Post Partum Recovery & Care

Postpartum Exercises to Contract the Uterus Here
Postpartum Care for Moms and Babies Here

Postpartum Recovery consists of Healing, Nourishing, Bonding, and Strengthening for both mother and baby. The baby too must be remembered as they worked harder than the mother.

Recovery from pregnancy and labor can be achieved by getting the rest and relaxation after birth. Healing the woman's body with rest and proper nutrition is essential. Breastfeeding is the most important thing a mom and baby can do. The exercise that it does for the womb and the mouth muscles of the baby are essential.

Bringing the baby to the breast and breaking the suction before taking the nipple out of the mouth of the baby is the most important information concerning proper breastfeeding. Needless to say the skin to skin bonding and love from breastfeeding lasts a lifetime. Taking naps everyday and often together with the baby will benefit both will give her the energy to care for the baby, breastfeeding, changing diapers.

As a mother you will wake up in the middle of the night to breastfeed, this milk is essential to the brain of the baby. It is recommended that the woman stay down as long as possible, no lifting (heavier than the baby) or walking up stairs for the first week. This allows the muscles in the abdomen to contract naturally and the uterus to heal properly. The bleeding that occurs after labor is natural and will continue for a few weeks. If bleeding increases or does not slow down, it is a sign that the mother is pushing herself. The mother needs to get off her feet and relax and not only sit down but lie down and get her the feet up, elevated.

If possible the woman should receive hands on care from her family, midwife or friends after labor. Massage is an easy and effective way to heal the body. The lower back and leg muscles can be strained during birth and benefit from a good rub. All massage postpartum go from lateral movements inwards, literally The mother’s shoulders will also be taking on some extra weight now from breast feeding and will need extra attention. Being consciencious of posture and breastfeeding positions (the shoulders relaxed) helps the milk flow and the muscles in the shoulders stay relaxed. Shoulder rolls are a good exercise for the new mother to do several times a day. Coconut oil is great for massage as well as stretch marks.

Herbs are a great way to heal the body internally and externally if they are used in the right way. Moxa is a Chinese herb traditionally used in combination with acupuncture. In the postaprtum period using a moxa pot is a very healing treatment for the mother. It brings heat back into ming men (which is the place which controls the uterus). It is also very healing for the uterus. Some midwives or acupuncturists will know of this treatment. The moxa pot is placed in a sock on the back while the woman lies on her stomach. It is best used after meals and left on during a nap. This will aid in the strengthening and healing of the uterus by stimulating the blood flow and circulation.

Herbal baths are an easy way to pamper a mother. Simply use a cloth tea bag or strainer to immerse the herbs in the water while the woman is bathing. If there is a willing attendant an herbal tea can be made in pots on the stove and then poured over the woman’s body…hot. Herbs like milkweed, mugwort, comfrey root, rosemary, motherwort, raspberry leaf and rue are beneficial alone or mixed. Immediately after the bath the woman needs to be wrapped in blankets, to keep in the warmth, and laid down to rest.

Lots of healthy whole foods are needed to nourish and replenish the body after birth. The mother is nursing now and actually needs more calories now that when she was pregnant. The loss of a lot of energ( (heat) during labor also requires that the mother eat plenty of warm, building foods, such as ginger, turmeric, pepper, garlic in soups to increase blood flow and strengthen blood. teas?? A few weeks before the birth soups can be made and frozen. Make sure to include ginger and garlic as mentioned and lots of dark greens and a little chicken or turkey meat.

Fluids. Since the mother is nursing and giving so much to the baby she needs to be drinking plenty of water. Water will prevent mother from becoming dehydrated, as the baby will take what it needs and leave the mother at a loss. If there are not sufficient amount of nutrients and fluids it is reflected in the mother’s health. Baby is affected by how the mother takes care of her health.

Bonding is very important to creating a healthy family. The most obvious natural and physical way for a mother and child to bond is through nursing. This is one of the first ways that the mother and baby will connect physically after coming out of the womb. Not only is it comforting and calming for mother and baby it is very wholesome and nutritious. The immediate action of bringing the baby to the breast and initating breastfeeding is one of the first primal bondings between mom and baby.

The colostrum which is the first food for the baby, the earliest form of breastmilk. It acts as a laxative to clean out the meconium. has many more antibiodies than the millk and prepares the digestive system of the baby for the milk. It is an amazing food for the baby and gradually mixes with the milk the second and third day. It is strongest the first ten days after birth. The baby breastfeeds a lot the first few days, which is an action of “calling” the milk to come in. The most important information a mother can have concerning breastfeeding is. bring the baby to the breast and break the suction (putting a finger in the babyʻs mouth to break the suction instead

of just pulling the nipple out of the mouth. Sore, cracked nipples are usually a result of incorrect breastfeeding. La Leche is a good resource for the rare breastfeeding problems such as yeast or inverted nipples.

All mothers can nurse their babies, remember that the mom is the perfect one for her baby. Patience, love and rest are crucial in difficult situations. The longer moms nurse the more immunity they give to their children. It has also been proven to prevent breast cancer; her risk factor lowers the longer that a woman nurses. I nursed my oldest child three years( I was nursing the second child the third year) and the last two five years. Breastfeeding was something I loved.

An issue that is controversial among doctors and health officials these days is co-sleeping. Sleeping with children can be such a blessing. For ages women all over the world have been sleeping with their children. That is how women are able to get a full night of sleep and raise a family with many children. So if it is so beneficial to the mother and child what is the danger and worry about? The only time when it becomes a problem for parents to sleep with their children is if they are intoxicated, to any degree, with drugs, alcohol or any prescription sedatives. This is when the mother that rolls on her child can not wake up when her baby is screaming. It has happened and it can be prevented. Be responsible sober parents and misfortune can be avoided. But after a long day

of changing, feeding, burping and cleaning it is an amazing thing to be able to lie down next to your sleeping child and just watch them breath, like an angel. That is the true gift of life. It is special to dream along side of your child. We slept with our children the first eight years of their life.

Many tribal cultures are known to carry their children for the first few months even up to a year of their life. Granted in many of these cultures there are many people to take care of the children. But it is proven to provide security, comfort and a sense of calm. Children learn to observe adults in daily life situations and understand the importance of respect long before we have to teach them. Wraps and slings are available at many baby stores and on-line.