BRINGING BABY HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL
While most
births are straightforward, occasionally
there are complications that require
additional medical intervention. The most
common complications during childbirth are:
Before you make the trip
home, you need to make sure you are well
enough to care for yourself and your baby.
If you are not feeling strong enough, speak
up and tell your doctor. Make sure that you
learn how to do the following things before
leaving the hospital:
-
Hold, bathe, diaper, and
dress your baby
-
Care for the baby’s
umbilical cord and penis, if circumcised
-
Breastfeed comfortably
with confidence so that your baby is
getting enough milk
-
Prepare a bottle, if the
baby is bottle-feeding
-
Identify any warning
signs that should prompt you to call
your baby’s doctor
As well, check to make
sure that your baby has:
-
Received all of his or
her newborn tests, procedures, and
vaccines
-
Urinated and passed a
stool
-
An appointment scheduled
with the pediatrician
-
A rear-facing infant
safety seat, correctly installed in the
backseat of the car
BIRTH CONTROL AFTER PREGNANCY
After giving birth, you
will probably be instructed by your
obstetrician or gynecologist to postpone any
sexual relations until after your postpartum
checkup. At this visit, your doctor will
make sure that you have completely recovered
and discuss birth control options.
Because babies conceived
less than six months after giving birth are
at a greater risk of pre-term birth and low
birth weight, it is optimal to wait a while
before becoming pregnant again. Babies born
soon after their siblings might have these
problems because the mother’s body has not
had sufficient time to replace nutritional
stores. Postpartum stress may be another
factor.
If you are not
breastfeeding, you may become fertile within
weeks of delivery. If you are breastfeeding,
it may be unclear when fertility resumes. To
err on the side of caution, select a form of
birth control before you resume having sex.
BABY BLUES AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
While having a baby is one
of the most wonderful events in a woman’s
life, caring for a newborn is incredibly
stressful. Hormone levels drop dramatically
after delivery, and lack of sleep can be
grueling, as well.
For many women, all of
these abrupt changes can bring on feelings
of sadness. This is often referred to as the
“baby blues.” Usually this condition is mild
and lasts for only a couple of weeks. If you
are feeling sad, alone, or drained, keep in
mind that things will start to improve.
Until then, consider:
-
Talking to your partner
or friend about your feelings
-
Try to sleep when the
baby sleeps
-
Try to get out of the
house for at least a few minutes each
day
-
Join a mothers’ group
-
Ask for help from your
partner, family or friends
-
Take time to care for
yourself
If the symptoms don’t
subside, it might signal a more serious
condition called postpartum depression.
Symptoms of postpartum depression include
feelings of anxiety, despair, or
hopelessness. Seek professional help if you
experience any of the following symptoms:
-
Baby blues that don’t
lessen after two weeks
-
Feelings of depression or
anger that appear after one or two
months
-
Feelings of sadness,
hopelessness, or doubt that prevent you
from managing day-to-day life
-
Insomnia, even when you
are tired
There is effective
treatment and counseling available for women
who have postpartum depression.
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