{"id":624,"date":"2019-04-15T13:58:10","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T12:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aptaworld-ng.clickify.io\/?page_id=624"},"modified":"2020-10-21T08:44:02","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T07:44:02","slug":"taking-care-of-yourself","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.aptafrica.com\/en\/pregnancy\/taking-care-of-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Care of Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Summary<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Your new baby<\/a> is the centre of your world, but they\u2019ll need you to stay strong and healthy, physically and emotionally, in order to look after them. That means sometimes asking for help. Find out what changes you can expect to experience and where you can go to get support.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Give yourself a break<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Congratulations! You\u2019ve achieved an amazing thing. You\u2019ve carried and delivered a brand-new human being, and now it\u2019s time to care for and feed them (although what you might want to do most is sleep). It\u2019s a joyful experience, but there\u2019s no doubt that it\u2019s also hard work. You\u2019re used to being independent, but it\u2019s important at this time to accept all the help you can get. You want to do your best for your new baby and that includes giving yourself the time and space to recuperate. Remember that you deserve to enjoy this unique time too.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Emotional changes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Baby blues<\/h3>

In the first few days after giving birth, it\u2019s quite common to experience feelings of sadness, known as \u2018baby blues\u2019. This could be a natural reaction to a momentous life event but is also thought to be linked to a drop-in hormone after birth, in particular, the \u2018love hormone\u2019 oxytocin. \u2018Baby blues\u2019 do not require medical intervention but understanding from family and friends will help. If these feelings don\u2019t lift after a few days, talk to your midwife.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Postnatal depression<\/h3>

Postnatal depression (PND) is thought to affect around 1 in 10 mums and it can take several months for symptoms to appear. It can be triggered by a traumatic birth, sleep deprivation or the sometimes overwhelming responsibilities of motherhood. Symptoms vary widely but include feeling very low, anxiety, panic attacks, irrational thoughts or feeling numb and empty. Talking therapy is usually the first form of treatment offered, but if you are given medication, you should still be able to breastfeed safely. If you have symptoms, seek support as soon as possible. Speak to your midwife. You are not alone and there\u2019s plenty of help available.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Physical changes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Even if your labour was straightforward, giving birth is an intense physical experience and it will take your body time to recover. Aches, pains and bruising are to be expected. Although soreness should subside fairly quickly, don\u2019t expect to feel fully fit for several weeks, even months. The quickest way to recuperate is to rest and sleep as much as you can.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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You may experience: Bruising<\/h3>\n

You may notice bruising at the site of your epidural injection (if you had one), and also where you had any cannulas or drips inserted.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cramping<\/h3>

You might suffer from cramps in your uterus as your muscles spasm and return to their pre-pregnancy position.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tenderness<\/h3>

It can take a few days for the colostrum to make way for breast milk. You might also feel tenderness in your breasts from one day to the next as your body sets up its milk supply.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bleeding<\/h3>

All women experience some bleeding after labour, regardless of the delivery method; sanitary towels will absorb blood and discharge. Bleeding can last two to six weeks and should gradually lighten, but if the flow gets heavier, tell your health visitor, midwife or General Pediatrician GP.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Itchiness<\/h3>

If you have been given an anesthetic during or after labour, it is common for your skin to feel itchy for a few days. Itchiness is a side effect of some types of pain relief (such as morphine) used in an epidural.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Perineal discomfort<\/h3>

Haemorrhoids or soreness in your perineal area can make sitting uncomfortable. If so talk to your midwife or health advisor; they might recommend ointment or ice packs to reduce swelling.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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C-section<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you gave birth via caesarean section<\/a>, you are likely to feel pain and discomfort where the incision was made. You are advised not to drive or lift anything heavier than your baby for six weeks.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Self-administered injections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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For the first seven days after birth, whether you are in hospital or discharged home, you might be prescribed an anticoagulant injection to reduce the risk of blood clots. If you are at home, you will be given ready-measured doses which you administer into your stomach. You\u2019ll be provided instructions and a bin for any used sharp objects. The needle is only small, and the injection pen will click when applied, to tell you the dose has been given successfully.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Getting back on your feet<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Depending on your birth, it can take time before you feel strong enough to walk around after labour. When you\u2019re ready, here are some simple tips to help you to get moving:<\/p>