Postpartum mother and baby care strategy, you will definitely use it! Save it now

The arrival of a new life brings not only joy but also many challenges to every mother and family. After delivery, the physical recovery of the new mother and the healthy growth of the child require careful care from the family, so how to carry out postpartum maternal and child care is crucial. This article will introduce a comprehensive strategy for postpartum maternal and child care in detail, and I hope everyone can learn from it.

1. Mother Care

1. Postpartum body changes

During the period after childbirth, the body of a new mother will undergo a series of physiological changes. The first is the involution of the uterus. It takes 6-8 weeks for the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy state. During this process, the new mother will discharge a mixture of tissue and blood remaining in the uterus, which is often called lochia. Nurses usually assist in the discharge of lochia by pressing the uterus. Lochia is bright red at first, and gradually turns light red and white. The whole process will last for 4-6 weeks. It is harmless to the body, so don't worry too much.

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2. Postpartum wound care

If the new mother gave birth naturally, there may be episiotomy wounds or perineal lacerations at the birth canal. In the first few days after delivery, keep the wound clean and dry. Wash the vulva with warm water after each urination and defecation, and gently dry it with a clean towel. If the wound is not in good condition, you can use the disinfectant recommended by the doctor to disinfect it 2-3 times a day. New mothers must avoid sitting or squatting for a long time after delivery to avoid compressing the wound. If the wound is red, swollen, painful, exuding, etc., seek medical attention in time.

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If a new mother chooses a cesarean section, family members should be aware that the wound is relatively large and requires more careful care than natural childbirth. After surgery, the wound dressing should be kept clean and dry to avoid getting wet. If there is bleeding or exudation, the wound dressing should be replaced in time. Due to the development of medical technology, cesarean sections are now mostly sutured with cosmetic sutures, so the trouble of removing sutures after surgery is solved; for a few mothers in special circumstances, the sutures can be removed on the 4th day after surgery.

3. Postpartum breast care

Early breastfeeding after childbirth can avoid milk stasis and promote uterine involution. The nutritional value of colostrum is very high, which plays a great role in improving the physical fitness of newborns. If the baby's sucking ability is weak or the mother's milk secretion is insufficient, a breast pump can be used to assist in breastfeeding. Before breastfeeding, the mother can wash the nipple and areola with warm water to keep the nipple clean. When breastfeeding, let the baby hold most of the areola in his mouth and avoid sucking only the nipple to avoid nipple damage. If the nipple is chapped, you can squeeze out a little milk after breastfeeding and apply it on the nipple and areola to relieve it naturally. You can also use nipple protection cream.

4. Postpartum dietary care

Postpartum mothers need to supplement nutrition to recover. The diet should follow the principle of balanced nutrition, easy digestion, and small and frequent meals. In the first week after delivery, the diet should be light and easy to digest food, such as rice porridge, noodles, egg custard, etc., and avoid eating greasy, spicy, raw and cold food. As the mother's body recovers, you can gradually increase the intake of nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals, and eat more meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, etc.

5. Postpartum psychological care

Due to the changes in hormone levels after childbirth, the change of identity, the pressure of taking care of the baby and other factors, new mothers are prone to postpartum depression. At this time, family members should give the mother enough care and support to help her adapt to the new identity, and do not ignore the mother's feelings because of the child. The mother herself should also adjust her mentality and maintain an optimistic mood. She can relieve stress by listening to music, reading, chatting with friends, etc. If the postpartum depression is more serious, you should seek help from a professional psychologist in time.

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2. Baby care

1. Physiological characteristics of newborns

The birth weight of a newborn is generally between 2.5 and 4 kg. It is normal for the weight to drop slightly in the first few days after birth due to meconium discharge and water loss. Generally, the weight will return to the birth weight within 7 to 10 days after birth. The height of a newborn is generally between 45 and 55 cm. The height increases rapidly in the first three months after birth, with an average increase of 3 to 3.5 cm per month.

When caring for a newborn, you should understand that the baby's body temperature regulation center is not yet fully developed, and the body temperature is easily affected by the external environment. Therefore, the indoor temperature should be maintained between 22-26℃ and the humidity should be maintained between 50%-60% to prevent the baby from catching a cold.

2. Neonatal feeding

Breast milk is the best food for newborns. It contains rich nutrients and immune factors, and can meet the needs of baby's growth and development. The basic principle of breastfeeding is to breastfeed on demand, generally every 2-3 hours, and each breastfeeding lasts 15-20 minutes. If the mother cannot breastfeed for some reason, she can choose to feed artificially, and choose formula milk powder suitable for the baby's age. The water temperature for brewing milk powder is generally between 40-60℃. When feeding, the bottle should be tilted so that the nipple is filled with milk to prevent the baby from inhaling air. After feeding, the baby should be held upright and burped gently to help the baby expel air from the stomach.

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3. Neonatal sleep care

The sleeping environment of newborns should be quiet, comfortable and warm, but you can play some music to prevent newborns from being awakened by sudden noises. Newborns sleep about 16-20 hours a day. As the baby grows, the sleep time will gradually decrease. In order to let the baby develop good sleeping habits, do not let the baby sleep too much during the day, and try to let the baby fall asleep at a fixed time at night. The sleeping position is mainly supine, avoid prone position, so as not to cause suffocation. After the baby falls asleep, you can adjust the baby's head position appropriately to prevent the baby's head from sleeping on the side.

4. Newborn skin care

Newborns have delicate skin, so you can wash their faces, hands, and feet with warm water every day. At the same time, because newborns have low immune function, breast milk, sweat, urine, and feces can easily make them sick, so you need to bathe your baby every day. Pay attention to the water temperature when bathing to avoid scalding the baby. After bathing your baby, you can apply an appropriate amount of baby moisturizer to keep the skin moist. If your baby has eczema, keep the skin clean and dry, and avoid using irritating skin care products. Every time you change your baby's diaper, wash the baby's buttocks with warm water and wipe them dry with a clean towel before putting on a new diaper. If your baby has a red buttocks, you can apply diaper cream.

(V) Neonatal umbilical cord care

With the help of the umbilical clamp, the umbilical cord stump of a newborn baby will generally fall off in 5-6 days. Before the umbilical cord falls off, disinfect it with alcohol 2-3 times a day to avoid infection. At the same time, keep the umbilical cord area clean and dry, and avoid friction in the umbilical cord area. Choose loose clothes for your baby. If the umbilical cord area is red, swollen, exudate, odor, and other abnormal conditions occur, seek medical attention in time.

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6. Neonatal jaundice care

Neonatal jaundice is caused by abnormal bilirubin metabolism, which leads to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, resulting in symptoms such as yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera. This disease has two types: physiological and pathological. Physiological jaundice appears 2-3 days after birth, reaches a peak in 4-6 days, and disappears in 7-10 days. It lasts longer in premature infants. You can let your baby get more sun exposure to promote the excretion of bilirubin. If jaundice appears too early, lasts for a long time, or is too severe, it is likely to be pathological jaundice and should be treated in time.

Postpartum maternal and infant care is a complicated task. The mother's physical recovery and the baby's healthy growth require meticulous care. The above article explains in detail how to take care of mothers and babies. I hope that through this article, everyone can have a more comprehensive understanding and knowledge of postpartum maternal and infant care, and help everyone take better care of mothers and babies.