Postnatal Period

Original Editor - Safiya Naz
Top Contributors - Safiya Naz, Audrey Brown, Nabeela Wali, Khloud Shreif, Rosie Swift and Kim Jackson

Introduction

The period where new mother body go about its recovery phase is known as postnatal period. mother body that has undergone the process of pregnancy and birth and gradually changed into body shape and function.

The period capriciously distribute into three phase

• first acute phase follows 24 hour from delivery
• second sab-acute phase follows 7 days from delivery
• third late phase follows 6 weeks upto 6 month from delivery

The third phase which is late phase related to major muscles tone and connective tissue recovery the phase is gradually slower than acute and subacute phase from the pregnancy state

Postnatal Clinical Presentation

• More elastisity in ligament compare to pregnancy period which last 4 to 5 months from labour.
• Elongated abdomina muscle and separation between the two recti abdominis muscles known as Diastasis recti abdominis
• Pelvic floor muscle decreses more strenth than during pregnancy
• Abnormalities in the levator ani muscle
• urinary incontinence
• genital prolaps and protrude into the vagina or press against the wall of the vagina.
• Weaker perineal muscle
• Pelvic floor neuropathy
• Incontinence of stool and flatus
• Swollen extremities hands ,feet and ankles
• excessive weight gain
• low back pain (LBP)
  

BENEFITS

• improvement in mood
• improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness
• promotion of weight loss
• Decreases developing upcoming chronic health conditions
• reduction in depression
• reduction in anxiety
• psychological well‐being
• improve sexual health and quality of life.

Management

Diaphragmatic breathing

• good postnatal technique that women should do immediately after birth.
• Correct breathing strengthen your inner core

aerobic exercises

• research shows positive effects of aerobic and strengthening exercises on postnatal period.

Pelvic floor exercises

• Pelvic floor muscle exercises are valuable for their strengthening and pain-relieving properties which decreases upcoming urinary incontinence
• Kegel exercises strengthen of pelvic floor muscle in postnatal women

Hydrotherapy

researches shows the effective of a aquatherapy protocol as an alternative or adjunct to medication for early postpartum pain reduction

Important Points

• It is important that to motivate and encourage the mother.
• Persuaded to participate.
• Do not burden with too many exercises
• Encourage movement.
• Reassure them that the stitches will not pop if they move about.
• Teach the exercises that are appropriate.
• confined to bed for a prolonged period of time then ‘controlled’, and deep breathing and ‘vigorous’ circulatory exercises should be encouraged.
• Obtain medical clearance from your provider before beginning
• Begin with low-intensity activity and gradually increase to moderate efforts
• Women who are competitive athletes and those doing higher-intensity training before pregnancy usually can return to those levels fairly quickly.
• Light to moderate exercise does not seem to affect breast milk, whereas high-intensity exercise can increase lactate levels in milk.

References

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