consume more vegetables and fruits, mainly raw.
Each vitamin has a special, unique effect on the body. In addition to the properties specific to each of them, vitamins also have general properties, influencing the body’s proper use of substances from food and promoting the normal growth and restoration of cells and tissues of the body.
A severe lack of vitamins leads to the development of severe diseases called vitamin deficiencies; for example, with a lack of vitamin C, scurvy develops, vitamin D - rickets, vitamin PP and some others - pellagra.
Vitamin deficiency is rare; partial deficiency of vitamins (hypovitaminosis) is more common. Hypovitaminosis primarily affects the general condition of the body. They are characterized by a decrease in the body's resistance, metabolic disorders, easy fatigue, irritability, etc. Let us mention here that with a lack of vitamin C, wound healing occurs more slowly. A lack of vitamin A in the body leads to changes in the integumentary (epithelial) tissues, a decrease in their resistance and ability to recover. This is not indifferent to the mother in labor. Obviously, a lack of vitamins A and C in her body will slow down the healing of birth wounds, and a lack of vitamin A can contribute to the formation of cracked nipples when feeding the baby.
It is necessary to pay attention to the content of vitamins in food. Vitamins A, B1, B2, PP, C and D are found less frequently in foods than other vitamins, and therefore deficiency in them is more common. Some foods contain large amounts of one vitamin or another.
To provide the postpartum mother with vitamin A, she is recommended to consume butter, sour cream, milk, egg yolk, as well as fish oil and animal liver. Vitamin A is not found in plant foods, but some of them contain carotene, from which vitamin A is formed in the body. Among such products, it is recommended to eat vegetables - carrots, pumpkin, spinach, lettuce, tomato, green peas, as well as berries and fruits - black currants, cherries, gooseberries, blueberries, rowan berries, peaches and apricots, which contain carotene. To provide the postpartum mother with vitamins B1, B2 and PP, it is recommended to eat bread baked from plain flour and drink yeast.
To meet the need for vitamin C, it is necessary to introduce vegetables into the diet - tomatoes, cabbage, especially sauerkraut, and potatoes. Although potatoes contain a small amount of vitamin C, due to its consumption in significant quantities, it is an important product that provides a significant part of the body's need for this vitamin. In addition, it is very useful to eat apples (northern varieties), black currants, as well as lemons, oranges, tangerines and drink rosehip infusion. Small amounts of vitamin C are also found in animal products.
A postpartum woman can get vitamin D from foods such as butter, milk, egg yolk, liver, as well as fish oil, which is especially rich in this vitamin.
From the list we have given you can see which products should be included in the diet of a nursing mother. It should, however, be noted that the consumption of fats and eggs should be in limited quantities, since an excess of them in food can lead to metabolic disorders and the development of cholelithiasis.
In the last months of winter and spring, when the consumption of foods rich in vitamins (fruits, berries) is reduced, and the content of vitamins in stale vegetables decreases, it is advisable to take vitamin preparations, which are widely produced by our vitamin industry.
Some food and flavoring substances should be excluded from the diet of a nursing mother. So, she should not eat fatty, difficult-to-digest foods. It is not recommended to use mustard, vinegar, and pepper. It is forbidden to drink wine or beer, since alcohol easily penetrates into the child’s body with mother’s milk and poisons it.
A breastfeeding woman usually experiences extreme thirst, which is explained by increased fluid loss. Drinking should not be limited, but it should not be abused either. For drinking, you can recommend weak tea or coffee, as well as milk.
Let us also note the following. Often, postpartum women experience intestinal sluggishness and constipation. Independent action of the intestines can be achieved if the food includes fresh fruits, vegetables, buckwheat porridge, black bread, plain wheat bread, and yogurt. It is useful to eat yogurt, boiled beets, prunes, and apples on an empty stomach. If you have persistent constipation, you should consult a doctor.
You should not take medications, including laxatives, without a doctor’s prescription, as many of them are transmitted through milk and can harm the baby. During the feeding period, a woman should not smoke, since nicotine is the strongest poison for the child.
LACTATION
The production of milk by the mammary glands begins shortly after birth. The preparatory process necessary for this takes place in the glands during pregnancy. At this time, intensive growth of the glandular tissue embedded in the mammary gland occurs. The mammary glands increase in volume, the nipple and areola darken.
Often, already at the beginning of pregnancy, a drop of discharge can be squeezed out of the mammary gland, and by the end of pregnancy, a cloudy light yellow liquid is released from it - colostrum.
After childbirth, colostrum gradually turns into milk, and this process ends in multiparous women between the 3rd and 7th day, and in primiparous women a little later. Proper feeding and vigorous sucking by the baby speeds up this transition.
On the 3-4th day after birth, due to the onset of increased activity of the mammary glands, engorgement occurs. The mammary glands suddenly become enlarged; the skin becomes tense and shiny.
In some women, there is no significant engorgement of the mammary glands - the activity of the mammary glands is established gradually.
If there is engorgement of the mammary glands, a woman is advised to limit her drinking. In case of severe engorgement, appropriate measures are prescribed by a doctor.
Every healthy woman should feed her child herself. With mother's milk, the child receives all the substances necessary for his growth and development, as well as substances that provide his resistance to infection and protect him from some infectious diseases. Breastfeeding is also necessary for the postpartum woman herself - the reverse development of the genital organs during breastfeeding occurs more correctly and faster. Most women can feed their baby themselves. However, it is important to remember that the ability to produce milk (lactation ability), especially in primiparous women, is established and improved as breastfeeding occurs. To do this, it is necessary to follow a number of rules, especially at first, at the beginning of the feeding period.
First of all, the nursing mother needs to adhere to a certain regimen. This includes: adequate rest (night sleep 6 hours, sleep during the day during rest hours), regular meals (five times a day - morning breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, a glass of milk or curdled milk at night), strict personal hygiene, light physical exercise and walks in the fresh air after discharge from the maternity hospital, appropriate sanitary and hygienic conditions in the maternity hospital and compliance with sanitary and hygienic rules in everyday life. Next, you need to follow the correct feeding regimen. The baby must be fed at certain times at intervals of 3-3 1/2 hours. At night there should be a break of 6 hours between feedings. A night break is necessary as rest for mother and child.
The secretion of milk is best maintained by irritation produced by the baby's sucking movements and periodic, possibly complete emptying of the mammary gland, for which only one breast should be given at one feeding, and the other at the next. With good milk secretion from the mammary gland, a healthy, strong child empties it in 15-20 minutes. If after feeding there is milk left in the mammary gland, then, as prescribed by the doctor, it is expressed using a breast pump. A nursing mother must learn how to properly attach her baby to the breast.
Proper care of the mammary glands is of great importance. First of all, you need to keep them spotlessly clean. A nursing mother should wash her breasts daily with warm water and soap. It is necessary to change your underwear often; it is best to change your bra daily. Before each feeding, you need to thoroughly wash your hands, then wash the nipple with absorbent cotton wool moistened with boiled water or a weak solution of boric acid. After feeding, it is recommended to gently dry the nipple with sterile cotton wool. Under no circumstances should you touch it with your hands.
Air baths have a good effect on the body, so it is useful to expose the mammary glands to fresh air. Air baths for the mammary glands should be taken in a well-ventilated area, lying on your back, twice a day for 10-15 minutes.
Drooping of the mammary glands or tight contraction of them negatively affects the secretion of milk and leads to congestion in individual lobes of the mammary gland. A breastfeeding woman should wear a comfortable bra that provides good support but does not compress the mammary glands. The most comfortable is a bra with cups and a wide belt, fastened at the front.
Finally, every nursing mother should know that the nervous system undoubtedly influences milk secretion. In this regard, it is first of all necessary that a calm and quiet environment be created during feeding, so that the effect on the nervous system of all unnecessary and irritating moments is eliminated. Further, it is necessary that the established feeding regimen be strictly observed, so that all preparatory measures for it (for example, ventilating the room, washing hands, washing the nipple before feeding) at a strictly defined time and in strict sequence precede the baby's attachment to the breast. All this will contribute to proper lactation. This implies the need to diligently follow the established feeding order and consistently follow all the rules for preparing for it. This is especially important at first, when the activity of the mammary gland has not yet established itself.
It should also be remembered that worries and nervous experiences can adversely affect breastfeeding. It is necessary to protect the nursing mother from unnecessary worries and worries. This applies not only to those around her, but also to the mother herself, who sometimes gets nervous without good reason.
The mammary glands begin to function only in the postpartum period. Their activities do not always proceed smoothly, especially with the first child. Sometimes, when even minor feeding disturbances occur, the mother becomes desperate that she is not able to feed her child. This mood negatively affects the state of the nervous system of the postpartum mother and only worsens the situation. A nursing mother should remember that dysfunction of the mammary gland is usually temporary and can be eliminated.
It is necessary to follow a general regimen (of particular importance, as stated, is rest and sleep), eat regularly, and follow all feeding rules. In rare cases, as prescribed by a doctor, it is necessary to resort to certain therapeutic measures.
HOME ENVIRONMENT AND MOTHER'S REGIME AFTER RETURNING HOME
After giving birth, a woman stays in the maternity hospital for 8-10 days. This period was set in the interests of the postpartum woman, since during this period the healing of birth wounds has not yet occurred and there is a great danger of postpartum complications, which can only be prevented and cured in a maternity hospital. The period of stay in the maternity hospital may seem long for both the mother and her loved ones, but we must remember that premature discharge can cause harm, sometimes even difficult to repair.
After being discharged home, the postpartum mother should avoid anything that could disrupt the proper course of the postpartum period. Close people should help her with this. Relatives should prepare to welcome the mother and newborn from the maternity hospital.
The room in which the mother and child will be must be put in order in advance. If for some reason it is difficult to carry out repairs, it is necessary to thoroughly wipe the walls, wash the doors, windows, and floors. If possible, all unnecessary things should be moved to another room. Mother and child should have separate beds. For disinfection, underwear and bedding for mother and child should be washed and ironed thoroughly.
You must purchase in advance all the items necessary to care for a newborn: a bathtub, a separate trough for washing baby clothes, a bed, etc.
On the eve of discharge, it is necessary to clean and wash the room again, ventilate the blanket and mattresses well, prepare clothes and clean linen for the mother and child.
When a woman returns from the maternity hospital, she should be provided with assistance on the way and provided with convenient transportation. On the first day of returning home, the postpartum mother is usually excited about meeting her family. She often does not feel tired, moves a lot, and makes mistakes in her routine. Meanwhile, it is very important to provide her with complete rest, so upon arriving home she should be immediately put to bed.
On the second day, if the postpartum woman feels well, she can get up and walk around the room, and after 3-4 days go out into the fresh air for a walk.
During the entire postpartum period, a woman needs a certain regimen. First of all, she needs adequate rest. When caring for a child, a mother is often forced to get up to see him at night, her sleep is interrupted, and she does not get enough sleep. It is very important to establish a regime so that a woman can rest during the day. A postpartum mother should sleep at least 8 hours a day.
Systematic lack of sleep causes irritability and fatigue, and also adversely affects milk production.
The need for rest does not mean that a woman should do nothing during the postpartum period and that it is beneficial for her to lie in bed a lot. On the contrary, her health requires an active lifestyle. The postpartum woman should get up on time, move enough (do physical exercises in the morning), be in the fresh air and gradually get involved in housework. Under this condition, her strength will quickly be restored. However, it must be emphasized that if early movements bring benefits to the postpartum woman, then early heavy physical labor in the postpartum period is harmful.
After childbirth, the uterus is very mobile, easily displaced, the ligamentous apparatus of the internal genital organs, as well as the pelvic floor muscles, are relaxed and stretched. Work associated with significant stress and heavy lifting can lead to prolapse of the uterus. Family members should help the postpartum mother with housework and child care, especially at first. At home, hygiene rules must also be strictly observed.
Inflammatory diseases caused by microbes can also occur in the late postpartum period, and therefore cleanliness is the best way to prevent them. First of all, one has to take into account the possibility of developing mastitis (breastfeeding). In the late postpartum period, inflammation of the genital organs may also occur. In this regard, early onset of sexual activity after childbirth poses a particular danger. With a normal postpartum period, sexual activity can be allowed no earlier than 6 weeks after birth, since before this period the genitals are easily vulnerable and can become infected. In addition, early puberty. intercourse can cause severe uterine bleeding in the postpartum mother.
Living conditions and the environment are of great importance for the health of mother and child. The room in which the mother and child live must be kept impeccably clean. Mother and child should spend as much time as possible in the fresh air. The room in which they live must be ventilated frequently and should not be covered with drapes or drapes. You cannot smoke, dry diapers, or store dirty laundry in it - all this pollutes and spoils the air and is harmful to health.
Of course, in order to adhere to the necessary regime, a woman must have time. The Soviet state provides women working in enterprises and institutions with leave after childbirth of 56 days, paid for by state social insurance. In the case of complicated childbirth, the birth of twins, or a premature baby, postpartum leave is extended to 70 days.
Women working on a collective farm are granted leave for 30 days, and benefits are paid from collective farm funds. At the request of the woman, another vacation can be timed to coincide with the postpartum leave.
In all this, the tireless concern of the party and government for the woman-mother and her child is clearly demonstrated.
After 6-8 weeks from the date of birth, the postpartum period ends. In postpartum women who are not breastfeeding, menstruation resumes. This means that the egg has matured in the ovary.
In most cases, breastfeeding mothers do not have menstruation until after breastfeeding. Maturation of eggs does not occur in the ovaries. The uterus is at rest; under the influence of feeding, it becomes smaller than usual. Along with this, in some women who are breastfeeding, menstruation begins 7-8 weeks after birth and the first menstruation is often heavy. In the future, menstruation becomes regular or stops for 2-3 months, and sometimes more.
Since menstruation is always preceded by the maturation of the egg in the ovary, a woman during the feeding period can become pregnant before menstruation resumes. A nursing mother can contact an antenatal clinic, where she will receive comprehensive advice on how to protect herself from pregnancy.
At the end of the postpartum period, the woman begins to lead a normal lifestyle. However, even after the postpartum period, a nursing mother must adhere to a certain regimen, eat regularly, and observe hygiene rules, in particular for caring for the mammary glands. As you know, the process of milk production largely depends on all this.
For breastfeeding, the mother is given an additional break from work for 9 months (half an hour every 3 1/2 hours of work). The break is considered as working time and is paid. If the mother travels far, it is necessary to leave expressed milk for the baby. Milk should be expressed with cleanly washed hands, into a well-boiled glass container (preferably through a glass funnel into a feeding bottle).
WOMEN'S CONSULTATION AND MONITORING OF THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD
In conclusion, let us pay attention to the following very important circumstance. After a normal birth, a healthy woman does not need any treatment, but in order for the postpartum period to proceed correctly, medical supervision is necessary. This obliges the woman to regularly attend antenatal clinics. It is also absolutely necessary to regularly bring the child to the children's clinic, where they will monitor his development and help the mother in caring for him. If necessary, the mother receives consultation and socio-legal assistance.
You should come to the antenatal clinic for the first time 1 - 1 1/2 weeks after discharge from the maternity hospital. At the first sign of a complication, you should immediately seek advice or call a doctor at home.
Of the complications associated with the postpartum period, the most often observed are: inflammation of the genital organs, cracked nipples and inflammation of the mammary glands, bleeding.
The following signs indicate the possibility of an inflammatory process in the genital organs:
Temperature increase. During inflammation, a high temperature (38° and above) is not always noted; it is often in the range of 37-37.9° (subfebrile temperature).
Discharge. In the presence of inflammation, the discharge from the postpartum mother takes on a bloody-purulent or purulent character; They often have a smell.
Pain. With inflammation, pain in the lower abdomen, groin and lower back is often observed. Often a woman experiences painful urination or pain during bowel movements. It is also necessary to pay attention to pain in the calf muscles, which may appear shortly after standing up. In the presence of elevated temperature, they often indicate the onset of postpartum illness. In this case, until the diagnosis is clarified, the postpartum woman must remain in bed.
Inflammation of the mammary gland is most often preceded by cracked nipples, which are the gateway for infection to enter the breast tissue. Cracked nipples usually occur in the first weeks of feeding, when the nipples have not yet acquired sufficient resistance. It is clear that if they appear, you need to consult a doctor.
Signs of incipient inflammation of the mammary gland, along with an increase in temperature, include pain in the mammary gland, hardening, and redness of the skin.
Bloody discharge after childbirth stops from the second week of the postpartum period. If they continue longer than this period, then this indicates either poor uterine contraction or the presence of an inflammatory process. In some cases, when a woman does not consult a doctor in a timely manner, spotting can turn into heavy uterine bleeding, which will require urgent help.
It is quite obvious that there is no need to wait for the disease to develop. If any signs of illness appear, you need to seek help and advice from a consultation, where the woman will be helped to maintain health and raise a healthy child.
The mother's diet should be high-calorie, as during pregnancy, with the same requirements. Exclude stimulants, allergens, bitterness, and alcohol, as these are passed on to the baby through milk. Caution must be exercised when consuming foods that affect intestinal motility, as this will also affect the baby's intestinal function.
Increased requirements for personal hygiene. A daily shower and change of underwear (shirt, bra) are recommended. Change of sheets - 4 times a day, bed linen - 1 time every 3 days. It is required to wash your hands before eating, before feeding, and after using the toilet. Wash yourself after using the toilet with baby soap. Additionally, you do not need to wash your breasts every time before feeding; it is enough to express a few drops of milk and wash the nipple.
A postpartum woman in the postpartum ward should devote all her time to caring for herself and the baby, and avoid unnecessary stress (TV, reading, unnecessary contacts).
Visits to postpartum women by close relatives in individual wards are allowed, but care must be taken that these visits do not tire the child and mother. Such visits are very undesirable in multi-bed wards. It is unacceptable for a woman in labor to visit other wards and departments, spend a lot of time in the lobbies, meeting with relatives, or talk through the window in the cold season.
It is necessary to conduct conversations on the following topics: hygiene and nutrition of the postpartum mother, changes in the body of the postpartum mother, child care, benefits of natural feeding, postpartum complications and their prevention, prevention of mastitis, fetal diseases and their prevention, vaccinations and their benefits, postpartum sexual hygiene, contraception after childbirth It is also necessary to conduct conversations about a healthy lifestyle, giving up bad habits, and the dangers of abortion.
Naturally, this is a very large amount of information. Therefore, it is necessary to distribute the topics of conversation in relation to the days of the postpartum period, among the staff (doctor, midwife, pediatrician, children's nurse). Information is presented in the form of oral conversations, written recommendations, reminders, visual stands, demonstrations of care methods, etc. A woman is receptive to these recommendations only if she has prior prenatal preparation. An individual approach is required. It is necessary to encourage mutual support of postpartum women in double wards (advice from an experienced woman), and answer questions.
A postpartum woman is discharged after a normal birth, usually on the 5th day, although earlier discharge is permitted. In the individual card, a record is made of the date and result of childbirth (sex and weight of the fetus, Apgar score, duration, blood loss, interventions, complications of childbirth and the course of the postpartum period).
A postpartum woman is advised to contact the antenatal clinic 7-10 days after discharge from the maternity hospital, or earlier if she has complaints or questions about postpartum problems. A pediatrician and a children's nurse will come from the children's clinic, so consultations on childcare and natural feeding will be provided.
Upon early discharge, postpartum women from the maternity hospital transmit information to the LCD.
The postpartum period lasts on average about 8 weeks. During this period, the body of the woman who has given birth returns to the state it was in before pregnancy. Along with the processes of reverse development, the activity of the mammary glands begins to develop in the postpartum period.
Every postpartum woman should have an idea of the complex processes that occur in her body in the postpartum period. Only under this condition will she consciously comply with all the hygienic requirements that will be placed on her.
In most cases, the general condition of a woman after a normal birth is quite satisfactory. However, sometimes painful sensations are observed in the external genitalia and in the perineal area. Multiparous women sometimes experience painful contractions of the uterus during the first two days (especially while feeding the baby).
The temperature is usually no higher than 37°. In the first days of the postpartum period, urination is often delayed due to the weakness of the distended abdominal wall. One of the reasons for difficulty urinating is the lack of habit of urinating while lying down. Constipation may occur due to relaxation of the abdominal muscles, sluggishness of the intestinal muscles, and sometimes due to the presence of hemorrhoids.
Appetite in the postpartum period usually increases, and in the first days the postpartum woman feels thirsty.
The uterus immediately after childbirth shrinks several times. Immediately after birth, its weight is about 1 kg, length - 15 cm, width - 12 cm, wall thickness - about 6 cm. Contractions of the uterus are promoted by breastfeeding and the use of physical therapy. In primiparous women, the reverse development of the uterus occurs more quickly.
The uterus contracts most intensively in the first 6-8 days; in subsequent days the contraction occurs much more slowly. By the end of the 8th week, the weight of the uterus reaches 50 g.
The inner surface of the uterus does not heal immediately. Therefore, in the first 2-3 days after birth, bloody discharge occurs, later it becomes bloody and yellowish-white. Complete restoration of the uterine mucosa occurs by the 25th day of the postpartum period, and restoration in the placental area occurs even later.
As for the cervix, its return to its original state begins with the internal pharynx, which closes by the 10th day. Complete formation of the external pharynx occurs at a later date - on the 15-20th day.
Great changes also occur in other parts of the genital organs. The elasticity of the ligaments and muscles of the pelvic floor is gradually restored, and the vagina narrows.
The overstretched abdominal wall gradually contracts, but not everyone achieves its former elasticity. The purple stripes formed during pregnancy on the skin of the abdomen change their color and shape: they become narrow and whitish. The abdomen takes its final shape only 4-6 months after birth.
The main task in the postpartum period is to protect the postpartum woman from various harmful influences and ensure her normal course of the postpartum period. To this end, all maternity institutions carry out a set of measures aimed at strict compliance with the sanitary and hygienic regime.
All activities in this direction are carried out by medical personnel. However, much depends on the postpartum woman herself, on her behavior and compliance with the doctor’s prescriptions.
In the first days of the postpartum period, the postpartum woman must remain in bed. Even after a normal birth, she needs rest. However, it would be completely wrong for her to lie motionless on her back. It must be remembered that prolonged immobility has an adverse effect on the process of reverse development of the uterus. Lying on your back for a long time can lead to tilting of the uterus and the formation of a bend, promotes urine and stool retention, and disrupts proper blood circulation.
A healthy mother can turn on her side within 3-4 hours after birth. On the third day, it is recommended to sit in bed, and from the 4th day - to stand on your feet and walk.
In case of perineal ruptures, you can stand up only after the stitches are removed (as directed by the doctor). If there are large gaps, it is advisable to walk first and then sit down a little later.
Discharge from the maternity hospital after childbirth is allowed after 8 days.
To avoid postpartum diseases, a woman should especially carefully monitor the cleanliness of the external genitalia. In the morning and evening it is necessary to wash with a disinfectant solution. After washing, an oilcloth treated with a disinfectant solution and a clean diaper are placed under the maternity ward.
The postpartum mother must carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene. Wash your face twice a day, brush your teeth, cut your nails short, wash your hands with soap and water before each feeding and meal, and keep your breasts clean.
In the first 3-4 days, the mammary glands secrete colostrum. Only after this period does a sufficient amount of milk appear, and on the 3-4th day after birth, engorgement of the mammary glands occurs. The mammary glands become enlarged, the skin becomes tense, and some women experience varying degrees of pain.
Every healthy woman should feed her child herself. Breast milk for a newborn is the most rational food, since with it the child receives substances necessary for his growth and development, as well as providing resistance to various diseases. Breastfeeding also has a beneficial effect on the postpartum mother.
A nursing mother must adhere to a certain regimen. She should get enough rest, eat regularly, strictly observe a hygienic regime, and exercise. It is necessary to feed the baby at certain times at intervals of 3 hours. At night, you need to take a 6-hour break between feedings.
Before each feeding, the mother should thoroughly wash her hands with soap, clean her nails, and wash her mammary glands with boiled water and soap. After feeding, it is recommended to wash the nipples with a solution of boric acid.
During feeding, it is necessary to use gauze masks covering the mother's nose and mouth. This protects the child from infection. The duration of feeding should not exceed 15-20 minutes. The baby should be fed only from one breast during one feeding: this promotes better lactation. Subsequent feeding is done with the other breast.
Baby feeding technique is of great importance. When feeding, the baby's head should not be bent or tilted back. Grasping the mammary gland near the nipple circle with your fingers, you need to express the first drops of milk, and then insert the nipple deeply into the baby’s mouth. It is necessary to ensure that the child grasps not only the nipple, but also most of the isola. During feeding, the mother should ensure that the breast does not cover the baby's nose.
If milk remains in the mammary gland after feeding, it must be removed by expressing. Before expressing, the mother should wash her hands thoroughly. Expression must be done without violence.
To prevent nipple cracks, it is advisable to use air baths; in this case, the postpartum woman lies with her breasts open for 10-15 minutes, and then after each feeding she lubricates the nipples with a 1% solution of brilliant green.
The cleanliness of underwear is also of great importance, especially bras, which should preferably be changed daily.
Every mother should also know that milk production is greatly influenced by the state of the nervous system. Anxiety and nervous experiences adversely affect the activity of the mammary gland.
In this regard, it is necessary that a calm environment be created during feeding. A nursing mother must be protected from unnecessary anxiety and worry.
The mother's diet should be sufficient and varied, meeting the needs of the mother and fetus. A healthy postpartum woman does not need a special diet.
The mother's food should include dairy, meat and vegetable dishes. Dairy products and milk are especially recommended, as well as cereals, vegetables, meat, and bread. Food should contain a large amount of vitamins. To this end, a nursing mother should consume more raw vegetables and fruits.
To provide the mother with vitamin A, butter, sour cream, egg yolks, as well as fat and liver are recommended. Milk, pumpkin, black currants, peaches, and apricots are beneficial. To provide the body with vitamins B and PP, wholemeal bread and brewer's yeast are recommended.
A postpartum woman can get vitamin D by consuming butter, milk, liver, and fish oil.
Some nutrients should be excluded from the mother's food. It is not recommended to take excessively fatty foods, mustard, vinegar, pepper. It is forbidden to drink vodka, wine, beer, since alcohol easily penetrates into the newborn’s body with mother’s milk and poisons it to one degree or another.
The drinking regime of a postpartum woman also deserves attention. You should not limit your fluid intake, but you should not abuse it either. The daily amount of liquid (including liquid meals) should not exceed 2 liters.
For proper intestinal function, food should include fresh fruits, vegetables, buckwheat porridge, and black bread. It is useful to use yogurt and prunes.
During the breastfeeding period, a woman should not smoke and should not take medications without a doctor's prescription.
As we have already indicated, after giving birth, a woman stays in the maternity hospital for at least 8 days. This period is established both in the interests of the mother and in the interests of the fetus. Premature discharge from the maternity hospital can cause great harm to the health of the postpartum mother and the newborn.
After discharge from the maternity hospital, a woman should also avoid all harmful aspects that could disrupt the correct course of the postpartum period. She needs help from loved ones. During the period a woman is in the maternity hospital, relatives should prepare for the day of her discharge: tidy up her room, preferably whitewash it, remove unnecessary items from the room, prepare separate beds for the mother and the newborn, purchase the necessary items for caring for the newborn (bathtub, trough) for washing baby clothes), prepare clothes and linen for mother and child.
On the first day after discharge from the maternity hospital, the woman must be given complete rest and put to bed.
On the second day (if you are feeling well) you are allowed to get up, and on the third day you are allowed to go out for walks in the fresh air.
A woman must follow a certain regimen throughout the entire postpartum period (6-8 weeks). First of all, she needs sufficient rest and a calm environment. Sleep duration should be at least 8 hours a day.
A woman should get out of bed on time, do gymnastic exercises, be in the fresh air and gradually get involved in housework.
At home, you must strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene. You should wash your face every day, keep your hands clean, and change your bed linen at least once every 5 days. 5-6 days after discharge, you can wash the whole body with hot water and soap. You must wash in the shower or standing: you cannot take a bath in the first 8 weeks after birth.
Mother and child should be outdoors every day. The room must be ventilated frequently. It is not allowed to smoke, dry diapers, or store dirty laundry in it.
A special regime must also be observed regarding sexual life. With a normal postpartum period, sexual activity can be permitted no earlier than 6-7 weeks after birth. Earlier sexual intercourse may cause heavy bleeding or be a source of infection.
After the end of the postpartum period, non-breastfeeding mothers resume menstruation. In nursing mothers, they may be absent throughout the entire period of feeding the child, but usually appear in the 5-6th month after birth.
Every breastfeeding woman should remember that pregnancy can occur even when there is no menstruation, so during this period it is necessary to consult a doctor once every 2 months for an examination.
For rapid restoration of strength in the postpartum period, it is extremely important.
By having a general effect on the body, physical exercise helps strengthen the body and increase its resistance to various diseases. In the early postpartum period, exercise is prescribed by a doctor or a specially trained midwife. The exercises usually begin with breathing exercises. In the future, physical activity gradually increases, the exercises become more complicated.
Physical exercises started in the maternity hospital should be continued at home. Ordinary hygienic gymnastics for women in the postpartum period is not recommended, as it can be an unnecessary burden. After childbirth, only light exercises should be performed.
Hygiene is an important component of any person’s life. It is not for nothing that the word “hygiene” comes from the Greek “healing”. Cleanliness of the body and timely care for it are the key to good health!
As a rule, women are more likely to take care of their own hygiene. This is understandable - any representative of the fair sex wants to smell fragrant and be a model of cleanliness and neatness. In addition, personal hygiene is often simply necessary for a woman for physiological reasons. Today we will talk about hygiene after childbirth - a period when cleanliness and proper self-care are extremely important for your health and the health of your baby.
Why is hygiene after childbirth so important?
The need for special hygiene after childbirth is explained by several reasons:
1. Physiological state of the internal and external genital organs after childbirth
After childbirth, the genitals present an extensive wound surface - even if the birth took place without complications. In addition, the vagina and cervix remain slightly open for 4-6 weeks, which facilitates access to infection.
It will take some time for the uterus, vagina and perineum to return to their original state. And during this time, especially careful hygiene.
2. Discharge from the uterus during the first weeks after birth
During the first weeks after childbirth, lochia is released from the uterus - postpartum bleeding. To prevent inflammation or infection from developing in the genital tract, it is necessary to promptly hygiene after childbirth: take a shower and change postpartum pads.
3. Condition of the vaginal mucosa
In the vagina after childbirth, an alkaline environment predominates (and not acidic, as usual). This is due to lochia. However, the alkaline environment significantly reduces the protection of the genital organs from the negative influences of the external environment, and therefore the need for hygiene after childbirth increases.
4. Decreased immunity after childbirth
After childbirth, your immunity leaves much to be desired. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, immunity has not yet recovered after a decline during pregnancy. Secondly, birth stress and hormonal changes in the body make themselves felt. In this regard, after childbirth, special protection of your health is necessary.
5. Presence of seams and other mechanical damage
Childbirth sometimes results in tears or cuts in the perineum or vagina. Naturally, such situations are a risk factor for infection entering the birth canal. The placement of sutures and their subsequent care necessitate careful hygiene after childbirth.
Due to all these factors, it is necessary to take hygiene after childbirth extremely seriously.
Hygiene after childbirth: basic rules
Hygiene rules after childbirth are not as complicated as they seem. The main thing is to carry out thorough hygiene after childbirth systematically and not to be lazy about taking an extra shower. So what are hygiene rules after childbirth:
Change your postpartum pad every 2 hours, regardless of how full it is;
After giving birth, wear only loose underwear made of natural materials (preferably cotton) without seams in the crotch area or special disposable postpartum panties;
Change your underwear and bed linen: panties and nightgown - every day, bra - once every 3-4 days, bed linen - once a week;
Every 2 hours, and also after each visit to the toilet, wash with clean water in the direction from the pubis to the anus;
Wash the perineal area with baby soap morning and evening;
If you have stitches, do not touch them with your hands until they heal, but to hygiene after childbirth use the shower;
After performing genital hygiene, rinse the perineal area with an antiseptic (for example, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or chlorhexidine);
If you have hemorrhoids, after visiting the toilet, do not use toilet paper, replacing it by washing;
After washing, gently, without pressing, blot the perineal area with a clean, soft towel;
Carry out breast hygiene after childbirth 1-2 times a day - wash it with soap or shower gel;
There is no need to wash your breasts before each feeding, and to prevent cracked nipples, it is enough to express a drop of milk after feeding so that it dries, as well as a few drops before feeding.
To quickly heal vaginal injuries and return the genitals to their original state, it is necessary to combine hygiene after childbirth and treatment of wounds and sutures. This can be done with hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green, or chlorhexidine solution, but this is inconvenient.
Depantol® vaginal suppositories are your faithful assistant during the postpartum period!
* Before use, carefully read the instructions or consult a specialist.
