For most new mothers, a bit of preparation can make the experience far easier to navigate.
Experienced OB/GYN Hany H Ahmed, MD, has had the honor of helping many new mothers in Houston, Texas, transition into life with a new baby. Here are his recommendations:
Some women go into their birth experience with a solid understanding of what to expect. They may know ahead of time that a cesarean section is the delivery method; if they’ve had a prior C-section delivery, they know what to expect from the recovery process.
However, most women understand that several factors dictate their actual experience.
Taking time to prepare for the physical aspects of recovery can make it easier to move through those first few days and weeks. If you’re planning a vaginal delivery, it helps to understand the best ways to care for your body, especially if you need an episiotomy during delivery.
A special pillow or padded ring can relieve pressure on the area, and ice packs, warm baths, and numbing creams or sprays can relieve discomfort. You might benefit from taking a laxative for a few days to avoid difficult bowel movements.
Recovering from a C-section involves taking care of your incision and limiting your activities to avoid straining your abdomen as your body heals.
As your due date nears, you’ve probably spent time preparing your nursery. Don’t forget to prepare the rest of your home for the first few weeks after you bring your little one home.
You might want to make a list of tasks to complete before childbirth. Some new parents prepare a few weeks of frozen meals or quick snacks to remove one chore from their to-do list. Others focus on wrapping up any lingering home repair projects in those last few months.
Think about what makes you feel more comfortable at home as you settle in with your new baby, and create a list of tasks to ensure you have time to get everything done.
Friends and family are understandably excited to meet your newborn. But too many visitors in too short a period can be stressful for new parents.
Structure visits so that everyone gets a chance to welcome your newest family member without disrupting the needs of your immediate family. Communicate with those planning to visit so everyone knows what to expect.
Also, plan to create and enforce limits if visits become too difficult to manage. If your labor and delivery experience took a greater toll than you imagined, there’s nothing wrong with prioritizing your rest and recovery time.
A great way to make the most of friends and family who want to spend time with you and your baby is to allow them to help. They might be happy to take on a few tasks to make things easier for you, so don’t feel awkward about accepting offers of assistance.
A visiting mother-in-law may be happy to run a few loads of laundry or rock the baby while you sleep. A close friend won’t balk at picking up a few items at the grocery store on her way over.
Everyone in your household needs plenty of rest after your baby comes home. Make rest a top priority, and understand that getting into a new sleep pattern often takes a while.
Most experts recommend new mothers rest while their babies sleep. That can be especially helpful if you breastfeed. But listen to your body and nap whenever you feel fatigued.
Partners also should ensure they get enough sleep as the family adapts to a new baby. The old wisdom applies: You can’t properly care for someone else unless you care for your needs first.
As you tackle all of the preparations for parenthood, know that you’re not alone. The team at Hany H Ahmed, MD is here to help you plan for postpartum success. Request an appointment online or by phone today.
