What are the biggest problems moms face right after birth...?

Question

and how can they overcome them?

I'm looking for information on physical discomfort or challenges associated with things like hemhorroids, episiotomy, exhaustion, nutrition etc. What are health challenges associated with C-Section, or vaginal birth, and what are your tips for getting through those first few weeks after giving birth?

Best answer gets the 10 points!

Answer 1

If you have perineal damage (a cut or a tear) then ice packs really help. The BEST way to do it is to take a bottle of witch hazel and squirt some into a big thick maxi pad and then freeze it. You get the comfort of the cold on your swollen and damaged bottom and you get the healing properties of the witch hazel.

Sleep when the baby sleeps. Don't expect to get all your sleep at night when you have a newborn.

Make up meals before the birth and freeze them. Arrange for your church group, neighbors, La Leche League group, etc. to bring you meals off and on during the first month or so. Keep meals simple if you make them yourself.....or better yet keep stuff hubby knows how to prepare available.

Keep a list of things that need to be done on the fridge. When friends or relatives ask "how can I help" ask them to cross something off the list for you. (They shouldn't "help" by feeding or caring for baby.....that's the new mom's job! Let them do your laundry or run errands, etc.)

Consider using paper plates for a the first couple of weeks to cut down on housework.

Keep quick and easy to grab snacks available. Precut veggies, granola bars, fresh fruit, protein bars, etc. Be sure to stay well hydrated. Drink some water each time you nurse. Keep a water bottle by your chair or your bed.

Bring baby into bed with you. (See link on safe cosleeping.) This will help you get more sleep and will make baby feel much more secure.

Those "Thermacare" patches are GREAT for afterpains. Put one on and it will be like having a heating pad on your belly all day but you can move around. It's also fine to take Tylenol while nursing for any discomforts.

If you get engorged, cold for the swelling between feedings and heat applied right before nursing to get the circulation going. Bags of frozen peas work well for the ice packs. You can bend over a sink of really warm water (or a big bowl) and soak your breasts prior to nursing or use a hot washrag. Nursing frequently (at least every 2 hours around the clock) will help to prevent the engorgement from getting too bad.

Using Lansinoh cream on your nipples can help prevent having dry, cracked nipples. It can also help to heal them if you have any soreness or damage. You don't have to clean it off to nurse. If you have a lot of pain, that's not normal and you need to call a Lactation Consultant or a La Leche League Leader for help. LLL will help for FREE and will often visit you at home if you have a newborn. Discomfort is normal early on.....true pain is NOT normal.

Answer 2

The biggest problem is keeping Daddy at bay until Mommy heals! (Just kidding)
Seriously though if you have the option I would give a vaginal birth, you do heal faster and are less likely to contract some type of infection.
Sleep deprivation would be another, so sleep when the baby sleeps.
Another is the adjustment, so if you have someone to stay with you for the first couple weeks to help it is a good idea, it is a blessing.
Breastfeeding is the best way to go if at all possible, not only does the child get some antibodies from you to improve his/her immune system it helps Mommy to lose the weight and heal faster, whether c-section or vaginal birth.
These are the biggest, one more, make sure to keep every doctor appointment for you and the child.
The last, enjoy the new bundle of joy!
Congratulations!

P.S. If go with c-section it would be very helpful and less painful on your belly to have the young one sleep with you or very close. Though I would recommend the child sleep very close to the Mother the first 3 months as this reduces the chances of SIDS by 75% no matter which form of birth has been done.

Answer 3

My perineaum hurt so much after the birth.... Getting out of bed was MURDER!

(I had a Level 2 tear -- about the same as an episiotomy, and no visable hemhorroids.)

Sitz bath worked wonders... as did having a little spray-bottle of warm water for when I went potty.

It takes a few weeks before anyone settles down for more than an hour or so sleep... prepared meals are a godsend.

Breast engorgement was uncomfortable, mostly because I didn't have any nursing bras that fit... and couldn't get them in my size when I needed them. (The local stores didn't carry above an E cup... and I'd swollen from my normal F. I had to wait till the hospital lactation-shop opened a couple days later.) Looking back, I really recommend that you buy a Bravado nursing bra BEFORE the baby comes. It's got good support (even for us well-endowed gals), but the cups are soft cotton, so they are "forgiving" of size changes. (Plus you can sleep comfortably in them... great for pregnancy!)

As for sleep... my hubby took the "early shift" with the baby, tending his needs (other than nursing) till about 1-2 am, so I could rest. After that, I took over, till around 10 am, so HE could rest. That way, we each had a little stretch of time we could call our own... and sleep in. =)

Answer 4

Sleep whenever the baby does! If you can't sleep at least rest lying down for a bit. If you are breastfeeding the most discomfort I recall is that nursing makes your uterus contract back to it's normal size and it can be rather uncomfortable cramping.

The best thing you can do now to prepare is rest, nest and cook/freeze meals. I had about a months worth of meals ready for when I came home so that I didn't have to worry about cooking for quite some time.

Those were such peaceful and wonderful months though- Just remember to snuggle that little one as much as possible because it does go by far too quickly.

Answer 5

the biggest and most common problem is postpartum others include Vaginal bleeding.
Breast engorgement, abdominal pain and hemhorroids.....
postpartum is a state of depression.. which leaves you feeling exhausted and incapable of raising a child.... hemorrhoids are usually caused bye major constipation, traumatic delivery and sometimes the delivery of a heavy baby. normally show up with in a 6 week period after giving birth. breat engorgment is when your breast are filled with milk it can leave a heavy feeling and sometimes a lil pain....and about an episotomy?? it will generally leave you sore a lil longer than if you weren't to tear or be cut.. also infection... below are some sites that i hope could help you =)

Answer 6

Waiting for your milk to come in can be stressful. When the milk comes in can be even more uncomfortable. After the milk is in, you tend to leak all over your shirts, so having at least six sets of washable breast pads will keep you dry and clean feeling. Lansinoh cream for tender nipples is really helpful during the first few weeks of nursing. I did not have any tearing, but I know some friends who did, and they said that the stitches were killer.

Answer 7

-vaginal bleeding
-taking care of episiotomy
-breast engorgement
-exhaustion
-sleeplesness
-stress, specially if you are a first time mom

*For breast engorgement, feed or pump every 2 hours. For leakege washable pads are the best and cheaper.

*Dermoplast spray for pain relieve in episiotomy

*Sleep when your baby sleeps

Answer 8

in the experience that your ex neglected his scheduled time including your son, then complicated. that is not that he's being punished for having to have labored that weekend, purely that your son desires regularity in his existence, and if he sees his dad one weekend and his super grandmother the subsequent, then that's the way it's going to be. Dad will purely could wait until his turn arises returned, and make specific that he's not working that weekend. If he refuses to pay newborn help, checklist him. you have a criminal settlement, he broke it, and now he's attempting to make you responsible? i does not say that he has his act at the same time yet, he remains performing like a newborn. i understand artwork comes up and many times times a guy or woman rather desires funds, yet issues like visitations could rather be scheduled ahead, and that's his accountability. purely because of the fact he screwed up, he can not assume all of us else (you, super grandma, your son) to alter your schedules around. he will in all likelihood say some thing like "properly I had to artwork with the intention to pay newborn help," which to a definite volume is actual, yet while he has visitation and newborn help arrangements, he rather has to get his act at the same time and play in accordance to the regulations. Does he think of if he became into on probation and had to artwork somewhat of coming in to verify his p.o., he may well be allowed to act the same way?

Answer 9

C-sec wasnt too bad, just really painful to pass gas, and walk at first