How to recover quickly after childbirth 8 principles for rapid recovery after childbirth

Postpartum women will experience a month of confinement. The main purpose of confinement is to regulate the woman's body so that the physical damage caused by the childbirth process can be adjusted and restored. If you want to recover faster after childbirth, please keep in mind the following 8 principles.

8 tips for quick recovery after childbirth

Rules 1. Go to the toilet on time and record the frequency of urination.

Since the fetus will compress the pelvic floor nerves when passing through the birth canal, and the swelling of the tissues around the perineal wound will also compress the nerves, the bladder may temporarily lose control after delivery, and symptoms such as "urinating before reaching the toilet", "not feeling the urge to urinate", or "squatting on the toilet to urinate" may occur. Zeng Yijie, attending physician of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Xin Huixin Hospital, said that since the bladder loses the urination reflex (cannot produce the urge to urinate), it is easy for urine to accumulate and cause infection. It is best to go to the toilet regularly after delivery to ensure that the bladder is not bloated or has residual urine. It is recommended that mothers urinate once after getting up, once every 2 to 3 hours during the day, and once before going to bed. After a while, make sure that urination is normal, and then resume the normal urination pattern (go to the toilet when you feel the urge to urinate).

Acute urinary retention: The most common condition of postpartum bladder damage is "acute urinary retention" - that is, the bladder sensory function is damaged and it is impossible to urinate normally, and it is necessary to use catheterization or urinary catheterization to urinate. This situation usually improves in 3 to 5 days, but it may also take 1 to 2 weeks or even 1 to 2 months to improve. Dr. Zeng Yijie said that the speed of bladder function recovery is related to the time of waiting for delivery. Long-term waiting for delivery will cause greater compression of the nerves and affect the urination function; severe birth canal lacerations will also increase the chance of acute urinary retention.

Rule 2. After you can eat, try to eat light food and fruits and vegetables.

Many people think that they need to eat a lot of meat and fish to recover quickly after giving birth, but this is not the case. The stomach and intestines have not fully recovered during this period of time after giving birth. Eating too much protein food (such as meat, eggs, fish, milk, soy milk) will not only cause bloating, but also make the original constipation worse. At this time, you should eat more light foods such as porridge, noodles, soups, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables to reduce the burden on the stomach and intestines and promote defecation.

Greasy, spicy and irritating foods can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, especially greasy foods with high fat content, which will increase the chance of milk plugging. Breastfeeding mothers should not eat too greasy supplements to avoid affecting feeding. When eating, you should follow the principle of "small meals and frequent meals" to reduce the burden on the stomach. If you want to use Chinese medicine to regulate your body, it is best to consult a professional Chinese medicine practitioner and get the medicine according to the prescription. Don't just go to the pharmacy to get the medicine, so as not to make the hole bigger.

Rule 3. Drink 2,000 to 3,000 cc of water a day.

After childbirth, a lot of water is needed to promote body circulation, defecation and milk production. It is best to drink 2,000 to 3,000 cc of water a day. It is recommended that mothers replenish water in a "small amount and multiple times" manner, and drink a little water after each breastfeeding. The main source of water is ordinary drinking water, and it can also be combined with confinement water.

Dr. Zeng Yiji said that in clinical practice, he has seen many people reduce their water intake because they want to reduce edema, and some people reduce their water intake because they find it troublesome to urinate all the time. However, lack of water in the body often causes constipation, insufficient milk supply and even urinary tract infection. It is recommended that mothers drink more water to avoid losing the big picture for the small.

Rule 4. Take a warm water sitz bath every day for two weeks.

After a natural birth, the wound in the perineum swells and continues to discharge lochia, which can easily cause discomfort and increase the chance of infection. A warm water sitz bath can promote blood circulation in the perineum, improve wound edema and pain, and relax muscles. It can also fully clean the perineum to prevent lochia from contaminating the wound and causing infection and inflammation. It can also promote blood circulation in the anal vein, reduce swelling of hemorrhoids, and relieve pain. There are many benefits. Although mothers who have undergone cesarean section do not have the problem of private wounds, their perineum will continue to discharge lochia. Using a warm water sitz bath to clean the lochia can not only fully clean it, but it is also more convenient to wash.

Mothers who have given birth naturally can take a warm water sitz bath for two weeks after giving birth; place the sitz bath on the toilet or on the ground, fill the basin with warm water (clean water is fine, the temperature is mainly comfortable for the body) and sit directly in it, soak 2 to 3 times a day, soak for 5 to 10 minutes each time, and gradually reduce the number of times when the wound is almost healed and the amount of lochia decreases. People who have hemorrhoids can massage the hemorrhoids while soaking to promote local blood circulation, help hemorrhoids reduce swelling and shrink, and apply special hemorrhoid ointment to the affected area after getting up.

Rule 5. Wash out all urine and feces with clean water.

Natural childbirth can cause lacerations in the perineum. Repeatedly wiping the wound with rough, dry toilet paper can cause discomfort and may lead to infection. Flushing with clean water after urinating can not only help the wound heal faster, but also keep the private parts clean. If the wound is torn to the anus, you can also rinse with clean water (preferably warm water) after defecation to prevent bacteria from growing around the anus and affecting recovery.

Rule 6. Try to feed colostrum and breast milk, and massage the uterus regularly.

One of the key points of postpartum recovery is to promote the discharge of lochia. To allow the discharge of lochia, uterine contractions must be stimulated. There are two ways to stimulate uterine contractions. One is circular massage of the uterus, and the other is breastfeeding. Dr. Zeng Yijie said that it takes some time to establish a regular breastfeeding pattern after childbirth. Before regular breast stimulation, the uterus needs to rely on external force or take drugs to promote uterine contractions to promote contraction. At this time, it is best to massage the uterus regularly. After starting regular breastfeeding, breast stimulation can promote uterine contractions and help the uterus recover faster. Most people who breastfeed smoothly do not need to stimulate uterine contractions through massage or medication.

Rule 7. Reduce the frequency of breastfeeding and get enough sleep.

Good sleep can promote body repair and strengthen immunity. After delivery, you should help your baby establish a good feeding discipline as soon as possible, extend the feeding time to 15 minutes to more than half an hour, let the baby eat fully, and develop a good sleep schedule, so that you can get enough rest.

Mothers who exclusively breastfeed should also find ways to breastfeed easily, such as learning to lie on their back or side to breastfeed, to reduce body pressure and discomfort. But be careful not to fall asleep during breastfeeding. When the baby falls asleep, put the baby back in the crib to avoid danger.

Rule 8. After the wound heals, exercise regularly every week.

Postpartum core muscle training can not only improve back pain, but also prevent permanent sequelae of back muscles. Kegel exercises can help restore the elasticity of the pelvic floor muscles and improve problems such as urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. As long as the wound is completely healed and the doctor indicates that there is no problem with exercise, you can start training the core muscles and doing Kegel exercises. If there is no wound on the perineum after a cesarean section, you can start doing Kegel exercises early, so that the pelvic floor muscles will recover faster.

Remember to drink water before, during and after postpartum exercise; breastfeeding women should express breast milk before exercise; it is best to take a shower after exercise and wash the private parts to avoid postpartum infection. After starting exercise, the intensity should be gradually increased. Do not do too high intensity exercise at the beginning to avoid physical injury.

Common problems in postpartum recovery

QWhat NG behaviors after childbirth will affect recovery?

A: Dr. Zeng Yijie said that if you do not massage the uterus in time after delivery, or if you eat ginseng, sesame oil, wine and other blood-activating foods too early, the uterus will contract poorly and the amount of bleeding will increase. Sitting for a long time, wearing a corset too early, neglecting to clean the perineum, and covering the cesarean section wound with a maternity pad will affect wound healing and increase the risk of infection. Lack of sleep and long-term lack of activity will not only significantly reduce physical strength, but also make the parts that have been displaced due to pregnancy unable to return to their normal positions.

QHow to judge whether the uterus has recovered well?

A: After childbirth, the position of the uterus fundus is usually within the range of one finger width above or below the navel, and it slowly descends at a rate of 1 to 2 finger widths per day. It will return to its original position (behind the pubic bone) in about 2 to 3 weeks. Therefore, if you cannot feel the uterus when you touch the abdomen 2 to 3 weeks after childbirth, it means that the uterus has returned to its original position. People with poor uterine contraction usually have more lochia, while people with good uterine contraction will not secrete too much lochia.

3 situations that require a follow-up visit

Abnormal bleeding

Postpartum lochia usually gradually decreases, and may suddenly increase in the middle, but it will not last long. If a large amount of lochia continues to be discharged, it may be delayed postpartum hemorrhage, and you must return for examination immediately.

Fever

There are many possibilities for postpartum fever, which may be mastitis, urinary tract infection, wound infection, or postpartum infection caused by uterine blood clots. A follow-up visit is needed to check the cause.

★Persistent depression

It is inevitable to feel depressed after giving birth, but it usually takes 3 to 5 days to return to normal. If the depression lasts for more than two weeks, be careful of postpartum depression. It is best to see a professional doctor in the obstetrics and gynecology department or the psychosomatic department for diagnosis.