After the unfathomable amount of pain and almost an hour-long excruciating labor turmoil, a mother smiles holding her baby in her arms as soon as the normal delivery successfully passes. Every woman’s perception of birthing a child is usually conditioned with delivering a baby normally through the vaginal delivery method.
No matter how many books a pregnant woman reads, very few are adept with what’s next soon after they give birth to their baby, who needs utmost care and steady monitoring. The process of birthing a child normally leaves the mother exhausted and panting in the labor room with the baby breathing nearby.
The flurry relief after welcoming the baby into the world immediately prepares a mother to kick start with the new journey full of love, care, and supreme responsibility in hands. Nevertheless, parents start with bolstering the baby’s wellness and brush their bonding with the new member of the family.
Although all the important chunk of activity is carried out by the nursing staff and health experts in the birthing room, parents too are expected to carry out certain decisions and take care of the baby. While a myriad of responsibilities and commitments pave their way towards both the parents, few rules become necessary to follow after the normal delivery so that the baby and the mother both are healthy.
Here are a few needful things every mother should take care of after her normal delivery:-
Skin-to-Skin Care
The first and foremost thing a mother soon after her normal delivery should do is ask for skin-to-skin care or Kangaroo-care of her newborn within one hour. This method of caring involves the immediate placement of the baby on the mother’s chest. Skin-to-skin care is nothing short of an instant treatment for both the mother and the child with a bevy of benefits. The World Health Organization recommends all newborn children receive kangaroo care regardless of the baby’s weight, gestational age, or clinical condition if there is any.
A moment of mother and child skin-to-skin care helps the mother get over the physical pain she went through doubling the bond manifold and it also leads to less breast engagement with three days postpartum pain. This will aid the mother with lower signs of anxiety, while the babies are twice more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding at 3 to 6 months.
Delayed Cord Clamping
Traditionally, several health experts and midwives used to clamp the umbilical cord immediately after the normal delivery. However, researchers and thriving health experts recommend a delayed cord clamping, since this method of cutting the umbilical cord after some time allows extra drops of blood to flow from the placenta to the baby. This way, the baby has lower risks of developing an iron deficiency or anemia in infants.
While not every health expert is adept with the knowledge of clamping the cord after some time, it becomes more crucial for the mother to inculcate the awareness in the labor room and ask the staff to wait for at least 50 to 60 seconds before cutting the umbilical cord.
When to Start Breastfeeding?
Given the fact that right after the birth the baby is as alert and sensitive as an owl, the best time to breastfeed begins with the beginning of postpartum days. Research and studies show that a baby is ready for nursing within one hour of being born. Many mothers who are proficient with postpartum books and lessons often panic when their newborn finds trouble in staying on nipples right after birth.
Observation confirms that most babies after they’re born take time to recognize the method of breastfeeding and just start with licking the nipple at first. Understanding the breastfeeding process can be equally daunting for the mother too. Therefore, it would not be smart enough for the mother to shy away from being curious and ask questions about lactation while in the birth room.
Make decisions for your baby
There have been a number of vaccines and abundant procedures to follow soon after the mother gives birth to her baby. However, a mother has the liberty to choose the favorable option for her child. Many hospitals and nursing staffs aren’t as informed and aware as all the postpartum books impart knowledge about. Given that, it is the mother’s prime responsibility to not go with the regular and choose what is good for her baby.
While many babies are born with deficiencies and contract diseases after being born, a mother has to keep a close vigilance on what the nursing staff is carrying out. It is always good to comply with what the health experts suggest, but it is also necessary for a mother to discuss and be decisive about what vaccination shots and procedures her baby is inoculated with. A mother’s utmost responsibility is to be aware and monitor closely. This includes learning about the pros and cons of vaccine shots, medication, and bathing and security procedures of the child.
Convey Your Wishes Regarding Your Placenta
Interestingly, Placenta is incredibly one of the most spectacular things about birthing a child. This organ is exclusively known for providing nourishment and oxygen to the growing baby in the womb during the gestation period. However, very few women are aware of the post gestation benefits of this organ.
Hospitals seamlessly dispose this part after the nursing procedure, while health researchers recommend mothers preserve the placenta after the birth for life-saving reasons like donating it for its reconstructive benefits of healing wounds and burns. A mother can always ask her health-provider to save the placenta in advance.
Besides all the mentioned things above, every parent is expected to take care of the child immediately after the natural delivery with many things that are not allowed to slip off the hands for the well-being of the newborn. It is normal for a mother to experience highs and lows in the start, which is why it is very important for a mother to not stress out the load of anxiousness while dealing with the baby.
The baby is expected to go home healthy with a chuckling face and that could happen only if mothers normalize mood swings and both the parents work out their ends responsibly. Parenting is yet another beautiful journey you would want to come back and read about.