Can I walk around during confinement?

During the confinement period, there are many taboos for women, such as not overworking, not being exposed to cold, etc. Of course, many older generations believe that women should not walk around casually during the confinement period because this will cause postpartum diseases. In fact, this is an unscientific view. During the confinement period, women need to walk appropriately to ensure their health and promote their physical recovery.

1. Can I get out of bed and walk around during confinement?

Some people say that you should lie in bed during the postpartum confinement period so that you won’t be too tired and it will be beneficial for recovery. In fact, this is not true. If you want your body to recover faster, you should get out of bed and move around as soon as possible so that you can get better faster.

Generally speaking, if the delivery goes smoothly, you can sit in bed for a while 8 hours after delivery, get out of bed and go to the toilet 12 hours after delivery, and get out of bed and do some light activities 24 hours after delivery. For new mothers who have undergone cesarean section, they can move around in bed or walk around holding the edge of the bed on the second day after delivery. They can get out of bed and do light activities on the third or fourth day, but all of these depend on the physical condition of the new mother.

2. Do I need to stay in bed all the time during confinement?

After about two weeks of confinement, a woman's body can gradually recover. She no longer needs to lie down to rest. She can get up and walk around. However, she must pay attention to avoid catching a cold or being exposed to the wind, which may cause pain all over her body. Especially after childbirth, the pores of women are open, and the bone joints need to heal slowly, so they are susceptible to wind and cold. Patients will experience symptoms such as back pain, headache, and joint pain.

If you keep lying down after giving birth, it will not be good for your body's recovery, because lying down for a long time will be detrimental to intestinal peristalsis and muscle contraction, and the patient will experience constipation and general weakness. Therefore, it is recommended to get up and exercise for 20 minutes every day during confinement, but do not do too intense exercise. Mothers should pay attention to arranging their work and rest time reasonably.

If you do not exercise for a long time after delivery, it may cause increased blood viscosity and induce lower limb venous thrombosis. Therefore, even if you do not get out of bed, you can massage your limbs appropriately to promote blood circulation in the legs. You should also pay attention to strengthening the training of limb muscles and enhancing muscle elasticity. This will also help the uterus to recover, help intestinal movement, and relieve constipation.

3. How long does it take after giving birth before you can get out of bed and walk around?

Generally, if it is a caesarean section, the doctor will recommend that you get out of bed and walk around as early as possible to facilitate gastrointestinal repositioning and reduce the possibility of complications. Usually the first time you get out of bed is 3 to 5 days.

If you have a normal birth, it is best to get out of bed and walk around 3 days after delivery, which can increase your appetite and the body's disease resistance. Walk within your ability and don't overexert yourself.