So you’ve brought your baby home and you are so busy it’s hard to get a minute to yourself! How are you feeling? Along with joy and pride, there’s also sleep deprivation. How is your body doing? It’s been through quite a bit, lately, and you are going through changes in your body; but perhaps some of the changes aren’t happening as quickly as you’d like. When are the varicose veins going away?

Take heart; within three months of childbirth, the majority of all kinds of varicose veins (along with varicose veins on the legs, we are also talking about hemorrhoids and varicosities of the vulva and labia), are either, gone, going, getting better, or changing for the better! Meanwhile, just remember to take just a little time each day for yourself, and take advantage of some of these ideas to help Mom feel better!

Sitz Baths

Especially if you also had an episiotomies, soaking that whole region will give you relief from swelling, pain, and itch. You can do it in a basin as a sitz bath, or in the bathtub. If it’s OK with your doc, you might add a bit of chamomile to the bathtub.

When a woman goes into labor, it is very important to ensure that her health as well as that of the baby stays as good as possible. Sometimes during a long labor, the health of either the mother or the baby will start to waiver.

In order to ensure that this is caught as soon as possible hospitals routinely hook the laboring mothers up to a fetal heart monitor and a uterine contraction monitor.

First, a fetal heart monitor will ensure that the heart rate of the baby remains stable and is closely monitored during the labor. The uterine contraction monitor helps doctors determine exactly how strong contractions are, and how far apart they are.

The uterine contraction monitor can also provide a basis for the labor coach to help the mother through breathing exercises as they see a contraction coming across on the monitor.

Continuous Monitoring Helps Catch Problems

Cesarean births are on the increase and as a result, it seems there is an increase in infant allergies. In fact, recent studies have shown that allergies in Cesarean section babies are a very real problem during the first year of birth.

One of the most common allergies in C-section babies is the allergy to cow’s milk, which was twice as high as babies born through vaginal birth. And both moms and dads also often miss it.

Symptoms

Your baby may suffer colic, have more diarrhea, have a fowl-smelling stool, develop a rash, or a host of other obscure symptoms that can be easily missed. Allergies in Cesarean section babies are very common, yet pediatricians often fail to discuss this with parents.

Many techniques have been stressed to help relieve the rigors of labor pains. First thing is first, use the breathing techniques and focus on what you learned in your childbirth classes. These are designed to make you focus on a particular way of breathing or item to refocus your brain on something other than the contraction.

While a contraction is happening, focusing on this other distraction can be quite effective. You may also want to have some acupressure or massage applied to your back at this time as well. Many women will focus on their coach or partner and breathe together for the duration of the contraction. Breathing techniques are great to use in early labor when contractions aren’t too bad yet.

Combinations of breathing and other types of distraction or method may need to be used as labor intensifies. Many women bring pictures or items that they designated as focal item to help keep them focused on something during contractions. Other women find closing their eyes and just breathing works for them. Do what is best for you.

Walking

Having a birth plan can really help you communicate to your doctor and birthing team what you want when you are in labor. The requests are made because often women are in too much discomfort and to express their wishes and concerns. Make sure you have an idea of what you want early in your pregnancy so you can find the best doctor and hospital to handle your needs and care.

You can find many examples in pregnancy books and on the Internet to help you organize your thoughts and make an easy to understand plan. You want to make sure that your plan is complete and your doctor has a copy on file and at the hospital by 32 to 36 weeks or sooner.

Make Copies

Make sure all the important people involved in your pregnancy have a copy and have read your birth plan. The doctor should have 2 copies so one is in the office, and the other is in your pre-registration packet at the hospital where you will deliver. Your coach, doula, and any other people who will be attending the birth, should have one as well and bring it with them.