Postnatal Care – Why You Should Not Ignore It

My name is Shilpa, and I am a mother of 2.4-year-old. I decided to write on postnatal care because it is often ignored. During the nine months of pregnancy and during delivery, the family members of a pregnant woman pay attention to the woman and ask her to take precautions. But once the baby arrives, he/she becomes the top priority. The baby gets all the love and care, and the tired mother is left behind and has to take care of the baby.After delivery (whether it is a C-section delivery or normal delivery), a new mother is bound to get exhausted and she needs ample rest. When a woman finds out that she is pregnant, she starts preparing herself mentally for motherhood but it is only after giving the birth, she embraces it. It’s her first physical experience with the baby. The new mother receives a lot of advice from everyone around her. She is told how to hold the baby, how to feed the baby, and much more. The moment the baby arrives, a woman’s journey of motherhood begins. And sometimes, it can be hard for a new mother to fulfil all the responsibilities. Her exhausted body, restless mind, and sleepless nights can leave her depressed. So, the big question is at this time, who is a woman’s helping hand? Is it her loving hubby, respected mother in law or her parents?In my opinion, everyone should be aware of the term ‘postnatal care’. One must keep in mind that giving birth to a baby is just another phase of pregnancy and not the end. Post delivery, a new phase starts, which is ‘postnatal’. After giving birth, if the new mother is not taken care of, then she might experience ‘postnatal depression’. She might feel lonely and sad if she feels that she is unable to fulfil the responsibilities towards the baby due to physical and mental tiredness.Husbands should help their wives in dealing with postnatal depression. They should be aware of the term postnatal depression. They should support their wives to fight depression.

Here is How You Can Help a New Mother Deal with Depression

1. Don’t leave her alone. At times, she may not behave normally but give her time. Let her take her own time to come around and talk to you. Be there for her when she needs you.

2. Assure her that helping hand is around her for help.

3. If needed seek doctor’s help.

4. You must discuss postpartum bleeding and lochia with the new mother. A woman should know how much blood loss she can expect post delivery. When bleeding is more than normal, they should seek help immediately.

5. Discuss feeding and breast care.

6. Maintain a good environment in your home so that the mother feels happy and is able to take care of the baby in the best possible way.

Women in the postnatal period need to follow a balanced diet, just the way they did during pregnancy. Iron and folic acid supplementation should also continue for 3 months after birth. Women who are breastfeeding require additional food and should drink clean water in adequate amounts. Family members should make sure that the new mother’s nutritional requirements are met. They should do nutrition counselling with women who are very thin. They should also make sure that the mother stays happy and eats healthy.

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