The postnatal period is the first six weeks after birth―is critical to the health and survival of a mother and her new- born. The WHO states that the Post natal period begins immediately after the birth of the baby and extends up to six weeks (42 days) after birth.

During this period, the mother goes through many physical and emotional changes while learning to care for her newborn. Post natal or postpartum care involves getting proper rest, nutrition, and vaginal care.

Get Enough Rest

Rest is crucial for new mothers who need to rebuild their strength. To avoid getting too tired as a new mother, you may need to:

• sleep when your baby sleeps
• keep your bed near your baby’s crib to make night feedings easier
• allow someone else to feed the baby with a bottle while you sleep

Eating Right

Getting proper nutrition in the postpartum period is crucial because of the changes your body goes through during pregnancy and labour.
The weight that you gained during pregnancy helps make sure you have enough nutrition for breast-feeding. However, you need to continue to eat a healthy diet after delivery.

Experts recommend that breast-feeding mothers eat when they feel hungry. Make a special effort to focus on eating when you are actually hungry — not just busy or tired.

• avoid high-fat snacks
• focus on eating low-fat foods that balance protein, carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables
• drink plenty of fluids

Vaginal Care

New mothers should make vaginal care an essential part of their postpartum care. You may experience:

• vaginal soreness if you had a tear during delivery
• urination problems like pain or a frequent urge to urinate
• discharge, including small blood clots
• contractions during the first few days after delivery

Schedule a checkup with your doctor about six weeks after delivery to discuss symptoms and receive proper treatment. You should abstain from sexual intercourse for four to six weeks after delivery so that your vagina has proper time to heal.

Baby blues vs. postpartum depression

It’s normal to have the baby blues during the postpartum period. This typically happens a few days after giving birth and can last for up to two weeks. In most cases, you won’t be experiencing symptoms all the time, and your symptoms will vary. About 70 to 80 percent of new mother’s experience mood swings or negative feelings after giving birth. Baby blues are caused by hormonal changes and symptoms may include:

• unexplained crying
• irritability
• insomnia
• sadness
• mood changes
• restlessness