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Preparation of Mother Before Delivery |
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This will be a mixture of joyful,
precious and most memorable time especially if he is your first born.
Often, by now, domestic assistance and duration of leave would have
been sorted out well. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your
baby’s arrival. 1.The immediate postpartum period care
In most cases, the immediate postpartum care takes place in the
hospital where the baby was delivered. These hospitals are usually
equipped with facilities and care of a high quality. The most important
aspect of the immediate postpartum period is to allow the mother to
have sufficient REST, especially in the event of an assisted delivery
(e.g. a caesarean section). Minimize physical exertion, for example, by
placing items at standing height level; will help to reduce the need to
bend over. Try to keep all things within easy reach to minimize
unnecessary movements initially. 2. Ensure good personal hygiene
This is of the utmost importance if you plan to breast feed your baby.
Daily bath and regular hair washing is mandatory. Hot water bath may be
preferred by some individuals. You need longer and thicker maternity
pads to cater for the postpartum bleeding. Prepare a supply sufficient
for 1-2 weeks.
Episiotomies and caesarean wounds need proper cleansing. Normal saline
is also a good and cheaper choice other than the antiseptic liquid
cleanser. Remember to keep the wound clean and dry always. A useful tip
is to use the thicker kitchen towel to pat the wound dry after each
wash. 3. A well balanced diet
Nutritiously well-balanced meals, healthy snacks and drinks as well as
multivitamins (to replenish the losses from postpartum bleeding) should
be the practice. Calcium supplement is recommended especially for
breast-feeding mothers.
Use the Food Guide Pyramid as a guide for
planning a daily diet. Eat most from the 1st level, more of the 2nd
level moderately from the 3rd level, and least from the tip. The
Pyramid also indicates the number of servings that mother should
consume each day.
Different foods within the same group
have different concentration of the nutrients they contain. For
example, fish, poultry, meat and legumes all belong to the same group
but they can be different in terms of the amount of protein they each
contain. It is thus important that mother varies the types of food she
consumes within each group (for example, if she had taken fish for
lunch, she can opt for meat at dinner).
It is not advisable to take vitamins and
minerals supplement excessively. Refrain from taking raw or undercooked
food, as well as soft matured cheeses as they pose a risk of infection.
Avoid also foods that contain a lot of additives such as colorings,
flavorings and preservatives. This is especially vital for mother who
breast feed their babies as these harmful foods and chemicals may be
passed to the babies via the breast milk.
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