Nothing, but nothing, can prepare you for what it means to be blessed with a baby. Sure, he’s a bundle of joy and all but for months now, you will not sleep for longer than two hours at a stretch.
The infant will scream his lungs off and you will have no idea why. No matter how happening your life was before, your days will now be consumed by feeding and changing diapers. Not to mention the aches and pains in your own body, the mood swings and the sheer sense of being tossed into the deep end of the ocean.
At such a juncture the right advice from a doctor can be a shot in the arm. Aruna Tantia, consultant gynaecologist at ILS Hospitals, speaks to The Telegraph Salt Lake about some dos and don’ts for new moms. Tantia is a resident of CL Block and has 35 years of experience.
New moms have no schedule. Their meals get delayed, they can barely bathe or groom…. But the sucker punch is sleep deprivation. How should women cope with this?
It is indeed taxing. The baby has erratic timings and the mom has to tend to him as and when he requires. But she needs adequate rest or her own body won’t recover.
The mother’s body has undergone vast transformation during pregnancy. Her blood production increases, heart enlarges, joints loosen up and she needs to rest for all these parameters to normalise again.
The mom should try and align her sleep cycle with that of the little one’s. She should sleep when the baby sleeps. This is why we say the moms shouldn’t be burdened with chores. They need family support so she can sleep as much as she can.
As if the fatigue wasn’t enough, new moms are also dogged by aches and pains. There’s the soreness of the stitches, the struggle of sitting up from the lying position and back and neck ache from nursing the baby. Any tips?
It is important to maintain the right posture while breastfeeding. Sometimes the baby could feed for up to 40 minutes and the mom would get multiple aches if she’s seated awkwardly.
Sit on a chair with your feet resting on the ground. Use a footstool if needed. Keep a pillow on your lap and place the baby on it. Make sure you are comfortable else neck and backaches are on the way.
It might sound inviting to feed the baby lying down but never do this. If you fall asleep the baby may choke.
Also, ensure you feed from both the breasts. If you feed only from one, the other one can feel heavy, painful and it may even lead to abscess. If you feel there is more milk in one breast, express it. Ensure you wear good innerwear to support the breasts or they may sag.
As for the stitches, keep the area clean and apply the medicines prescribed by the doctor to avoid infection.
What about diet? The whole world descends upon new moms with tips on what food will improve lactation!
Yes, our folklore has many suggestions on this and they get handed down from generation to generation.
Modern science says that lactating mothers need extra calcium, protein and iron. If she has calcium deficiency, for instance, she would get aches and pains. She also needs to drink milk herself. As long as she breastfeeds, she should take these supplements.
But yes, foods like doodh-saboo enhance milk production. Different states and cultures have their own foods like this. In Rajasthan they use gond that replenishes calcium. Ajwain is another food that helps the uterus contract after delivery.
Some food may not agree with the baby. Sometimes if the mother has a lot of ghee it gives the baby loose motion. Keep track of what isn’t suiting the infant and avoid them.
But a blanket advice is to avoid junk food. Remember, whatever you eat goes to the child so spare him junk. Eat responsibly. Have green vegetables.
Woman would have gained weight post pregnancy. How soon should she try to work the weight off?
She can start walking after a month and a half, and after three months she can resume other exercises. Yoga would be great. Lactating burns calories too.
What about postpartum depression? Is this a myth?
It’s not a myth. It mostly affects first-time mothers as they are unable to cope with the new situation. It’s worse for women who have to fend for themselves because the initial months need backbreaking work.
It’s a combination of stress, lack of sleep, lack of energy and the constant crying of the baby that adds up. It’s worse if the baby isn’t feeding properly.
The husband and family need to support the new mom at such a time and try to cheer her up and reduce her burden. Indian women are lucky that they have their parents to fall back on. If all this taken care of, one shouldn’t get postpartum depression.
The second baby is always easier as the mom knows what she’s getting into. It’s also the responsibility of the hospital to teach moms how to feed child properly and share other such tips before releasing the patient.
If all this is taken care of, the mom can enjoy her time with the baby. Her fatigue would dissolve when she sees junior break into a smile.