You generally should avoid sleeping on your belly for several weeks after childbirth (especially after a C-section or vaginal tear/episiotomy) because it puts pressure on healing abdominal muscles and incisions, and can be uncomfortable with engorged breasts, waiting until your body heals and your doctor approves, typically around 4-6 weeks postpartum, is best, with back or side sleeping often recommended initially.
Sleeping on Your Stomach Postpartum
While pregnant, your bump probably made tummy sleeping uncomfortable and impractical. Now that you've delivered, it may be tempting to consider sleeping on your stomach as the ideal postpartum sleep position. Some moms can comfortably sleep on their stomachs before long.
For the first couple of days after giving birth, you'll be able to feel the top of your uterus near your belly button. In a week, your uterus will be half the size it was just after you gave birth. After two weeks, it will be back inside your pelvis. By about four weeks, it should be close to its pre-pregnancy size.
The most common sleep position in the early days and weeks postpartum is on your back. If you had a c-section this position doesn't put pressure on the incision which is great. Consider utilizing extra pillows to prop yourself up a bit.
Keep your back in a neutral position – neither too straight nor too curved. Avoid crossing your legs when sitting, or shifting one hip too far from center when standing. This is especially important while holding your baby.
In reality, the third week might be the hardest week postpartum, since everything seems to feel “normal,” but so much is happening at the same time. This being said, the third week will be an important week to focus on your mental health.
Although there is no consensus on the full spectrum of forbidden points,3 those most frequently cited as contraindicated throughout pregnancy (at least before 37 weeks) are SP6, LI4, BL60, BL67, GB21, LU7, and points in the lower abdomen (eg, CV3–CV7) and sacral region (eg, BL27–34).
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
The Importance of Rest in Postpartum Care
And when I say rest, I mean real, horizontal rest that truly allows your body to heal. At Haven, we recommend you spend the first five to seven days after birth primarily in bed, with your only responsibilities being to feed yourself, hydrate, and care for your baby.
Increased bleeding after your lochia starts to decrease can be a sign you're overdoing it and need more rest. Seeing ongoing clots could mean your uterus is having trouble getting back to its pre-pregnancy size. In either case, it's always best to call.
Blood loss can be different for each woman. It can vary in colour, be heavier or lighter, and slow down at different rates. Most women will stop bleeding 4–6 weeks after giving birth. Your bleeding should get less and lighter in colour over time.
In this article we'll share a few tips that'll surely benefit a smoother recovery after your delivery.
Immediately after giving birth, you can expect to lose about 10 to 12 pounds (4.5 to 5.5 kg); it accounts for the average weight of your baby, the placenta, and amniotic fluid.
To have a smooth recovery after giving birth, you should avoid a few things.
Most doctors recommend waiting six weeks after giving birth to have sex again. This allows for general healing and for your body to recover from specific birth-related issues, such as: Vaginal tear or episiotomy (an incision that enlarges the vaginal opening for the baby to come through) Cesarean incision.
The first six to 12 hours after you give birth is considered the acute phase of postpartum recovery. Within this window parents are at their highest risk for conditions like postpartum eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and certain medical emergencies.
The "5-3-3" baby sleep method is a sleep training strategy where a baby sleeps for 5 hours, stays awake for 3 hours, then sleeps for another 3 hours, often used around 4-6 months to encourage independent sleep by reducing nighttime feeds and establishing routine, but it requires strict adherence and consulting a pediatrician, as it might be too rigid for some babies or caregivers.
In those first few weeks postpartum, your cervix is still somewhat dilated, regardless of whether you had a vaginal delivery or a c-section. There's a theory – though no research has confirmed this – that tub water could travel into your uterus, introduce bacteria, and cause an infection.
In the first few weeks of life, breastfeeding should be "on demand" (when your baby is hungry), which is about every 1-1/2 to 3 hours. As newborns get older, they'll nurse less often, and may have a more predictable schedule. Some might feed every 90 minutes, whereas others might go 2–3 hours between feedings.
There are no set rules about how long to wait before taking a newborn out into the world or when to let people near the baby. Some doctors recommend that parents wait until their baby is a few months old before going to crowded public places (like malls, movie theaters, and airplanes).
Why Does SIDS Peak at 2-4 Months? The widely accepted explanation for the SIDS peak has to do with the timeline of brain development. “Up to 4 months old, the part of the brain that controls breathing and wakefulness is under a lot of development,” Juliet explains.
Maintaining a healthy pregnancy is not hard when you know how to do it! The three golden rules are to always listen to your doctor's advice, eat healthy, and stay active. Remember, don't focus only on your baby's growth because ultimately keeping yourself healthy is the first step to keeping your baby healthy!