We have prepared this to give you useful information on coping with the first few
weeks after your delivery.
Caring For Your Baby's Umbilical Cord
Keep your baby's cord clean and dry at all times. Use a cotton wool or bud (dampened
with cord spirit) to clean the cord. Always clean from base upwards each time after
baby's bath or when the cord is wet. The cord will dry gradually and drop off within
a week.
Caring For The Episiotomy Wound
Episiotomy is the cut made at the perineal region during childbirth. The stitches
take about two weeks to heal and dissolve. The area should be kept as clean as possible
by washing with water and applying procaine spirit twice a day.
Caring For The Caesarean Wound
Always keep the dressing on your operation site dry. You may remove the dressing
as advised by the nurses.
You are advised not to carry or lift heavy objects for about two months. This will
allow your wound to heal adequately.
Go to the nearest polyclinic or general practitioner if the wound is red or there
is smelly discharge.
Lochia
Lochia is the 'bloody' discharge which begins right after delivery. During the first
couple of days, the bleeding can be quite heavy but it will gradually decrease.
The colour of lochia usually changes from bright red to pink to brown, and may become
yellow before it disappears completely, which is usually three or four weeks later.
Please consult your doctor should the lochia suddenly become heavy and red again
after disappearing.
Breastfeeding - Care For Your Breast
You should wear a supportive nursing bra during breastfeeding. To prevent breast
engorgement, you may:
- Feed your baby on demand every two-three hourly, including night feeds
- Massage your breast before every feed
- Apply hot compress and express breastmilk every three hourly either with your
hands or a pump if your baby is not feeding directly from the breast
- Apply cold cabbage leaves once or twice or use cold pack on the breast in between
expressing if your breast is hard and painful
Diet
Eat a variety of foods from the 4 food groups (rice and alternatives, fruits, vegetables,
and meat and alternatives) to maintain a healthy diet.
If you are breastfeeding:
- Continue having 2 - 4 servings of milk or high-calcium foods daily
- Do no go on a strict diet to lose weight until your baby has been fully established
onto semi-solid foods (at about 6 months of age)
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Keep to 2 cups of tea or coffee a day
- Avoid alcohol and tonics containing alcohol for the 1st week after delivery or
if your baby has jaundice. From the 2nd week onwards, if your baby doesn't have
jaundice, you may consume up to 20 ml (2 dessertspoons) a day of alcohol or tonics
containing alcohol, after you have breastfed your baby.
Rest, Relax and Exercise
It is important for you to relax and rest during the confinement period.
You should rest your back as much as possible to recuperate from the delivery. Try
to catch some rest when your baby is asleep. If you have other children, you may
want to engage them in quiet activities such as reading stories to them.
You are encouraged to some postnatal exercise as it will help firm up the abdomen
and muscles around the hip and thighs.
Sex
You and your husband should decide how soon to resume sexual activity. You may resume
as long as you are up to it.
If you are tired or feel sensitive on the perineum after a tear or an episiotomy,
you may wish to discuss with your spouse and explore other ways of expressing your
affection.
The information is provided by KK Hospital - Singapore’s leading Women and Children’s
Hospital. Please visit www.kkh.com.sg for more information.
