A baby brings immense joy and satisfaction to the mother’s life. Once the little bundle of joy lands in your arms, your life takes a new turn. There are series of changes awaiting you. The forthcoming days will all be marked by celebration and merriment.
Post delivery, new mothers are generally advised to stay at home for 40 days. The period is popularly called the “confinement period” for the mother. These 40 days are crucial for the mother’s health and also for the baby. The customs may very slightly given the distinct cultures, but the main thought remains same that is to give the mother ample of time to heal and recuperate in this period. Mothers are always occupied with their child, all the while taking care of the baby and feeding him/her for 24 hours a day. They often tend to neglect their health and strain out their already fragile body. It is the responsibility of the female as well as her family members to take care of her body and help her bounce back to normal routine by gaining energy in the 40 days following the delivery.
Some women might think that 40 days is quite a long time to remain at home doing nothing but taking rest. However, with the new responsibility, you don't even realize when the days pass by.
Diet
The most important point to be kept in mind for these 40 days is a healthy diet. People give a lot of suggestions to the mother regarding her eating habit. Depending on the culture, there may be some specified recipes too, which provide her body with adequate nutrition. One must have a diet that has all the nutrients such as iron, carbohydrates, vitamins and proteins. It is essential to recuperate and also to produce sufficient milk to feed your baby. The body tires itself out by continuous cycles of feeding during the early days and hence it is absolutely essential to maintain the energy level.
Women also want to immediately lose all the pregnancy flab in this duration. But the body returns to normal in a few months and not all of a sudden. So, women must never starve themselves to lose weight after the baby is born.
Rest
The body needs time to recover fully after baby’s birth. So, the mother must get adequate amount of sleep and rest. Women who have had a caesarean must take care of the stitches. Postnatal symptoms like bleeding and constipation can also add to the new mother’s inconvenience. To get rid of all such problems, try to grab maximum rest. It may not be easy given your little baby who needs to your care and attention all the time. Tending the baby also makes the new mom deprived of a goodnight sleep. It would be better to share your responsibilities and workload with other people in the house, such as your mother-in-law and take maximum rest possible.
Mood swings
Even after the baby is born, anxiety and mood swings continue to trouble the mother. One may feel happy one moment, and gloomy after sometime for no apparent reasons. You may become extremely worried about the well being of your child or sad about your lack of independence owing to the baby. Many women become depressed because of lack of sleep and high stress in the few days after delivery. Such emotions normally last for a few days post the delivery. Family’s support, small house parties and gifts can surely lift up her spirit. If the mother does not seem to be able to tackle such emotions, one may need to seek professional help.
Healthy lifestyle
This is a crucial factor. Some women may believe in partying hard after the baby is born. The fact is that you should not put too much pressure on your body after a strenuous period and ensure you lead a healthy life. Avoid consuming drugs, alcohol or cigarettes as they are harmful for you and the baby’s health. Apart from having a healthy diet, exercise regularly to keep your body fit. Have lots of water and cut out drinks with caffeine. Maintaining a good personal hygiene is very important.
Postnatal traditions
Customs and rituals are a part of one’s culture. There are numerous practices that are followed on a baby’s birth. While some of them might be fun and helpful for the mother, some might burden her. With the mother’s own body and the baby to take care of, it is best to speak out about any such practice. Instead of trying to constantly adjust, one may seek the advice of an elderly woman in the family to ease some of the discomfort.
Make the best out of your first 40 days post the childbirth and prepare yourself to head on a wonderful journey with your little one!