Postpartum Care and Recovery - Issues No One Told You About

You have barely done with dealing with pregnancy issues and now you have a horde of postpartum issues to deal with.

Blood Clots - or Lochia as it is also called is different from menstrual bleeding and occurs after childbirth for a period of a month or more. It is normal to bleed although your doctor must be informed in case of any abnormality like foul smelling blood clots, feeling dizzy and having a fever above 101.2 F.

Contractions - of your uterus continues for a few days even after childbirth as it is your body's way of bringing your uterus back to its pre-pregnancy shape. Breastfeeding activates the oxytocin hormones that helps contract the uterus further.

Sore Vagina - A birth of a baby might tear your vagina on account of which your doctor would have to stitch it up. The stitches may make your vaginal passage sore and make it hard for your bowel movements too. Use an ice pack to soothe the wound or pour warm water over the wound while urinating to prevent the wound from stinging badly.

Bowel movements - may be difficult during the initial days as you may feel hesitant to push anymore after a laborious childbirth. You are likely to get constipated too, so eat fiber rich foods and drink plenty of water to allow smooth passage of waste products. A herbal laxative will also provide relief from constipation.

Urination - may also be hard to begin with, as the vaginal muscles may be swollen or the stitches may sting. However, doing the Kegels can greatly help combat urinary issues and tighten your pelvic floor as well.

Hair Loss - is a common problem after childbirth. During pregnancy, your hair gets thicker due to hormonal changes in your body but after childbirth you lose almost all the additional hair that you had. However, there is no need to despair as it is only temporary and your hair will look the way it did before your pregnancy. Eat protein rich food and hot oil massages for good hair growth.

Stretch Marks - Proper and liberal application of anti-stretch marks cream during pregnancy will greatly combat further stretch marks after childbirth. Apply vitamin E oil liberally and the stretch marks will fade in time.

Postpartum/Vaginal gas - is a common occurrence for all new mothers. You can prevent vaginal/postpartum gas by consuming the right kind of food, wearing a postpartum belt and following certain traditional postpartum methods.

You will find a detailed information on many more postpartum issues, especially prevention of vaginal/postpartum gas, on visiting http://yourkidandyou.blogspot.in/