Dr Padma is a Family care physician and is the Founder and CEO of MedHealthTV.
You have delivered a baby, and I am sure you are overwhelmed looking at your bundle of joy, You may be tired and emotionally strained. but all is not over. Postpartum care or care after delivery is most important in regaining your strength back. Post delivery, the mother should spend her time mostly on taking care of herself and her baby, while she gets help from her mother, spouse friends to take care of everything else for her. This is the time for her to recuperate. Her body has gone through enormous changes during pregnancy, both physically and emotionally.
Women who have diabetes during pregnacy are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension and ischemic heart disease, warns a recent study. The findings indicated that women diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) were over 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes later in life,
While some bleeding is expected after delivery, heavy bleeding or hemorrhage i.e loss of more than 500 to 1000 ml of blood within the first 24 hours after delivery is defined as post part hemorrhage. Because of the loss of so much blood, the women may have signs of low blood volume, including palpitations, breathlessness. In extreme conditions, the women may go in to shock,
Seeing your little one for the first time can be a very emotional moment. So, now that you have bought your baby to this world, what can you as a mother expect in the next few days. Post part period usually begins immediately after delivery and lasts for a few weeks and months following your baby’s birth. Your body has gone through enormous changes during pregnancy.
You are almost ready for delivery and the labour pains could start anytime. Today is the last day of your 39th week and the beginning of your 40th week. You will have pain in your lower back and contractions in the lower abdomen. If extreme pain then rushes to your doctor ASAP. You will also experience pain in the vaginal area and also have contractions. You will feel contractions for 30 to 45 secs
This week the baby is almost fully developed. How many more weeks for your delivery? Don’t worry - It is going to be probably a few days more. You are also experiencing increased frequency of urination, breast pain, swelling in your hands and legs and acidity. If all these symptoms increase then do contact your Doctor. The ultrasound shows the baby’s 3.2 kgs and is almost 21 inches in height.
From this week onwards the baby is considered full term and is supposed to be fully developed. Do not worry about the growth of the baby, if she delivers this week. In this week the baby almost puts on 30 grams per day.You can feel some changes in your breast. This is because she needs to breastfeed the baby after delivery and the milk is already being produced in the breast.
This is the 36th week and the baby is in the head down position and is lying on the bones of the pelvis. You are a little tired. You have been pregnant for the past 9 months and waiting to have a healthy baby. If you are worried about the health of the baby then don’t worry. It is very normal for every pregnant woman
For the last 4 weeks, You have been going for checkups to the hospital every week. You are going to get checked levels of the amniotic fluid and also urine for sugar and protein and your BP every time. This week you may complaints of acidity, backache, and pain in the vaginal area. Pain is because the baby has descended to the lower part of the uterus and this is called lightening.
Your baby is safe as the baby born any time after this week will be able to survive well. The ultrasound shows the baby in the head down position and is approximately 2.2 kgs in weight and 19 inches long. Baby also has deposition of fat under its skin, this will help the baby to keep the temperature normal. The doctor will show you baby taking hiccups.