Postpartum abstinence: What you need to know

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

Postpartum abstinence is a custom that has been passed down by word of mouth for many generations. Some views are correct but there are views that are no longer appropriate and it depends on the location of each pregnant woman.

Abstinence is important for pregnant women after giving birth, here are some tips from doctors on postpartum abstinence, so that mothers can take the initiative to take care of themselves:
No any indication to abstain from any food after giving birth, whether vaginal birth or cesarean section, except for foods that cause allergies, or should not be eaten due to some medical condition. After giving birth, women need to clean their bodies. Therefore, do not abstain from bathing, brushing your hair, brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth. However, there are still some things to keep in mind as follows: cold water should not be used to cause the body to lose heat. It is recommended to bathe with warm, airtight water and do not soak in water for too long. Regularly wash your hair to avoid sweat sticking to your hair, causing fungus to affect the sleep of pregnant women. After bathing, you can steam with mint leaves or marjoram, perilla, grapefruit peel, orange peel ... to help the body excrete waste through sweat and warm the body. Eat a full and varied diet, eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, drink milk, and hygienic foods so that the mother can recover quickly. Do not eat salty foods, or fermented foods, do not eat raw foods to limit the infection or parasites that cause disease.

Many mothers still spread word of mouth, after giving birth, they have to wear long-sleeved clothes. However, this is only true if you are in a cold climate where you need to stay warm. If the weather is normal, you should wear cool clothes to escape sweat and limit your body temperature. Some notions that, after giving birth, pregnant women should lie down and heat up. It is absolutely correct that pregnant women need to keep their body warm because after giving birth, women lose a lot of blood and their body energy is also reduced, so it is easy to catch colds. However, lying down and heating the body with coal is completely wrong. Some consequences of lying on coal can occur such as: CO2 gas generated from coal is toxic to mother and baby. After giving birth, you should drink water regularly, use warm water, add fruit juice or milk. When you drink enough water, metabolic processes are more favorable, and postpartum constipation is also limited. Women should not wear a belly band after giving birth to reduce the second round. Because it can cause compression of blood vessels supplying the abdominal organs, affecting the scar healing process of mothers who have had a caesarean section.

Should not spend a lot of time watching TV, reading books... should take a reasonable time to rest and regain strength. Avoid using foods that are too spicy, sour, or too salty, cold... because they can cause diarrhea and postpartum. Should choose foods with warm properties such as turmeric, ginger... especially turmeric is very good for postpartum women, helping to promote blood circulation, push fluid out quickly and digest well. Need to clean the genitals daily, do not flush directly into the vagina. Use a clean towel after washing. Monitor daily production, if there are abnormal signs, need to immediately go to a specialized medical facility for timely treatment. You should exercise gently after giving birth, after 6-8 hours you can sit up by yourself, the next day you can walk on your own. Early exercise is beneficial for uterine contractions, the uterus returns to its original position and fluid can escape, increasing bowel movements and avoiding urinary retention and constipation. You may find it difficult to urinate after giving birth, but you should not hold your urine, but must urinate as soon as possible. You can ask your doctor if you are constipated. Eat a lot of green vegetables such as spinach, amaranth ... provide many vitamins, fiber to prevent constipation, add betacarotene. Food for postpartum mothers should be soft, easy to digest and should be eaten while the food is still warm. You need enough sleep to help your body recover quickly. Getting enough sleep helps to refresh the mind, reduce postpartum stress, reduce the risk of stress and produce more milk. Having appropriate contraceptive methods: after giving birth, the health cannot be recovered, appropriate contraceptive methods should be used to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

High fever Abnormal discharge, foul-smelling Incision, swelling, redness, Painful urination, Constipation, Abdominal pain ...
After giving birth, women need special care, however, they need to choose for themselves. I have a reasonable postpartum diet to help my body recover quickly.
Postpartum care is a continuous, comprehensive process for both mother and baby, including vaginal birth or cesarean section, women need recovery time to ensure that there are no postpartum complications. Abstinence after giving birth is an issue that has caused a lot of conflicting opinions. However, mothers need to wisely choose a scientific method of abstinence according to the instructions of the doctor to avoid causing health consequences later on.
After giving birth, the mother's body changes, the mother can suffer from many diseases such as postpartum hemorrhage, urinary incontinence, digestive disorders, bowel and urinary disorders, rectal prolapse,... especially with Unscientific abstinence can seriously affect your health in the future. Therefore, after giving birth, if the mother has any abnormal signs of the body, she should consult a doctor immediately.
As the leading specialty in Vinmec Health System, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology gathers a team of doctors and nurses from major obstetric hospitals across the country. The doctors in the department not only have high professional experience but also understand and pay close attention to the psychology and state of each pregnant woman. The obstetrics and gynecology department at Vinmec hospital is invested with a modern delivery room system, a private gynecological examination space, to help women feel comfortable, relax, minimize pain or any difficulties. bear during the service experience.