Recovery

Of course your experiences will depend on your labor and birth and local procedures, but here is what usually occurs in your first 12 hours after birth.1-2 hoursAs long as he is well, your baby can be placed in your arms, and you can cuddle him a...

You and Your New Body After Childbirth You're no longer pregnant, but your body just isn't the same as it was. You've changed, and it takes time to get back into shape. For example, your breasts are still large (whether you intend to breast-feed...

Birth Trauma Someone may try to tell you that a negative birth experience won't affect you after it's over. The sad fact is that you can have such a horrible birth experience that it leads to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or birth traum...

How to Enjoy Romance After Having Kids Couples start having problems in their sex lives when the job of raising the children becomes so overwhelming that there is no time to be alone and no energy, even if you find the time. Or when one of you s...

Postpartum: Starting to Exercise Again Starting a moderate exercise program during the postpartum months is beneficial in many ways. Regular exercise improves immune function and increases the production of antioxidant substances in the body. It ...

Postpartum Food Preparation: Practical Matters Once you are through the first couple of weeks postpartum, you will be establishing the rhythm of life with your new baby. If you have not already done so, now is the time for you and your partner to...

Your Pregnancy Diet: How Did You Do? Some women go overboard during pregnancy, eating as much as they like of whatever they like. These are the women who say, "It's fine for me to eat this entire jumbo-sized chocolate bar – I'm craving it, so ...

Breastfeeding Diet and Health BasicsTime Out for Mom With all that you have to do in a day, it's easy to see why you put taking care of yourself at the bottom of the list. Yet, ignoring your needs is actually counterproductive, especially for nur...

The Basic Postpartum Diet The basic postpartum diet is a simple but healthy and wholesome one. It can best be summed up by the following guidelines:Eat foods that supply your body with essential fatty acids, like fresh salmon, nuts, and seeds. Ea...

Fitness and Physical Activity After ChildbirthAfter childbirth, your body needs about six weeks to return to its normal anatomy and physiology. Most precautions at this time are to protect the uterus; it is still enlarged and healing, and the ce...

The ABCs of ExerciseFew would deny that the pregnant body is glorious to behold. While it doesn't exactly match the description of Western culture's ideal form, the curvaceous body of a visibly pregnant woman draws admiring glances and complimen...

Birth Control While BreastfeedingMany women who relied on oral contraceptives before starting a family feel at a loss when it comes time to think about birth control again. We believe that oral and injectable hormonal contraceptives should absolu...

Getting the Hang of the Postpartum Diet PlanWhen it comes to establishing healthy new ways of eating, pay attention to what works best for your body. Some people enjoy tofu, while others find that this soy product gives them indigestion. Some do...

Building Nutrient Reserves with DietOne of the classic medical textbooks on obstetrics, an imposing volume titled Williams Obstetrics (McGraw-Hill, 2001), devotes only three of more than sixteen hundred pages to the postpartum period. This makes...