Post-delivery care and bonding
Tips on Relieving Post-Partum Stress
- Get plenty of rest
- Take a shower with warm water
- Get frequent massages, especially on sore muscles
- Drink warm fluids such as soups and make sure to stay well hydrated
- Do deep breathing exercises
- If you have undergone cesarean delivery, do not lift heavy objects until given the go ahead by your doctor
Eating healthy food
Eat a well-balanced diet from 5 food Groups: Carbohydrates, Vegetables, Fruits, Protein & Dairy products. Iron-rich foods are highly recommended because Iron deficiency is a common problem after delivery. These foods include: Liver, lean meats, poultry, oysters, tuna, salmon, molasses, dried beans and prunes, broccoli, beets, spinach, eggs, legumes, almonds, raisins and apricots.
Bonding with your baby after Birth
Both mother and baby benefit from being in contact immediately after birth. Give your baby your full attention during this precious time. Gaze at his face and let him hear the voices of his parents that he has already learned to recognize in the womb.
Lay your baby on your chest, tummy to tummy, cheek to breast, skin to skin. Cover your baby with a blanket, and your body heat will keep him warm better than any elaborate hospital equipment.
After holding your baby close to you after birth, let him breastfeed right away.
Place your baby in a face-to-face position, adjusting your head and your baby’s head so that your eyes meet. Enjoy this visual connection during the brief period of quiet alertness after birth.
Remember to talk to your new born during the first hours and days after birth; a natural baby-talk dialogue will develop a bond between mother and baby. Voice-analysis studies have shown a unique rhythm and comforting cadence to mother’s voice.
Further Reading
Bringing your new baby home is a special event. And over the next 6 months, you’ll have many more milestones in your baby’s development to treasure. From that first smile to that first spoonful, this article tells you what you can expect and what to look forward to.
Now that you can change nappies with your eyes closed and have mastered the first stage of weaning, discover what’s coming up over the next few months in your baby’s development. From exploring the world on all fours and making those first words, to taking on life as a toddler.
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