Preparing For Delivery & Postpartum
PREPARING FOR CHILDBIRTH
Doula
Many women choose a Doula to assist during childbirth. Doulas are trained to facilitate the birth process by providing emotional and physical support to the labouring woman. A Doula is not a medical professional, but she is trained in the physiology of childbirth and will assist you by offering comfort and coping techniques.
Baby Shower Theme Party Packs™
Games, decoration tips, ideas, food, special touches, favor ideas to match your theme!
Birthplan
A birth plan is a written preference about the way you would like your labour and the birth of your baby to occur. Birth plans are used to provide you with a mental image of your expectations and to clarify those expectations to those assisting you.
Click here to make your free Birth Plan.
The Nursery
Keeping the nursery simple will minimize the clutter. All you will need are a crib (or basinette), change table, and a baby bathtub. A small shelving unit to store baby soaps, lotions and other items is also handy near the change table to keep things within an arms reach. Another item, which is a real luxury to have during those 3 am feeds, is a rocking chair. It is soothing for both baby and mother.
Other necessities include a car seat and stroller/pram and you will eventually need a high chair.
WHAT TO EXPECT POST PARTUM
Exercise - Ease back into exercise just as if you were a newcomer to the fitness arena. Start by warming up and exercising 20 – 30 minutes per day, 3 days a week and gradually increase the frequency and intensity as your stamina increases.
Tiredness and fatigue - The first few weeks after having a baby are very tiring; your body needs time to readjust after pregnancy/labour and you and your baby will be trying to develop some sort of routine. Here are some tips to help you during this adjustment period:
· Accept offers of help from friends, neighbours or family with the housework, meals and laundry.
· Try limiting the number of people you see at first – everyone is going to want to see the new baby, but you will need to pace yourself.
· Attempt to express your breast milk once it is established. This will enable your partner to feed the baby some nights, so you can get a restful sleep.
· Check with your health care practitioner if the problem persists. It may be that you are suffering from anemia, depression or another ailment.
Feeling down or depressed? - It is not unusual for women to feel low after giving birth. Hormones are still not balanced, your new feeding schedule will cause you to be tired or you may feel a bit of an anti-climax after giving birth for a variety of reasons. If symptoms persist, however, consult with your health care practioner to determine if you are suffering from post partum depression. For more information, please contact one of the following:
U.S.A. - Postpartum Support International
Canada - Womennet.ca
U.K. - Association for Post Natal Illness
Australia - Oranization for Depression
Breastfeeding
- Breast milk is all your baby requires for nourishment during the first few months of life. Not only does breast milk provide your baby with all the nutrients that he/she requires, it also protects your baby from viruses/infection those first few months. Women who find that their breasts become engorged, or whose nipples get sore in the beginning may want to try an organic herbal breast compress or compress tubes to ease engorgement or an organic nipple cream to relieve cracked, sore nipples.
Bonding with your Baby - Bonding is an attachment that occurs between a parent and their baby. Most infants are ready to bond at birth, as are many parents. However, for some parents the bonding period may be delayed due to a complicated labour, mixed feelings about becoming a parent, hormonal changes, exhaustion or depression.
Methods of Bonding with your baby:
· Appleal to your baby’s senses –sing or talk to your child, massage or stroke your newborn’s skin.
· Play – small interactions such as cooing or holding a small toy for your child to see encourages bonding.
· Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and child. If you aren’t breastfeeding, ensure that it is you or your partner that bottle feeds baby for the first few weeks.
· Encourage siblings to cuddle and hold the new baby. That way, bonding becomes a family affair, bringing everyone closer together.
Caring for a newborn is a demanding task, especially if it is your first child and you aren’t sure what to expect. The bonding process will be quicker and easier if you have supportive people around you to help out until you establish a routine with your baby. If you find that you don’t bond right away with your baby, don’t feel bad or guilty. In most cases, bonding will happen once you are more relaxed and comfortable with parenthood.
Weight Loss - This link will take you to the Weight Management section where you will find helpful tips on how to lose weight gradually.
Sex after Baby - Sex after a baby varies from woman to woman. Sex may occur as soon as two weeks after the baby is born or as long as three months, depending on the type of childbirth you experience, how tired you are and your hormone levels.
Plan to have sex at a time when neither of you are too tired or overwhelmed with other things (like the new baby). It may not be the spontaneous sex that you are used to having but re-establishing this shared time is important to your relationship, especially with all of the changes it is going through. And, if your body is not ready for intercourse, experiment with other ways of being intimate with one another.
A Mom's Love - Online magazine for Moms... grab a cup of coffee or herbal tea and cozy up to read inspirational stories by inspirational moms.