The nine months journey has ended. You are finally free of your “cargo” and want to go back to your old self.
But it takes a while, physically and mentally, to return to your old self, eating those things you want, wearing those choice clothes without inconvenience or border.
After giving birth, there are definitely some restrictions that women who just gave birth have to follow to recuperate. Let’s see how long it takes to recuperate after birth and what not to do after giving birth.
How Long Does It Take To Recover After Delivery?
Before, during, and after delivery, the body has undergone a lot of changes, no small changes: physical, emotional, and mental changes.
It takes quite some time for the body to get back to the pre-pregnancy state, and the time varies for different women.
With all the many physical changes associated with childbirth; bleeding, vaginal tear, vaginal soreness, episiotomy, breast sore, emotional changes like mood swings, stress, anger, constipation, fear.
It will take some time for a woman to adjust and feel herself after delivery. Usually, between 6 to 8 weeks is the normal postpartum recovery time. Most women are expected to recover between this time fully.
Though it may last longer or shorter for some women, take all the time you need to recover your physical and mental state. Eat well, take care of your baby, and rest.
Take your medications and drink fluids. These are some of the best ways to recover yourself back. I know recovery after delivery may be quite long for some women.
It is completely fine. However, do not hesitate to call your hospital when you notice prolonged bleeding, fainting spells, perineum soreness, swelling, bleeding, or weepy stitches.
Recovery after a Caesarean section takes a little longer than vaginal birth. You will be expected to stay in the hospital for monitoring about 48 hours after birth for C-section (expect to stay longer as much as four days to a week when you have complications).
It can take up to 8 weeks or more to fully recover your body back, to get the needed rest and body Care. While you are recovering, you need to adhere to some restrictions after giving birth, like not engaging in physical activities.
It would be best to avoid the daily routine of cooking, cleaning, and washing for the first few days. If you want to know when to start household chores, the way you feel may determine if you are ready.
That is not the only determinant, though. You can start up some household chores about a week after birth and gradually increase things.
Below are 12 things you must not do after giving birth to avoid problems and complications after delivery.
1. Lifting Heavy Objects
Your body has done some intense physical work; now it’s time to recover it back.
After giving birth, you want to avoid lifting heavy objects either as a form of workout by lifting weight bars, carrying heavy bags or buckets or groceries.
All these are a No-No for C-section, vaginal birth, or any delivery. You don’t want to put a strain on your pelvic region or cause any internal bleeding that may lead you back to the hospital.
2. Dieting
What not to do after giving birth is trying out a diet plan. Yeah, you want to have your body back, cut off the extra baby fat, and go to your old self, but hey, give yourself a break.
You just birthed a whole human. Your body has gone through a lot during pregnancy and another during labor. You don’t want to start skipping meals and getting minimal nutrients at this time.
To recover fast, you need nutritious meals, the right Carbs, proteins, vitamins, and a healthy dose of other nutrients; so you can build strength and heal episiotomy or C-section site to produce breast milk even to replace the lost blood.
You also need to eat well to have enough energy to take care of the baby. One of the best ways you can take care of your body is by eating healthy, nutritious meals.
When you have built your body back and adjusted to your new role as a mother, you may start up a weight plan.
3. Exercise
Even if you are the world’s greatest athlete, with the worst weight possible, or you feel up to it, starting up intense exercise is one thing not to do should not do after giving birth.
Now, you need to take things slow and let your body recuperate before starting up again. About a week after delivery, you can start up your normal routine and light household chores but nothing strenuous or too tasky if you feel up to it.
Do not lift heavy weights, avoid cardio, bending, jogging, strenuous shopping, carrying heavy bags, and any other thing that can reopen stitches and cause bleeding or weakness, or fainting spells.
You can do all this when you are feeling better and have recuperated. But right now, all you need to do is to rest. And matter how itchy you feel to go back to exercising, do not give in.
4. Swimming
Although it is a great exercise and a good way to cut off extra pockets of fat, you should not start right up after birth.
Since vaginal tear, soreness, and episiotomy pain will not completely go till after few weeks, it will be wrong to start swimming weather at the public or private pool.
It can cause infections to the sore areas and prevent healing.
5. Spicy Stuff
Since the nature of the food the mother eats affects the content of the breastmilk. It may be wise to avoid taking things too hot and chilly and spicy as it can make the child not want to feed on the breast milk.
Taking spicy food may not affect some babies yet may affect some. So, if you want to go the breastfeeding route, try taking a little spicy food and see how your baby feeds when you do that.
Also, try taking some foods that are not spicy to see if the baby seems to tolerate breast milk better without spicy food. If no, avoid it for the time being.
6. Not Asking For Help
You will be doing great harm if you take up all your previous roles before pregnancy and birth. You are trying to be a superwoman, or being embarrassed to ask for help is what not to do after giving birth.
Remember you just had a baby. It would help if you recuperated after that. You need time to rest, attention to your baby and even yourself. Handling all these with your partner’s needs, cooking, cleaning, laundry, attending to visitors will be a whole lot for one person.
So, please do not be too shy to say I need help when the need arises. Ask your partner to help you tend the baby while you take some rest after an all-night or no sleep.
Close friends and family can help with diaper changes, laundry, and other needs. You can also seek help agencies to assist when you don’t have anyone close by—but taking in all the stress of caring for the home and yourself and the baby because you’re trying to be strong is not what to do after giving birth.
7. Prenatal Vitamins
Because they are called prenatal vitamins does not mean that you get to stop them after delivery.
Your body will need them now even more than before because your wounds will be healing, the bodybuilding up, replenishing lost blood, breastfeeding, and other numerous processes.
You will need vitamins and minerals for all these. Since your body will be working more for the first few weeks after birth, what not to do after giving birth is to miss taking prenatal vitamins.
Even if you eat healthy meals, they can supplement the vitamins you did not get. It will do you and your baby great good.
8. Alcohol And Drugs
Taking drugs without doctor’s prescription to complete No-No. Taking alcohol is a bit sketchy. Some may agree on taking few glasses in moderation others are completely against taking alcohol while breastfeeding.
So what’s to do and what not to do? You want to know that there are risks of some substance entering into the breast milk when you take alcohol. I feel you should avoid alcohol, especially if you’re breastfeeding and because the body is experiencing huge changes and hormonal shifts.
You don’t want anything that will alter and induce you wrongly as alcohol is a stimulant. Any drugs not prescribed are complete No-No.
9. Dehydration
After birth, you lose some fluids till the body is stabilized. Plus, you will start breastfeeding, another reason why you need fluids.
You do not want to keep yourself in a state of dehydration which mostly leads to constipation—reducing fluid intake definitely what not to do after birth.
Dehydration can cause strain on the perineum( the space between the anus and the vagina), which can cause internal bleeding, tearing of stitches, delay in the healing process, and intense pain.
It also affects a C-section site. So why you want to avoid unnecessary complications after birth? Take sufficient fluids like water and other healthy drinks. You should avoid sugary stuff, alcohol, coffee, and other stimulants as much as possible.
10. Using Tampons
Ynlike maternity pads that are large and placed at the entrance of the vagina, tampons are inserted inside the vagina.
An easy way for bacteria to get inside the body, causing infection, slowing down wound healing, and causing pains. Tampons may also scratch the wounds and cause bleeding, so using tampons is what not to do after giving birth.
It is better to use large sanitary pads. You use them without touching the surface, plus they are cheap and more comfortable, and easy to use. Before starting on using a tampon after birth, make sure any pain or wound is completely gone, all bleeding has stopped, and it is ok by the doctor.
11. Getting Intimate Immediately After Birth
Having bedroom fun is great, but going intimate just after birth is not what not to do after giving birth, even if you or your partner feel up to it.
Medics advise that you stay up to four to six weeks before any intimacy. While intimacy in the other room is something you should look up to, take time to recuperate so it will be worth it.
For some women, the aches and pains, and stress after birth will make them lose interest. Other women look up to it. Whatever the case, you need to recuperate physically mentally and, adjust to your new responsibility and let your body go back to normal before thinking of lovemaking.
Even if you feel like it, you should consider other factors like pregnancy. Since you can be pregnant while breastfeeding and using a birth control pill may not be the best option now. It is proper to check first with the medic before you start on that.
12. Tight-Fitting Clothes
Eager to feel yourself again after pregnancy, you may want to ditch maternity clothes and return to hot outfits. But hold on just a bit and give yourself some time before trying out your previous clothes, that is, if they still fit.
The clothes will probably be tight by now and uncomfortable. You will need free clothes for easy breastfeeding and something that won’t disturb you when you want to pee.
The vagina area needs some air. Infection can breed if sufficient air does not get there. Shirts, gowns, cotton pants are a great choice to pick from. Avoid tight pants, heavy clothing, and uncomfortable stuff.
Don’t feel bad if you feel on hold or restricted from doing those things you are finally free to do after birth. It wouldn’t take forever to get back to your old self, and I bet you would be reminiscent of these times.
Save for this later mama!
