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Meaningful Postpartum Advice Can Make a Difference
Complications and discomforts of the postpartum period are often topics of only brief discussion in traditional childbirth education classes. Parents are eager to learn about labor, birth and infant care, but many glaze over when it comes to postpartum issues. Even if the instructor did discuss postpartum problems in class, the information may not be retained if the parents aren't ready to focus on "life after birth." So often energies are directed to learning about baby care to such an extent that the new mom is not concerned about learning about her own care. Physical discomforts and other postpartum complications, however, are among the primary causes of a stress-filled recovery from childbirth and they complicate adaptation to life with a new baby. How many times have you heard "I wish I had known more about what to expect after I had the baby" at reunions? For these reasons, specific and meaningful tips to alleviate postpartum discomforts are an important part of a childbirth class. It is well known that "mothering the new mother" is important in the postpartum period. We can plant those seeds in the childbirth class by dispensing the following bits of common sense.
PERINEAL PAIN
One of the most common postpartum complaints is of discomfort in the perineum. Itching and pulling are often experienced as episiotomy stitches are absorbed. Pain during urination originating with those stitches can discourage frequent emptying of the bladder and contribute to the possibility of bladder infections.
Practical advice
- Employ the peri-bottle and sitz bath properly -- use the peri-bottle when the stream of urine is passed and dampen the toilet tissue with warm water before wiping.
- Position for comfort, i.e., side-lying, using pillows, etc.
- The high-tech, highly absorbent variety of sanitary napkins that absorbs all vaginal moisture can be very irritating. Do not use a pad with higher absorbency than is needed; the old-fashioned plain napkin may be best.
- Constipation may cause or increase perineal pain if the new mom finds herself holding back...