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Postpartum mothers' bodies are fragile and easily influenced by external factors.
After a challenging childbirth, a woman's body becomes weak due to loss of strength and significant blood loss along with fatigue during pregnancy. Therefore, proper postpartum care is crucial.
Below are 21 things postpartum mothers should avoid to maintain optimal health.
1. Mothers must rest for at least a month. During the first two weeks postpartum, besides basic activities such as eating and personal hygiene, other household chores should be limited, and rest on the bed should be prioritized. If mothers frequently move or work, the uterus is more likely to prolapse.
2. Upon returning home from the hospital, mothers should breastfeed early. Whether breastfeeding or formula feeding for the baby, mothers should sit and nurse the baby. Sit as much as the baby nurses. The remaining time should be spent resting, as it will help alleviate back pain later on. Understanding visitors will not consider you impolite. Also, movement should be gentle, avoiding heavy lifting and carrying.
3. Postpartum maternity rooms should be well-ventilated. Mothers should also bathe with ginger wine to smell fresh. This way, your body won't have the smell of childbirth. Ginger wine also warms the body and effectively removes the smell for mothers.
4. During the first month postpartum, mothers should avoid heavy work or hand washing clothes because it can cause unsightly arm veins later.
5. Don't refrain from bathing; mothers who give birth vaginally can bathe immediately after giving birth. However, mothers should bathe and shampoo separately and not exceed 10 minutes for each.
6. Avoid shampooing for too long as it can make you more susceptible to catching a cold. Shampoo quickly, gently with warm water, then dry your hair immediately.
7. Maintain oral hygiene using warm water. This helps keep your mouth clean without causing tooth sensitivity from cold water.
8. You can use a hot water bottle or hot compress to apply to the abdomen, back, and both sides. This helps reduce back and joint pain while increasing muscle and skin elasticity, resulting in reduced wrinkles and a smaller abdomen.
9. During this period, it's advisable to have someone else bathe your baby, or else you'll easily suffer from back pain, tired arms, and legs.
10. Avoid climbing stairs during menstruation and refrain from lifting heavy objects.
11. Don't cry, or else your eyes will age prematurely; limit excessive TV watching to give your eyes time to rest.
12. Avoid overeating in one meal; instead, eat smaller meals throughout the day.
13. Avoid overly salty or raw foods, or those with cooling properties like crab and day lily. Also, avoid eating foods that spoil quickly like fish and snails. Stay away from allergenic foods and avoid eating ice. Opt for squash, lean meat, legumes, tomatoes, and bananas.
14. During the postpartum period, avoid going outside to catch a breeze to prevent catching a cold.
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16. Mothers should refrain from self-medicating, including taking supplements, while breastfeeding to avoid affecting the quality of milk and the health of the baby.
17. Postpartum mothers should avoid staying in overly closed rooms. Both mother and baby need to sunbathe daily to help the mother's body recover and promote the baby's development. It's best for mother and baby to sunbathe before 8 a.m. and not exceed 30 minutes.
18. Mothers can watch TV or read newspapers to stay updated and relieve stress; however, they should balance their rest time to prevent eye fatigue.
19. Postpartum mothers should abstain from sexual activity for a while to allow the uterus to recover. Avoid strong emotions and mental stress as they can be harmful to maternal health and lead to insufficient milk supply.
20. Do not hold back from urination, as mothers may develop urinary tract infections.
21. After childbirth, the mother's body needs time for lochia to discharge. Therefore, do not tie the abdomen too tightly too soon as it may cause lochia retention, making it difficult for the uterus to contract and affecting the mother's health.
Hopefully, the 21 postpartum precautions shared in the article will assist new mothers in ensuring postpartum health.
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