Postpartum Mom Archives - The Motherly Heap

A Complete Guide to Postpartum Care Plan for New Moms

Jordan N. — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Mama, are you feeling anxious about your upcoming birth? You probably have a birth plan in place already; that’s great! As new moms also prepare for post-delivery, what about adding a plan for your postpartum care? Getting ready for Homecoming Day can bring up concerns about your time of healing and transition. Have you ever thought about your specific plans to recover at home? New moms can focus on healing, recovery, and bonding at home once the postpartum recovery plan is in place. Who wouldn’t plan for their post-delivery recovery? After a significant medical event, it’s helpful to have at least an outline regarding your postpartum care. Although any birth is unpredictable, you can be adaptable regarding your plans during your postpartum period. This care plan acts as a guide for you, your recovery on what you can expect, and tells your support system what your wishes are. New moms can make a postpartum care plan ahead of time, understand why they need one, and write down the structure of their recovery plan at home. What is a Postpartum care plan? The postpartum care plan guides or outlines your postpartum expectations and strategies to have a smooth transition at home. In addition, it’s a document that can describe your wishes as a recovering mom. It states who is involved in your immediate hospital care and home care. Also, who’s in your baby’s care team. It covers everything from feeding, personal support, navigating work, and other adjustments regarding your postpartum period. Why do New Moms need to create a postpartum care plan? It helps you set up your healthcare team and your baby’s It promotes preparedness on your part and your spouse Guides you to what you’ll be needing when it comes to healing Acts as a reminder when things get overwhelming at home Lessens some anxiety through planning ahead It helps you transition into parenthood Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash What is included in building your recovery plan at home? Your New Role Becoming a new mom is a beautiful experience. However, you might hear from other moms that it’s tiring and exhausting; there’s no denying those as well. You will go through a tremendous change within your body, hormones, emotions, thoughts, and overall well-being. In addition, you’ll be responsible for your baby and their needs. Knowing postpartum expectations will help you prepare for these new parenthood transitions. It is a massive leap from being responsible only for yourself to extend that responsibility to your newborn baby. Your Healing Time You’ll use your energy taking care of your baby while you heal. You may even forget that you also need to take care of yourself as a new mom. Give yourself ample time to heal physically and emotionally. You can read about being a First-Time Mom in this post that shows what to expect as a new mom. Feeding plans When you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding – the choice of feeding your newborn falls on moms. However, nourishing your baby will be included in your birth plan and shared with your birth team. Your desire to breastfeed your newborn will outline how you want it to happen. When you’re at home, you continue to breastfeed your baby and address any lactation issues or baby concerns timely. Moms also have the choice to bottle-feed with pumped breast milk or formula. Whatever the circumstance preceding your decision to bottle-feed is entirely up to you. You may even begin with bottle-feeding with pumped milk at first, as is the case for many NICU moms, and when the premature baby comes home, you resume breastfeeding your baby. Or you may breastfeed at first, and have personal/health reasons you switch on bottle-feeding (pumped milk/formula) – it all comes down to what you decide. This plan also includes pumping breastmilk at work if you choose to do so. In addition, you may contact your boss when your Maternity Leave is about to end regarding accommodations for expressing milk during your break hours. Sleeping Arrangements for Baby Have you thought about where the baby will be sleeping? For example, will it be in your bedroom with a small cot next to the bed? Or will your baby be sleeping in a nearby room after a few weeks/months? This decision planning of where baby sleeps will probably change as soon as you get adjusted in the few weeks. Whatever works for you and your baby, as long as you follow a safe baby sleep method. Photo by Tuva Mathilde Løland on Unsplash Post-delivery Care Plan for New Moms includes a Postpartum Recovery Kit It’s great to have a plan when it comes to your postpartum recovery. Therefore, you need the bare essentials to promote your healing and improve comfort as you transition into your new role – MOM. Check out this postpartum recovery Kit for a C-section Mom. Also, here’s a New Mom Care Package for yourself to promote self-care. If you had a C-section, you might want to know how to care for your C-section Wound and prevent infection. Make sure you have the supplies you need at home. You don’t want to be trying to remedy any postpartum issues without any of the needed items on hand. For example, for nipple cream for cracked nipples or stool softeners, you can create a personalized postpartum care basket at home. Parenting Roles: You are communicating your plans in handling baby care. You are the primary caregivers of your baby as new parents. Mom may do most of the baby care during the day as dad may be working. Then Dad will take on night care every time the baby wakes up. Or help you out with diaper changes before a feeding session. Plan what you think will work for your schedule. Your newborn will have their schedule; adjusting and being flexible will help with your parental arrangement. Meal Plans: Are you going to prepare a couple of weeks’ worth of meals? Will you accept a food train coming from relatives and friends? Are you going to be ordering out for the first week home? It’s great to plan so as not to overwhelm yourself with meal planning and cooking while you recover from birth. Once you got that meal preparation, you can quickly reheat the meals up. Visitors Handling: Your postpartum period is a crucial time for the mom, the baby, and the immediate family. Every culture is different as you go through the fourth trimester. New moms may want to spend these couple weeks with just the three of you. You are recovering from delivery and learning about your newborn together. Moms may prefer a close relative (your mom or anyone you trust) to be around you and your new family to help you adjust for a week or a month. Well-meaning visitors may ask to see you and the baby right after you get home. Make plans for what you are comfortable with. Talk with your spouse – how you’ll handle visitors from each side of the family, friends, and even co-workers. You must talk about this topic ahead of time so that when the time comes, there’s a clear line to what you’ll accept and not tolerate. It will also depend on how you are recovering. For example, you may have complications during your delivery, or your baby may need close monitoring of their health. So, conveying your wishes is important as not to step on anyone’s toes or feelings. The important thing is what you prefer; YOU – who’s healing, bleeding, breastfeeding, and more. Your comfort and preference are what matters here. So for husbands, make it about your spouse, your new baby, and your new growing family. Be her number one recovery advocate. Photo by Yagi-studio from Getty Images Signature Postpartum Team: These people are part of your postpartum team: OB/Gyn doctor, Nurse, Lactation Consultant, Care Coordinator, and Primary Care Doctor. Getting in touch with your healthcare team is a great way to keep a smooth recovery at home. Make sure that you set up your appointments before you leave the hospital. Also, if you plan on breastfeeding, you may want to continue to see the lactation specialist after you are discharged from the hospital. Keep those contact numbers together with your records. I also mentioned Care Coordinators/Case managers because they can be a great ally in getting the resources you might need at home. Discuss your current needs before you go home and then follow up as needed. Your nurse will also teach you warning signs/symptoms to watch for at home, medications, newborn care, and other discharge instructions. Your primary care doctor plays a role in your postpartum recovery. For example, suppose you have underlying conditions (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) before or after delivery. In line with that, you may want to follow up with them as well for disease management. Baby Team: Pediatrician, Pediatric Nutritionist, Nurse As far as I remember, I had to set up appointments with recommended pediatricians with my babies. So I asked for referrals from my OB doctor for a list of known pediatricians with good standing. Around seven months, I met with these pediatricians by appointment. I asked them questions about babies, check-ups, and their practice. It’s almost like interviewing the pediatrician and choosing which ones are a fit for your family. Even though you have decided on the doctor for your baby, there may be changes that’ll arise. Such circumstance includes: Babies born prematurely. High-risk babies. Babies who are sick when born. Other health-related issues. Or, if you and your baby’s current pediatrician don’t see eye to eye or are not a good fit, then you can change your baby’s doctor. When my daughter was born prematurely, I went with the pediatrician for premature babies assigned to her when she was almost discharged. There were neonatologists in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Still, those are the ones who are in-patient doctors that are designated for specialized NICU baby care. NICU nurses are healthcare professionals who care for newborns who are born prematurely or ill. Their support for new moms is tremendous. If you have a NICU baby, they’ll be the ones who will care for your baby closely until discharge. Postpartum Appointments for Mom and Baby: You will have your first postpartum check-up with your doctor, which will be the initial visit after the delivery of your baby. Be sure to get your questions written down, bring up any issues in recovering at home, and ask for help if you’re struggling. As for your baby, newborn visits will be frequent for the first month. It will be checking up on growth and development, feeding and concerns, overall adjustment at home, and more. It’s also good to have your questions regarding your baby written down so you won’t forget to bring up any concerns. Mental Health Support for New Moms as part of your postpartum care plan: New moms are at high risk of experiencing emotional and mental health challenges. It’ll be the time to set up a plan for when you or your spouse thinks you may need additional support with your mental wellness. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you are struggling with postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. There are licensed therapists and mental health professionals who can help you navigate your condition. Ask for a referral from your doctor for a postpartum evaluation with a licensed mental health provider. For all emergencies, call 911. Seek assistance from NAMI Helpline Photo by psphotograph from Getty Images Pro Rounding up your support system as a New Mom: Besides your spouse, you get to select the most trusted persons in your circle to provide support throughout this critical period of healing and adjustment. When you open up yourself to ask for help, be mindful of how people react to your established boundaries around this postpartum period. You need people who respect your wishes, you don’t need added stress to fend off, and you need genuine support from them. Extend adequate consideration to yourself when help is offered. You don’t have to do this alone. Whether you need...

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Postpartum Kit for a C-section Mom

Jordan N. — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 22:13:00 +0000

Undergoing major surgery such as a C-section poses recovery challenges for moms at home. Having a postpartum care kit in your fourth trimester can help you recover as a C-section Mom. This article talks about postpartum challenges you may face as you heal and bond with your baby, along with the postpartum products to help you. As a C-section Mama myself, assembling my recovery care kit helped me prepare ahead of time, helped me stay organized, and got me into a healing state mindset. It’s great to have handy essential items for your optimum healing and recovery. Let’s tackle it from the ground up – the items that can help you heal from C-section. **This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you click the product links and purchase from those links at no extra cost to you. The information in this post is for general purpose use only. This information cannot be used as a substitute for medical or other healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your doctor regarding your health and recovery. See full disclosure.** Postpartum Care Kit for a Mom with C-section Birth Compression Socks Compression socks help with swelling and blood flow on your legs and feet. But, how are they going to help you at home? When you undergo surgery, you will have extra fluids in your body. Waking up in your hospital room feeling swollen and unable to walk because your feet are poofed up, these socks can help decrease the swelling and discomfort. These socks also help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. Remember those squishy pump devices (called SCDs – sequential compression devices) around your calves during your hospitalization? That was to help you decrease the risk of developing blood clots. Walking is one of the most critical activities after surgery and even being home from the hospital. Make sure you have the proper size fit compression socks. Your nurse may provide you a pair of those white knee-high surgical stockings. Wear them as recommended. Sanitary Pads Moms can include this postpartum item in their care kit – being a C-section Mom; you’ll still have the expected postpartum discharge. You’ll also have some vaginal discharge from the lining of your uterus shedding. It has to come out somewhere. Hence, postpartum pads are a must. C-section Undies Who would have thought to buy these beauties? I had never heard of these before when I had my son a decade ago. Maybe they were on the market already but weren’t on my mom radar. These helped with my second C-section. Finding underwear that doesn’t irritate your C-section wound, especially the first two weeks, is necessary. Look for high-waisted coverage for maximum comfort like these. Scar Balm (Use only when cleared by your doctor) Once your C-section wound has closed and healed, you can start using this specially formulated balm. As a reminder above, make sure that you already saw your doctor/surgeon and received clearance to use this balm on your healed wound. What this C-section balm does, helps reduce the appearance of scars. Although you may not need it as you recover for the first four weeks, it’s good to have it handy. Hemorrhoid creams Indeed, you may not experience hemorrhoids during C-section. However, changes to your hormones can contribute to hemorrhoids forming during the third trimester. You may not be aware or not feel them at all. Yet, when constipation happens, that’s when moms first have discomfort or sharp pain around their bottom. Having them included in your recovery care kit can give you peace of mind that it’s available whenever you may need them. Stool Softeners Speaking of moving your bowels, here come stool softeners. The surgery itself can slow down your gut movement. In addition, anesthesia from your surgery can add to your risk of having constipation in the hospital or at home. Why do you think you’re going to be given a stool softener every night during your hospital stay? It’s to prevent constipation and help you poop. So, be prepared at home with these capsules to help you with bowel movements. The key here is to take them as directed by your doctor. The first week you may be prescribed to take a dose at night until your regular pattern returns. Ask your doctor for a specific frequency of taking this medication, even if moms can buy it over-the-counter. Peri-Bottle Wash This wash bottle will come in handy when you need to use the restroom. If you have hemorrhoids, this can be an additional helpful item to ease discomfort. Unless you have a toilet bidet installed already, this peri-bottle is the next best thing. Abdominal Binder Recovering from C-section and moving about at home can be challenging. Grab this abdominal binder to help you get around at home. It helps keep everything supported when you get out of bed, sitting down, and walking. This postpartum item was a life-saver for me when I got myself around and drove back/forth to visit my daughter in the NICU. You may already have received one from the hospital; continue to use it as directed. You can purchase this one for a backup in case you need to wash the soiled one. Comfy Pants You may want to continue to wear comfy loungewear or pajamas when recovering from C-section. This postpartum loungewear is perfect for comfort and non-irritating to your C-section wound. You can get this before having your C-section and can wear these pants wear around your third trimester. Related Post: Your Postpartum Checkup After A C-section and What To Expect For C-section Mamas who plan to breastfeed their babies: Nursing Gowns and Tops You may want to wear nursing gowns or nursing tops, whichever you prefer for ease of breastfeeding, comfortable wear, or worn for an outing with a baby. There are many selections: nursing tops, sleeping wear, postpartum gowns, and nursing dress. Nursing Bras and Pumping Bras Having a good nursing bra to support your breastfeeding journey is crucial to have. Pick the ones that you can wear comfortably during the day and even wear while sleeping. If you plan to go to work and pump, a great pair of pumping bras are a must-have for working moms. Pumping flanges are easier to maneuver when I used pumping bras; I don’t have to hold the pumping parts, and I can eat my lunch or do something else during my break time. Choose the ones that can last long-term use, support you with ease, are non-irritating and tight. Nursing Pads Nursing pads will be worn inside your bras when you’re lactating or when you are going out. Moms can have breast milk leaking while going about their day. So it’s great to have nursing pads included in your postpartum care kit. You can pick two highly recommended disposable nursing pads: Medela nursing pads and Lansinoh nursing pads. I’ve personally used these brands and have exceptionally delivered what they’re intended for. If you prefer washable nursing pads, check these out – Lansinoh Reusable Nursing Pads or Kindred Bravely Organic Nursing Pads. These are great to have on your diaper bag or purse. Therapy Packs for your Breasts C-section moms can experience engorgements and other breast discomforts. Have these therapy breast packs available for you to use. Nipple Butter The best I’ve ever used is this nipple butter from Earth Mama Organics. This nipple butter will have your nipples protected from breastfeeding issues such as dryness, crackedness, and soreness. It’s essential to clean your nipples before and after each breastfeeding session. Then, you can use it before each feeding, and it’s baby safe. Guess what? You can also apply the nipple butter around your pumping flanges to ease discomfort if present while pumping. Mom Tip: Ensure you have the correct flange size for your nipples for optimum comfort during your pumping sessions. If you prefer a vegan version – check this vegan nipple butter out. Lactation Teas and Treats If you’re planning to breastfeed your baby, the best way to get your supply up is to nurse on demand. However, sometimes moms may need some boost in milk supply. If there are breastfeeding issues, you can also try out some lactation teas to help build up your supply. Please know that these recommendations are based on what worked for me and my situation. Yours may be entirely different. Check with your lactation consultant or even your doctor about breastfeeding issues. I pumped at work for my daughter’s milk stash at home. But, sometimes, it isn’t as easy as hooking it up and getting what you expected. Check out this lactation tea from Earth Mama or this other tea from Traditional Organic Mother’s Milk. Also, try these lactation cookies and emergency brownies. **This isn’t a sponsored post, and I don’t have an affiliate connection with Milky Mama products – but these are the ones that got me through my rough breastfeeding/pumping days. I highly recommend their products created by Krystal (a mom, a nurse, and a board-certified lactation consultant).** Nursing Pillow To help you position your baby for nursing, you can use this nursing pillow at home. If you are not breastfeeding, you can also use this during bottle-feeding your baby. I’ve used them both when I bottle-fed my son and breastfed my daughter. Other Mom Basic Items for your Postpartum C-section Kit Pain Relief Whether you have a prescribed pain medication from your doctor or you bought some OTC pain relievers. You can expect to grab onto them for the first few weeks of your recovery and healing. There will be pain around your C-section wound and the surgery. Take it easy on yourself. When pain intensifies, try to get as much rest as possible. If your pain becomes severe – call your doctor, and for an emergency, call 911. Your uterus will also be healing and shrinking as the days progress. So the cramping can be expected, and having these pain relievers on hand will help you reduce the pain and discomforts of healing. Before taking any medications, be sure to ask your doctor first or your baby’s doctor (if planning on breastfeeding). Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen are the pain relievers most recommended from the OTC category. There are higher doses of Ibuprofen which you can receive a prescription for from your doctor. As any reminder to moms, please consult your doctor first before taking any medication. Water Bottles Hydration for any mom recovering from surgery is essential. You can also expect to drink more water if you are breastfeeding. Try to take sips throughout the day to replenish what you exert in recovery and breastfeeding. Hydration helps with healing, so try to keep up with it. Healthy Snacks and Meals Grab a few of those oatmeal granola bars or fresh fruits to help you nourish yourself while recovering. You can freeze meals ahead of time if you have a scheduled C-section; that way, you don’t have to worry about dinners once you are all home with the baby. Prenatal Vitamins Your body is recovering after a C-section birth, and it needs the essential vitamins and minerals to promote healing. Moms are recommended to continue taking their prenatal vitamins even if they’re not breastfeeding. Take them for at least the first six weeks of your postpartum period. Postpartum iron deficiency can happen after delivering a baby. Eating iron-rich foods in your diet may replenish what you need. Iron supplements are one of the recommendations from doctors for postpartum moms to keep up with their iron levels. But, again, talk to your doctor about this. Well-balanced nutrition for recovering moms are highly encouraged. Having a baby is the most exciting time for parents. However, new moms with C-section births face challenges during their recovery period. Being prepared and having these items in your postpartum care kit will make it smoother and more manageable to recover as a C-section mom. For friends and families trying to buy a postpartum self-care kit, you can also add these essentials items to gift for the newest C-section mom in town. If you liked this post, please share it....

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