Thursday, 7 February 2013

postpartum maternity care and hygiene




Once the child delivery happens within 2 hours time postpartum related concerns and care starts.  First 45 days are essential for postpartum care for postpartum recovery where all symptoms regarding disease or disorder should be carefully observed with utmost child and maternity care. Mothers need consultation on breastfeeding, birth spacing, immunization and maternal nutrition after c-section or normal birth. The most dangerous of all the disorder is postpartum haemorrhage where women die within 4 hours of child delivery due to severe loss of blood. This kind of death is common in anaemic patients who suffers from malnutrition.  Puerperal infection is another postpartum disorder which results in maternal mortality. This infection can be avoided by maintaining proper cleanliness and hygiene at delivery. Child care after birth should be taken care of by providing proper and easy access to mother, parental care, proper feeding, safe environment, nutrition.

Women also suffers from other set of complications like urinary tract infection,  urine retention due to tissue damage during delivery. Pshycological problems like depression and fatigue are also common in those days. Major nutritional deficiencies include iron, vitamin A, iodine deficiency in women postpartum. Complications like asphyxia, neonatal tetanus, respiratory infections are also prevalent among women after child delivery . Post pregnancy belly is affected due to overweight and this becomes a serious concern for women. This belly wrap is a physical medication for physical problem for women.

All these deficiencies, diseases, infections and complications can be managed by breast feeding child. The new born’s immune system strengthens and protects baby from allergies. Breast feeding encourages mother and child bonding and also eradicates all kind of possible infections. The best way to control the problems is to allow breastfeed to new born and to adopt some preventive measures. Mothers and their new born should be immunized with atleast two doses of tetanus toxoid. Third dose should be given in a time span of 6 months and the last two doses at an interval of 1 years time to prevent from tuberculosis. BCG Immunization, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine and oral polio is recommended for children at 6,10 and 14 weeks old. Postpartum care should be based on preventive action. This care will reduce the disability and deaths pertaining to postpartum. Postpartum healthcare, maternity girdle and consultation has a direct impact on the child and mother’s health. This c-section binder will add value to targeted diseases like depression due to overweight.

In many developing countries as in like the Asian mothers are under nutrition. Therefore, this affects a lot to mothers and child. As a result child mortality has increased in those areas. Researchers discovered that under nourished mother might produce breast milk in the same quantity as like highly nourished ,but, the milk composition will be less nutritious for child in the case of under nutritious mother. So, It is clear that women need an increased caloric intake throughout the period of lactation. Immunization of mothers is essential to safeguard newborns. Targeted diseases like tuberculosis is cured by BCG immunization, diphtheria is cured by diphtheria toxoid, tetanus is cured by tetanus toxoid, whooping cough is cured by acellular vaccines, viral infection like Poliomyelitis is cured by oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV), Hepatitis B and measles are taken care of by immune. Overweight is tackled by maternity support belt which supports the belly under pressure and fasten the process of weight loss. These belts can also be used as c-section support belt.

Mind, health and support for a women during pre and post pregnancy days









Women who are planning to be pregnant to women post pregnancy are liable to undergo huge mental distortion. Pregnancy is not limited to giving birth to baby only neither to the medication involved in pregnancy. Women undergo depression or mental fatigue and suffer illness. This kind of situation is very hazardous to a baby’s health. There is a chance that 15 to 20 out of every 100 women stop their medication  course once they get to know their pregnancy status. This sudden stop might get them  and their child into trouble. Women should consult with gynecologists and discuss about the medication  they should required to continue or stop during pregnancy. Women should be aware about mental hazards and should able to take precautions accordingly. Mental illness is majorly due to depression and anxiety caused to women due to many unwanted reasons. Some women suffer due to unwanted pregnancy, some due to psychological rewind of the negative incident in the past, some due to stress in the relationship. Any kind of anxiety is not allowed for a pregnant women. Pregnancy is a very sensitive situation and should be given utmost attention.

If by any means , a pregnant lady have ever suffered from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, postnatal depression, severe anxiety disorder and any eating disorder like anorexia then she must be Any health or mental related problems need to be discussed with midwives appointed for carrying out the child delivery. Midwives will provide the requisite support and care needed by the patient. It is wise for the pregnant mothers to keep their mind jolly and light and keep themselves in a positive surrounding. This kind of environment seriously affects the mental health of the baby. Good food, good sleep and tension free mind will lead to a healthy baby. There are many options regarding assistance and support for Pregnant Women like trust for child birth with helpline numbers, local groups and online support for pregnant mothers, postpartum support groups offering consultation through website, association of volunteers to consult on pregnancy, obstetrician, community child health nurse, midwife. By strict caution and follow up only c-section recovery will be possible for women.

Nutritional fitness and pregnancy belly band is also the need of the hour during and pregnant days. Healthy diet should be maintained and women should ensure that their weight gain should be around 11 to 15 kg during pregnancy days. Weight reduction can be done post pregnancy  by regular use of girdle for women. Women should refer doctors and consult with them regarding diet plans. Women should follow dietician to access a list of food which are recommended to be consumed by mothers and list of food needed to be avoided. Women are mainly susceptible to infection like listeria during pregnancy days. This is a infection caused due to bad food habits. Body mass index should be maintained below 25 to avoid complications and pre pregnancy shape of women. Obesity should be eliminated by consistent health and weight check up and keeping a tab on diet. Exercise should be primarily followed with caution with strict guidance from the doctors and physiotherapists. Pelvic floor exercise is a part of the exercise for c-section regime to keep pregnant women fit and provide bladder support and bowel control. Smoking is the most dangerous pollutant to pregnant women. Women should avoid passive smoking too and try stay in a positive environment. Alcohol, illegal drugs should be avoided for consumption as it strictly affects health. These lethal consumption can affect women during c-section incision.

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Risks and complications for a women after cesarean

Cesarean or the so called C-section incision of pregnant women during child birth is meant for situation where natural or normal delivery is not possible or in other words the abdominal muscles are not too strong to push the baby out. But, there are risks and complications are also attached to these kind of surgery. Wound, womb lining may get infected due to which sever pain in the womb, abnormal vaginal discharge and fever occurs. Blood clotting, bleeding, damage to kidney may affect the women body and therefore additional surgery might be needed. Now a days doctors prescribe antibiotics before operation to avoid infection. Another case of risk during cesarean can by Aspiration  which causes vomiting of food and liquid during emergency operation.

This results in swelling or inflammation in lungs. Therefore, intake of food or fluid should be avoided before emergency operation and intake of isotonic drinks should be encouraged. Isotonic drinks include all energies or nutrients needed by the body  thereby keeping the stomach half empty.  Another most common risk can be breathing problem in new born. If the cesarean happens before 36 weeks, then there is a chance for the new born to have a breathing problem. If the cesarean happens in 39 weeks then this problem is reduced. This problem can be traced when you find babies breathing abnormally fast for 1st 2 to 3 days after birth. Cesarean also causes a decrease in fertility in women and a risk to placenta which weakens to bear the child. There happens to be a soar in the post pregnancy belly and getting back to normal shape is a challenge.

In cesarean, the uterus is affected along with the placenta and the tissue bear a scar which takes time to heal. If child delivery continues multiple times , then the uterus is highly affected leading to premature delivery or miscarriage. The tissues which got scars  are bind together by a tissue band called adhesion. When a woman has more than 3 cesarean then these adhesion creates complications for baby birth. The risk with mother after cesarean is excessive blood loss, nausea, vomiting, headache, constipation and ultimately maternal death. Risk with the child is injury, immature lungs, breathing problems. Long term risks with cesarean includes breaking of the scar on repeated or continuous child birth, the cervix is blocked. There is severe bleeding after child birth if the placenta grows more than normal size into uterus. Girdles and corsets designed by various research organization can help as a exercise for c-section.

The Postpartum endomyometritis is the complication related to infection and occur nearly to 40% of the women during delivery. Urinary tract infection occurs in 16 % of after c-section patients. 0.25% cases suffer from blood clotting. Uterus rupture occurs in 5 to 10% of the c-section cases. Complications like neonatal respiratory distress is related to breathing problems. Postpartum recovery is possible in case of a cesarean only if repeated child birth gap is maintained for a longer time frame.

Women undergoing cesarean during Child birth should wait for atleast 1 year before planning to conceive a second child. This long duration break will allow to give a vaginal birth next time. The cut in the abdomen takes only 3 months to heal. But, precaution for 1 year should be taken to avoid any abnormalities. Finally the most logical point to give birth to child with substantial age gap is proper nutritional care. Girdle for women with a pull up feature is the only postpartum support which can be used as a c-section recovery.

Exercises and precaution to be followed during pre pregnant days

Obesity is a serious concern for conceiving a child by a pregnant women. Exercises reduces the chances of diabetes, blood pressure and increases the chances of successful child delivery. Exercise also reduces depression post pregnancy.  Overweight women faces pregnancy complications and which might cause c-section incision for child birth. There happens to be health problems resulting due to pregnancy leading to increase in back pain, weight gain. If women are acquainted with exercises regularly then they can continue doing it during and after pregnancy days. But, if not acquainted with exercises earlier then it is advisable to ignore for initial 3 months of pregnancy. Also, physical high intense exercises should be avoided . 

Continuing with moderate exercise will keep body fit and keep mind from undue depression and allow mind to think positive.  Always exercise under medical guidance and the trainer or personal instructor should be aware about pregnancy related exercises and should not recommend exercises that can impart pressure on as sensitive body as of a pregnant women. Exercise should be followed by maternity support belt and its use is advisable only during physical rest.

A routine should be followed regarding food habits and exercise regime on daily basis. Women need to warm up and stretch before starting actual exercise. Need to  stop physical exertion if any kind of pain is experienced.  It will be a good habit to travel office by walking or by cycling after pregnancy to achieve pre pregnancy shape.  Exercise should be planned properly keeping balance diet into consideration. Body should be properly hydrated  and women should ensure to drink water properly and consistently throughout the day.

Zinc supplements will enhance immune system and will help to fight cough, cold and flu. Yoga is a typical exercise format made for this kind of delicate and sensitive situation. Yoga helps to keep mind calm and facilitates toning of reproductive organs. Blood circulation improves gradually and keep the baby active along with the mother. Other exercises like Pilates is also extremely helpful to pregnant women. It strengthens pelvic muscles and abdomen as like Pregnancy belly band . This exercise uses hands and knee to perform. It helps in regaining shape in a short time. But, it should be avoided during later stages of pregnancy.  This should be performed under strict guidance. Squatting is another form of practice for pregnant women to keep themselves in an upright position for 5 to 8 months before child birth. This eases child birth and set the position of the child in the womb. Pelvic floor muscle exercise is another form to strengthen constriction and opening of vagina muscles.

This helps during child birth. This can be practiced during urinating. Try to stop the urine flow by constricting vagina muscles and then again releasing it. This kind of exercise has to be followed every time you urinate till the delivery. Exercises related to spine or vertebral columns will ease pain during child delivery which is also essential.

During pregnancy, women should keep one thing in mind that they should avoid strenuous and long duration exercises, drink enough water , avoid overheating and recognize physical pain during work out. Avoid exercise in hot and humid weather conditions, light and loose dresses has to be worn and sauna steam bath should be avoided. Precautionary measures will help to recover with ease. Wearing pre pregnancy jeans will help to keep the child in mother’s womb in proper position and facilitate birth.