The Everything Health Guide To Postpartum Care: A Complete Guide to Looking and Feeling Great After Delivery and Beyond

by Megan Francis, Kip Kozlowski R.N., C.N.M.

Overview

After all the anticipation of pregnancy and the joy associated with childbirth, many new mothers often find themselves unprepared - emotionally and physically - for what comes next. If you are: curious of how you'll feel after your baby is delivered, not sure of how to care for your body after a C-section, unsure of how to adjust to motherhood, or suffering from postpartum depression, you're not alone.

If you're concerned about post-delivery complications or whether you'll need outside help during this sensitive time, this handy guide answers all of your questions and helps you take those first steps to getting back on track.

From getting enough sleep and getting back in shape to answering all of your financial and health-care concerns - The Everything Health Guide to Postpartum Care offers expert, reassuring information on:

• Your hospital stay and post-delivery complications
• Sex after delivery
• Work after birth
• Breast, skin, and hair care
• Postpartum depression

Written by a health writer and mother of four and reviewed by a certified midwife and registered nurse, The Everything Health Guide to Postpartum Care helps you feel and look your best after delivery.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598692754
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	04/02/2007
Series:	Everything�
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

An Adams Media author.

Table of Contents

Introduction     xi
Preparing for a Great Postpartum Experience     1
How Your Birth Experience Affects Your Postpartum Experience     1
Avoiding Interventions     5
Creating a Hospital Postpartum Plan     7
Creating a Support System     8
Getting Help at Home and with Other Children     10
Stocking Up for Postpartum     12
Professional Help     15
Take Advantage of This Time     16
Last-minute Considerations     17
The First Few Hours after Birth     19
The Third Stage of Labor     19
The Fourth Stage of Labor     22
Your Uterus after Birth     24
How You May Feel Physically     26
Effects of Medication     27
Your Emotions     28
Your Appearance     30
Getting Ready for Recovery     30
The First Week after Birth     33
How You May Be Feeling     33
Dealing with Afterpains     38
Medical Pain Relief     39
Caring for Stitches     41
Handling Visitors     42
Why Breastfeed?     44
Beginning Breastfeeding     45
Breastfeeding at Home     47
Your Hospital Stay     51
What to Expect from Hospital Staff     51
Eating Healthfully in the Hospital     53
Rooming In Versus Rooming Out     54
Personal and Professional Visitors     56
Paperwork     59
If Your Baby Has to Stay     62
Recovering after a C-section     67
Preparing for a C-section     67
Recovering in the Hospital     68
Recovering at Home     70
Emotional Issues after a C-section     72
Talking about Your Feelings     73
Moving On     76
Bonding with Your Baby     78
Breastfeeding after a Cesarean     79
Postpartum Complications and Health Concerns     83
Infections     83
Hemorrhage     87
Hematoma     91
Bruised, Sprained, or Broken Tailbone     92
Pelvic Floor Injury     93
Gallbladder Issues     95
Tips for a Healthy Postpartum Period     96
When to Call Your Doctor or Midwife     97
Weeks Two to Six     101
How You'll Be Feeling     101
How You'll Look      105
Getting Out of the House     106
Nursing in Public     108
When Your Partner Returns to Work     111
Breast Care     117
What's Going On in There?     117
Can You Breastfeed?     118
Breastfeeding and Lifestyle Changes     120
Breastfeeding Positions     122
Sore Nipples     124
Ruling Out Thrush     127
Other Breast Issues     130
Everyday Breast Care     132
Sleep     135
How Much Newborn Babies Sleep     135
You Need Your Sleep, Too     137
Mastering Naps     139
Where Should Your Baby Sleep?     140
Maximizing Sleep Time     144
Ignore the Critics     146
Skin and Hair Care     149
Skin Changes Left Over from Pregnancy     149
Excessive Sweating     151
Stretch Marks     152
Changes to Your Complexion     153
Making Time for a Skin-care Routine     156
Changes to Your Hair     157
Am I Balding?     159
The Six-week Checkup     161
What to Expect     161
Sex, Breastfeeding, and Birth Control     162
Barrier Methods     164
Hormonal Contraceptives     169
Emergency Contraception     172
Natural Family Planning     173
Sterilization     174
Exercise     177
Are You Ready?     177
Exercises for the Early Weeks     179
Taking It Up a Notch     181
Working Out with Baby In-arms     184
Getting the Right Stuff     185
Getting Support     187
Getting Back to Your Normal Shape     188
Weight Loss and Nutrition     191
Getting the Nutrition You Need     191
Breastfeeding and Calorie Needs     192
Nutrition for Nursing Moms     193
Special Diets and Breastfeeding     194
Losing Weight Healthfully     196
Tips for Postpartum Weight Loss     198
Your Postpartum Wardrobe     203
The Early Weeks     203
Beyond Maternity Wear     204
Dressing for Work     207
Minimizing a Large Bust     208
Nursing Wear     209
Selecting a Bra     211
Nursing Wear for Nighttime     214
Postpartum Depression and Other Postpartum Mood Disorders     215
What Is a Postpartum Mood Disorder?     215
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety     216
Other Postpartum Mood Disorders     217
Is It Your Thyroid?     219
Preventing Depression     220
Treating Depression and Anxiety     225
Postpartum Sex     227
Are You Physically Ready?     227
Emotional Concerns     228
Comfort Issues     229
Lack of Desire     231
Finding the Time-and Place-for Romance     235
Being Intimate Without Having Sex     236
Adjusting to Motherhood     239
Motherhood: Myths and Realities     239
Bonding with Your Baby     241
Feeling a Sense of Accomplishment     242
Your Mothering Style     243
Caring for Yourself     244
Your Social Network     245
Tools that Will Make Your Life Easier     248
Your Partner     251
Your Partner's Feelings     251
Parenting Disagreements     255
Keeping Communication Strong     256
Making Time for Each Other     257
Who's Doing the Housework?      258
Postpartum Depression for Dads?     262
Special Circumstances     263
Single Moms     263
A Single Mom's Emotional Life     266
Multiples     269
If You Had a Traumatic Birth     271
If Your Baby Has Special Needs     273
Postpartum Care after a Loss     274
Going Back to Work     279
Maternity Leave     279
Getting a Longer Break     280
Breastfeeding and a Job     283
Dealing with Guilt     289
Making Work Work     290
Glossary     293
Resources     301