Post pregnancy care

Today I fancied taking a break so I’ve got my blog’s first guest post from Sophie.  I have to admit I was very poor at doing anything specific for post-pregnancy care.  With an unplanned (I don’t refer to it as emergency because it was the least like an emergency it could have been) csection, apart from resting and drinking lots of water, I didn’t really do anything specific.  Maybe if I had done, instead of spending lots of time eating cake while meeting my mum friends, I’d have lost my baby weight, and not put more on!

So read on, if you want to find out how to look after yourself post-pregnancy.

Taking care of yourself after pregnancy   

During the first six to eight weeks after childbirth, your body will experience many changes. Women can often expect a little too much from their bodies after pregnancy when really their bodies need time to re-adjust back to their normal state. There’s no rush, so only make a start when you feel the time’s right.

It can be difficult to get back in to the swing of things after pregnancy, but here are a few things to help you on the way:

Dealing with Constipation

Many women often go through a spell of constipation during the first couple of weeks after childbirth. It’s important to treat constipation in the right way as straining to empty your bowels puts pressure on your pelvic floor. This can easily be treated by drinking plenty of water and juice, eating lots of fibre rich foods such as vegetables and pulses and some gentle exercise will always help to keep everything running smoothly.

Rest

Don’t try to do too much, as gaining enough rest is also a vital part of taking care of yourself after childbirth. During pregnancy, a hormone called Relaxin is released which softens up the body’s ligaments and muscles in preparation for birth. This makes you vulnerable to injury and can last up to 5 months after delivery. Try to take short naps when your baby is sleeping or when you have time. Getting some fresh air for a quick 20 minutes a day will also help you feel refreshed; a walk in the park or a visit to your friends’ might be a good idea.

Incontinence

It’s very common for women to have a weak bladder after childbirth, and frequently experience accidental leaks. Your pelvic floor muscles are stretched during pregnancy and undergo immense pressure, which makes it difficult for you to control your urges to go to the toilet. Pelvic floor exercises and incontinence products when used regularly can help these muscles return back to their natural state and gradually increase your pelvic floor strength again.

 Skin Care

It’s not just the inside of your body that takes a hit from pregnancy, almost 80% of women experience stretch marks after the birth of their child. The good thing is that they do eventually fade. In order to hurry this along a little, make sure you regularly moisturise and eat a balanced diet rich with Vitamin E, C and Zinc to increase collagen levels.

These tips will help you to be comfortable and confident in your beautiful body again.

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Thanks to Sophie for guesting, hope it’s useful to those preparing for birth, or in that newborn phase.  You can find Sophie’s blog at The Beauty & Fashion Diary.

If I don’t post over the next few days, thanks for reading, Merry Christmas and all the best for 2013.