Postpartum Mother: --

Jennifer Lawless
Nursing Student ADN 173 - 51

Bleeding

· Bleeding Is the body's way of getting rid of the extra blood and tissue that was needed to
grow and feed your baby. Expect this to be harder at first (up to 10 days), but then it will get
easier. Light bleeding and spotting can last for up to six weeks after delivery. It is important that
you only use menstrual pads during this time. Using tampons can spread germs and lead to
infections. Pass some clots, especially in the first week. If clots are larger than a quarter, you
should call your doctor.

Medications
· Iron supplements
· Docusate
· Ibuprofen
· Antidepressants

Activity
· Aerobic exercise, like brisk walking, three times a week, both during and after their
pregnancy.
· Limit your activities to care for yourself and your baby.
· Take a deep breath through your nose. Let your abdominal wall expand upward.
· Tilt your pelvis back by flattening your lower back against the bed or floor.
• Wait at least six weeks before starting exercises like running, sit-ups or leg lifts unless
your health care provider says you can start earlier.

Cesarean births:

· Try not to carry anything heavy than your baby.

· If you have other kids who want to be hugged, sit down, and let them climb into your lap
instead of lifting them.
· Limit your trips up and down the stairs. Take the steps slowly.
· Driving
· No driving for two weeks

Cesarean Section Incision/ Episiotomy care.

· Stitches from a cesarean birth heal in different ways. The skin should heal around the
stitches in 5–10 days.
· These won’t completely heal for 12 weeks.
· Continually keep an eye out for signs of infection. Some of these signs are having a fever or
a wound that is red, swollen, or dripping pus.
· After giving birth, the perineum will be sore and may be swollen. You might have pain in
this area for a few weeks. Sitting on an ice pack for 10 minutes several times a day will help
ease the pain while you heal. This is a good thing to do after you've been to the bathroom.
During the first week after giving birth, use a squirt bottle with warm water to rinse the
perineum after going to the bathroom. Notify your doctor if the area around your perineum is
still painful or if you notice any signs of an infection.
· a torn or cut perineum will take 7–10 days to heal.

Infection signs and symptoms:

· Continually keep an eye out for signs of infection. Some of these signs are having a fever or
a wound that is red, swollen, or dripping pus.
· Red or swollen rash anywhere on their body
· Redness or swelling at the base of their umbilical cord.
· a fever of 100.4 F or higher if the baby is 3 months or younger, or 102 F if they are older
than 3 months.
· Irritable and cries inconsolably for longer than normal
· Distended abdomen or vomiting.

Symptoms that require immediate medical attention:

· Heavy vaginal bleeding that soaks more than one pad per hour or vaginal bleeding that
increases each day instead of decreasing.
· Passing large clots (bigger than a quarter)
· Chills and/or a fever of more than 100.4°F
· Fainting or dizziness
· Changes to your vision or a severe headache (persistent)
· Painful urination or difficulty urinating
· Vaginal discharge with a strong odor
· Heart palpitations, chest pain or difficulty breathing.
· Vomiting
· Incision from C-section or episiotomy is red, weepy (with pus), or swollen.
· Abdominal (lower belly) pain that is getting worse or new abdominal pain.
· Sore breasts that are red or feel hot to the touch.
· Pain in your legs with redness or swelling.
When to return to the doctor for a check-up:

· The mother should see an OBGYN for a 6-week checkup within 3 weeks of giving birth and
for a full checkup within 12 weeks.

Postpartum Depression:

· Constant feelings of sadness

· A lack of enjoyment from old hobbies and favorite activities
· Changes in sleeping and eating patterns.
· Increased anxiety
· Low self-esteem
· After your baby is delivered and your body has nearly totally recovered from being
pregnant, the postpartum period begins. Normally, this period lasts six to eight weeks.
· During the postpartum time, you and your spouse must also learn how to take care of your
newborn and adjust to your new role as a family.
· After giving birth, moms will feel tired and stressed. You might also feel happiness, fear, joy,
and relief. The "baby blues" are when you feel sad and nervous 3–5 days after giving birth. The
'baby blues' only last a few days.
· Get ready to follow the 5-5-5 rule: 5 days in the bed, 5 days on the bed, and 5 days near the
bed.
· New mothers require a lot of rest, a healthy diet, and assistance during the first few weeks
after giving birth.
· Appetite changes - usually loss of appetite with weight loss
· Being sad or anxious for more than a couple of weeks
· Crying a lot for no reason
· Decreased concentration or ability to make decisions.
· Fatigue, decreased energy
· Feeling agitated
· Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
· Feeling overwhelmed and not being able to cope
· Loss of pleasure or interest in activities
· Thoughts of death or suicide
· Unable to sleep, even when you have the chance to sleep, or sleeping too much.

Newborn:
Car seat safety

§ The seat must be placed at an angle so that the baby's head doesn't fall forward.
§ It has a belt that cradles and moves with your child in a crash to protect the child's neck and
spinal cord, which are still developing.
§ The harness must be snug against the hips and shoulders.
§ The chest clip should be level with your baby's armpits.
§ If your baby wears too many clothes, the leash might not fit right. If it's cold outside, buckle
your baby in first, then put a blanket over them.

Safe Sleep/SIDS:
· Most babies need to eat anywhere from 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, even at night.
· Ensure that the mattress in the crib is firm and flat.
· Never put your baby to sleep on their stomach or side, only on their back.
· Take a nap when the baby does. Even a short period of rest like this spread throughout the
day.
· If your baby is fussy, try reading aloud, singing, reciting poems or nursery rhymes, or
swaying or rocking him or her gently in a chair.
· Stop wrapping your baby in a swaddle when you see signs that he or she is starting to roll
over.
· Avoid placing blankets, quilts, sheepskins, bumpers, stuffed animals, or pillows in the crib or
bassinet because they can choke a baby.

Umbilical cord care:

· Clean around the cord stump with plain water and a towel until the stump dries out and
falls off, which usually takes 10 days to 3 weeks. Do not let the belly button area soak in water
until the stump falls off and the area heals.
Circumcision Care:

· For the circumcision wrap the cut with gauze so that it doesn't stick to the diaper. At each
diaper change, wipe the tip gently with warm water, not a baby wipe, and then put petroleum
jelly and paper on it.
Feeding (breast and bottle) normal daily intake:
· On average, a woman who is breastfeeding will need to eat between 300 and 500 more
calories each day than she usually does.
· A comfy seat in a room with minimal light. Wear a shirt with a front opening. Put your baby
on your bare chest with just a diaper on.
· Help your baby's head and neck stay in place. When you carry your baby, hold the head in
your arms. And keep the baby's head up when you hold the baby upright or lay the baby down.
· n effective latch keeps you from getting sore nips and makes sure your baby gets enough
milk.
· Having a comfortable chair, pillows, a footstool, and water and snacks nearby can help you
feel supported and relaxed while you feed your baby.
· heating the bottle in warm water that is running Don't use a microwave because it can
make dangerous hot spots. Put a few drops of formula on the back of your hand to find out
what the temperature is.
· Use the formula at room temperature within two hours; after that, the chance of bacteria
growing rises, so you should throw it away. The refrigerated formula should be used within 24
hours.
· Freshly pumped breast milk can be kept at room temperature for four hours, in the fridge
for four days, and in the freezer for six to twelve months.
· Never save any formula that your baby leaves in the bottle because bacteria from their spit
can make it dirty.

Signs and symptoms of infection in newborn

· red or swollen rash anywhere on their body

· signs of infection are fever or a wound that is red, swollen, or dripping pus.
· redness or swelling at the base of their umbilical cord.
· a fever of 100.4 F or higher if the baby is 3 months or younger, or 102 F if they are older
than 3 months.
· irritable and cries inconsolably for longer than normal
· distended abdomen or vomiting.
Symptoms that require immediate medical attention:
· A fever of 100.4 F or higher if the baby is 3 months or younger, or 102 F if they are older
than 3 months.
· changes in how they eat, like not wanting to nurse.
· watery or mucus stools, excessively sleepy, lethargic, or unresponsive
How to assess a temperature
• Caution: Ear temperatures are not accurate before 6 months of age
• Caution: Forehead temperatures must be digital. Forehead strips are not accurate.
• take rectal (in the bottom) or axillary (in the armpit) temperature readings.
•
Routine follow-up appointments
· Babies get checkups at birth, 3 to 5 days after birth and then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and
24 months.
Refences:
1. Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Taking Care of a Newborn Baby. (2023, May 30).
Parents. https://www.parents.com/baby/care/american-baby-how-tos/newborn-baby-boot-
camp/

2. A Guide for First-Time Parents (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth. (2023, May 1). A Guide
for First-Time Parents (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth.
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/guide-parents.html

3. Raines DA, Robinson J. Format of Parent Education Material Preferred by New Mothers.
Clinical Nursing Research. 2020;29(4):256-259. doi:10.1177/1054773818790007

4. default - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. (n.d.). The New Mother: Taking Care of
Yourself After Birth. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=the-new-mother-
taking-care-of-yourself-after-birth-90-P02693