The postpartum period is known as a very important time for both mother and baby as they adjust to each other and the expanded family. Dr Kenneth Ruzindana, a consultant at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), says that the postpartum period begins after the delivery of the baby, and ends when the body has nearly returned to its pre-pregnant state. This period lasts between six to eight weeks. He notes that the postpartum period involves changes, both emotionally and physically for the mother. It is also a time when the mother learns how to deal with all the changes needed with becoming a new mother. Ruzindana says that this period also involves a mother and maybe her partner learning how to care for the new-born and planning how to function as a changed family unit. For him, the mother needs to take good care of herself to rebuild her strength. She will need plenty of rest, and good nutrition. “Every new parent will soon learn that babies have different time clocks than adults, for example, a typical baby wakes up every three hours, and needs to be fed and changed,” he says. Ruzindana adds that if this is the first baby, the parents can become overwhelmed by exhaustion. The mother may not be able to get eight solid hours of sleep for several months. For mothers to get ample rest during the first few weeks, they need someone else to take care of all the responsibilities other than feeding the baby, and taking care of herself, he says. The medical consultant encourages mothers to sleep when the baby sleeps. This may be only a few minutes of rest several times a day, but these minutes can add up. It is also important to save steps and time, for example, you can have your baby’s bed near you for feeding at night, and it’s also nice having visits from family and friends. Feel free to excuse yourself in such scenarios and feed your baby. He also says that since the body has undergone many changes during pregnancy, the mother needs time to recover. She needs to have a balanced diet to be active and care for the baby. The weight gained in pregnancy helps build stores for recovery for breastfeeding. Ruzindana also notes that most breastfeeding experts recommend that the mother eats when she feels hungry, but many mothers may be too tired to eat. It is important to plan simple healthy meals that include choices from all the recommended types of food. Dr Stephen Rulisa, an obstetrician gynaecologist at CHUK, says new mothers are prone to a number of physical problems after childbirth. These may include infections, difficulty urinating, constipation, haemorrhoids, or to name a few. He encourages new mothers to find immediate treatment once such issues are identified. Rulisa adds that as a new mother, you might feel irritable, indecisive, anxious, and with sudden mood swings after childbirth. This is known as “baby blues”. Baby blues are feelings of sadness a woman may have in the first few days after having a baby. Baby blues are also called postpartum blues. Experts say that baby blues can happen two to three days after you have your baby and can last up to two weeks. They usually go away on their own, and you don’t need any treatment. If you have sad feelings that last longer than two weeks, they advise you to inform your doctor. According to Healthline, when it comes to birth control, some women use breastfeeding as a natural birth control method. According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, one out of 100 women will get pregnant annually if they’re engaging in exclusive breastfeeding. Even though breastfeeding reduces your fertility, it’s not an absolute guarantee you won’t get pregnant again. “The key here is exclusive breastfeeding. Other than breast milk, no fluids or solids are given to the baby with exclusive breastfeeding. Even water. Supplements or vitamins don’t interfere and can be given to the baby. Breastfeeding that doesn’t fit this description might not protect against another pregnancy.” You could wonder how long the bleeding takes after giving birth, well, doctors say that postpartum bleeding can last for up to six weeks. It will be just like a very heavy period made up of leftover blood, tissue from your uterus and mucus. Bleeding is heaviest for the first three to 10 days, then it will diminish, going from red to pink to brown to yellowish-white.
