Giving Birth: Postpartum

A Few Hours After Birth

• Call pediatrician to schedule baby's appointment.
• Drink iced orange juice to help restore depleted blood sugar, potassium and fluids.
• Eat food! Chipotle was wonderful :)
• Encourage the uterus to retract.
• Lay on stomach. Place a pillow on the bed and lie on it a few minutes each day to help the uterus contract, expel blood clots and get back to its normal size.
• Massage stomach.
• Nurse! 
• This gets way more painful from first to second kiddo.
• Round Two: This was way more painful than actually giving birth.
• Drink red raspberry tea which will strengthen uterus muscles.
• Walk around to help restore circulation and expel blood clots.

USE POSTPARTUM CARE KIT!

• Start using postpartum care kit 
• Religiously take stool softener and ibuprofen.
• Ibuprofen helps limit the release of prostaglandins.  This is super important!
• Use postpartum care pads!  These things were amazing!

Few Weeks Following Giving Birth

• "Afterbirth pains" are normal
• Continue to encourage the uterus to retract. See above notes.
• GET VICODIN in case of pain.  
• Definitely going to be necessary for round three.
• Exercises to avoid: 
• Complete knee bends
• Leg Lifts
• Sit ups
• Get social security card for baby.
• Get baby on health insurance.
• Have a list of things I would like to have help with around the house and groceries we need for people to help out with.
• Lochia is the bloody discharge that can last up to six weeks.
• Saturating 2 pads hospital size within an hour is too much and call the doctor.
• If bleeding increases you are overdoing it.
• Lovemaking is up to your discretion. Go slow and can wait up to six weeks after postpartum check up to ensure have healed.
• Stay hydrated!
• TAKE IT EASY!
• Use lanolin, ibuprofen (800 mg every four hours) and stool softener (1-2x/day).

Exercises to do the Rest of Life

• Kegels: Helps with bladder control.
• Pelvic Rocks: Especially great for afterbith "pains", backache and strengthening abdominal muscles
• Tailor Sitting: Strengthens core and back.