Postnatal Care in India

Right postnatal care is very essential in order to ensure that both mother and baby are in good health. Pregnancy is a period when the would-be mother constantly takes care of the diet and follows doctor’s instructions so that to have a healthy baby and smooth delivery. There are anxious moments and many emotional changes that go on during pregnancy and at the time of child birth too. When the newborn arrives the attention gets carried off to the infant and most often the mother finds herself neglected.

Regardless of the place where the birth of the child took place, the mother needs special attention for the next two weeks. Here are some tips that would help the mother remain healthy mentally and physically and enjoy motherhood at the same time:

• Postnatal Checkups: Regular checkups after childbirth is also very important and you should not miss even one of them at any cost. These checkups usually include checking blood pressure, temperature and the doctor will examine your stitches and cuts. Just keep in mind that your body is weak at present and so any kind of pain or discomfort should be immediately reported to the doctor. If it was a cesarean childbirth, you have to be extra careful.
• Diet and Exercise: Special care should be taken to have a good and nutritious diet. After a specific period of time the doctor would advise you of some light exercise that you should follow. If you want to start something new, it is always better to consult your doctor. Mothers should not keep themselves confined to bed. They should move about according to the instructions of the doctor.
• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding should be encouraged. It has manifold benefits and in addition to giving all the nutrients and vital elements to the child, it helps strengthen the bonding between the mother and the child. Proper hygiene should be maintained and the new mother should be taught the hygienic techniques properly.

Postnatal Care Tips for Cesarean Mothers: If you have undergone cesarean you should follow the following postnatal care tips.

• Take care of your stitches any time you move or hold your baby. Whenever you hold your baby or feed him, take extra care of your stitches and see that there is no kind of pressure on it.
• If there is problem with the stitches, ask for someone’s help in moving around and holding your baby while feeding him.
• Increase your intake of fluid. There has been loss of blood during childbirth and you need to take care of the diet and fluid intake so that it can be recovered. Most often the mother is asked to take in fluid for the first one or two days or is given intravenous fluid as well.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene and monitor the naval area and your stitches. Watch out and report if there is any kind of infection.