Postpartum in the summer is a situation that makes many pregnant women uncomfortable. Concerns about coping with the heat and the recovery right now it attacks all those who give birth during the summer months.
However, postpartum in the summer has much more advantages than, first, most imagine. Here are some tips to deal with it in the best way. You will see that it is not as difficult or as bad as you imagine.
What are the advantages of postpartum in the summer?
we all know summer is vacation time for most people. Most workers usually have a short break and children and young people do not have to attend school or college. Think about it: all your family and friends will have more time to help you and enjoy the baby.
Moreover, the good weather helps to leave the house, both for a walk and to clear one’s head. You can choose the cooler hours of the day to go out with your baby. In this moment people’s stress is reduced and enjoying the tranquility becomes more convenient.
What tips should you follow for postpartum in the summer?
In order for there to be no problems during the postpartum period in the summer, it is convenient to follow a number of basic well-being recommendations. Below, we mention them in detail.
1. Take care of the diet
The ideal for postpartum in the summer is to eat light meals. Actually, Eating a healthy diet should be essential any time of year. However, during pregnancy or after childbirth, it is even more important. You are most at risk of dehydration or heatstroke right now.
It is recommended to eat five light meals a day. Furthermore, you have surely noticed that in this period the desire to eat fruit and vegetables increases. Listen to your body and base your meals around these foods. They’ll help you stay hydrated, fight constipation, and they’ll also provide you with the vitamins you need.
It’s also important to drink enough water, about 1.5-2 liters a day.. Likewise, sun exposure should be avoided between 12 and 4 in the afternoon. Wearing cool clothes can help protect you from that heatstroke.
While you may want to lose all the pounds you gained during your pregnancy, it’s important to do so after the postpartum period. During the first few months, mothers need to consume a high amount of calories to produce breast milk with the right amount of nutrients for the baby.
2. Don’t be afraid of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding a baby is something natural and physiological. In fact, the ideal is to maintain exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. You shouldn’t have any problems do it in public. However, if you feel self-conscious, try wearing shirts that are easy to lift. This way you will feel less exposed.
Also, it’s normal for you to feel thirsty and sweat while doing it. Drink water while the baby feeds and try placing a piece of gauze under his head to absorb some sweat.
In summer it is advisable to wear fresh and comfortable clothes to facilitate breastfeeding of the baby.
3. Pay attention to hygiene
after childbirth, You may notice some bloody vaginal discharge that can last up to a month. This stream is called lochia. They have a characteristic odor which, combined with heat sweat, can be unpleasant. The ideal is to use postpartum compresses to contain locus and avoid tampons or menstrual cups at all costs.
However, as this study points out made by researchers from the Autonomous University of the State of Mexicolochi smell similar to menstrual flow, but a bad smell could indicate that there is some type of infection, so you need to be aware of this.
Moreover, if you had an incision to facilitate childbirth, you should take care of the scar. This is best done with mild soap and water. It’s important to avoid moisture in the area, so it doesn’t soften. A good idea is to leave the wound in the air for as long as possible, without panties or compresses, to avoid excess moisture.
If you have had a cesarean section, you should avoid the accumulation of moisture in the area caused by sweat and follow the recommendations of the specialist. The ideal is to use antiseptic products that do not contain iodine and consult a doctor if you notice any alterations.
On the other hand, in the postpartum summer, the typical hot flashes and sweating may become more apparent. It is believed that they are due to hormonal changes and breastfeeding although, for the time being, like this one article published in The New England journal of medicine, further research is needed in this regard. However, Heshowers can help calm them down.
In fact, you must know that you can take a shower the day after giving birth. Avoid bathing, swimming pools and the sea. This is because the cervix takes some time to return to its original position, so water can seep through it and cause infections.
4. Try postponing postpartum travel into the summer
It’s not a serious problem to travel with a baby. However, it is recommended to wait at least two weeks after delivery to travel, as it can be uncomfortable for both mother and baby. Ideally, if you travel, go to a place that has good medical care.
5. Tips for the heat
Postpartum in the summer is accompanied by a heat which, in some places, can be suffocating. There are some measures that can help you deal with it. First of all, try to close the blinds and windows so that the heat does not enter the room.
If you have air conditioning or fans, you can use them. It is best to avoid addressing the child directly. Try to refresh the room an hour before going to sleep and avoid using them while sleeping.
As we said before, It is essential to wear comfortable, fresh and loose clothing in natural fibers. You should also try to go for walks in the coolest hours of the day to avoid the heat.
6. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun
Summer is the ideal time to go to the beach, to the pool or simply do some outdoor activities, even in the postpartum period. However, pregnancy can cause certain spots on the face called chloasma to appear due to hormonal changes.
Sun exposure can darken chloasma further, making it more difficult to remove. In this sense, It is recommended to always use sunscreen. Also, it is important to avoid sun exposure between 11am and 4pm, as there is more UV radiation during this time.
7. Improve circulation in the legs
Pregnancy can generate many circulatory problems or worsen existing pathologies. Therefore, one of the best tips for having a postpartum summer is to improve circulation in your legs with exercises at home.
Most of the exercises do not require great physical effort and you can do them while lying in bed. Rotating your ankles, moving them sideways or up and down will help contract your leg muscles and improve blood flow.
Postpartum in the summer shouldn’t be a problem
In short, childbirth is a wonderful time and postpartum in the summer shouldn’t be a problem. Don’t worry and face the heat with these simple tips that will definitely come in handy.
Postpartum in summer, how to wear it? first appeared on research-school