WELLBEING:How to heal after giving birth

For the nine months of pregnancy, the body goes through enormous changes. That is why it is so important that, after childbirth, healing ensures, giving the body the opportunity to go back to normal and return to the pre-pregnancy state.Returning to normal might take a while but it usually happens after a while.Sometimes where a woman tears in the perineal area during pregnancy. The remedy for this is to sit in a few inches of warm water. Sitting in water soothes the pain and keeps the area clean. Swellings can also be reduced using ice packs.Resting also helps a great deal during the healing process. For the first week after birth, it’s advisable to stay in bed and have enough rest.You ought to take a break to some of the errands that you run in the home; let someone else give you a hand. The only activity you should be doing is taking care of the newborn baby and not things like cooking, washing clothes and the like. Always take advantage of the times the baby sleeps and take a nap. Jovia Kayesu, a midwife at Hopital la Croix du Su, advises that eating healthy is also vital in supporting the healing process. Foods rich in proteins, vitamins and lots of fluids are good during the healing process.“After giving birth, women should eat healthy foods and drink a lot but must desist from alcohol when breast feeding. Vegetables, fruits, juice and other protein giving foods are very good and don’t mess with the healing process,” she advises.She also advises that women shouldn’t resume sexual intercourse until they have healed. However, other means of affection can be utilised until the woman heals completely.According to the ‘Healthy Women’ website, women should watch out for problem signs such as sudden heavy bleeding, pain in the pelvic area or breast infections.If such signs are observed, then one should seek medical assistance as soon as possible.Otherwise, marvel in that sweet little bundle of joy that God has blessed you with and enjoy good health.