Postpartum Pain
One very important way to avoid some of the unnecessary pain following childbirth is to be sure to take childbirth preparation classes. In those classes, you will learn stretches and proper body mechanics to prepare yourself for labor, as well as the proper way to push, again saving energy and avoiding unnecessary pain from pushing with the wrong muscles. Prepare for childbirth with regular and moderate exercise right up to delivery time (unless prohibited by your care provider). Regular exercise provides women with shorter, easier labors. A quicker labor will lead to less pain in the postpartum period.
How much postpartum pain you have can be related to length of labor, method of delivery (such as cesarean section), and whether you have to deal with repair of an episiotomy or laceration. The best methods for treating normal pain in the postpartum period include resting, drinking lots of fluids, eating nutritious foods, using ice packs, and taking ibuprofen.
If there is a way to turn off the excitement after childbirth and sleep whenever you can you will feel better sooner and have less pain. Your goal should be to get a minimum of 6 hours sleep in every 24 hours. You should also plan for lots of help in the first two weeks. If you find yourself in the grocery store or at the laundromat during that period, ask yourself why. People who rest completely during the first two weeks bounce back more quickly.
For hemorrhoids, the current treatment includes plenty of ice and lying on one’s side (not sitting). In addition, using witch hazel or Epsom salts as astringents is a good trick. Eat plenty of fiber and drink a lot of water to avoid straining. For sore stitches, ice is best for the first few days. After that, try a warm sitz bath with sea salt or Epsom salts; you will find it soothing and relaxing, and it will help your bottom heal. Remember to change your pad often; dry and soiled pads can irritate the repaired area.
Also, it is important to provide your body with nutritious foods so that it can recover more quickly. Taking your prenatal vitamins with added Zinc and vitamins A, C, and E can also help.
For the breastfeeding mom, proper positioning of the newborn is key. Don't time your baby's feedings; restricting the length of feed to five minutes at a time in the beginning only leads to poor hydration for the baby and engorgement for you. Let your baby nurse until she/he pops off and offer the breast whenever the baby seems hungry. It is normal to have increased discomfort in the first 10 days until the let down happens. That pain should markedly lessen as nursing continues; if it does not, ask for help with your baby's positioning. Lactation consultants or the La Leche League are knowledgeable professionals who can improve your baby's latch.
Preparing yourself for childbirth by arming yourself with a fit, prepared body and strategies to lessen the length and stress of labor will go a long way in helping you avoid pain postpartum. Isolation and poor care will increase the pain you experience. Make sure to have a loving and supportive environment for yourself postpartum.