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Sex After a Caesarean Delivery - How Long to Wait
After having a C-section, apart from normal concerns about the baby, the question – "How and when can I resume my sex life?" – will be at the top of your mind. The best way of answering this question is to ensure that your body and mind are ready. It is also important that your partner is aware of your concerns and feelings. Obviously, there will be many challenges as you experience the ‘first-time’ fears all over again.
Recovery After Caesarean Delivery
After a C-section, the incision will take about six weeks to heal completely, and it will feel tender for many weeks post the delivery. Many women feel numbness and tingling around the cut, but that’s absolutely normal. As long as there are no symptoms like vomiting or fever, the feeling of discomfort can be ignored. Any bleeding, discharge or pain around the incision should be immediately reported to your doctor.
When Can You Have Intercourse After a C-section?
If you are wondering how long to wait to have sex after your C-section, here are a few facts you should consider. In the case of a vaginal delivery, your uterus needs at least six weeks to come back to its normal size; however, for those who’ve had a C-section, which is a major surgery, the healing process will take longer. Your body will heal at its own pace, which is why it is best to give your body the necessary amount of rest and care to heal. A hiatus of about six to eight weeks is the average time most women have to stick to after a C-section delivery to resume sexual relations with their partner.
What to Expect When Having Post-Caesarean Sex
Post-caesarean sex will feel different than the earlier times, especially due to the time gap since your last sexual encounter. You and your partner may wonder why it's necessary to wait until 6 weeks after the procedure since your vagina hasn’t been directly affected during the birth. But recovery from a C-section does not occur in a flash and there will a lot of tenderness around the entire abdominal area. You will need to set your own pace and convey any fear that crosses your mind to your partner. You can be nervous about indulging in this act after the baby is born, but that is normal. You will have to be mentally, as well as physically, prepared for intercourse, so give it time. Engaging in romantic talk, setting the mood, and most importantly, indulging in non-sexual foreplay like massages or even cuddling can go a long way in relaxing you before the actual act. Speak to your partner and later to your doctor, if you feel any unusual pain or extreme discomfort during post-caesarean sex.
Sex Positions You Should Avoid
Once the go-ahead is given by your doctor to have sex after your C-section, as a couple, you both will have to consider a few things before taking the plunge.
The missionary position is the one you should avoid as it could put a lot of pressure on the cut and this could hurt you. If you want to avoid any direct contact with the incision on your abdomen, use a side or rear entry position during intercourse. The woman-on-top position is also highly recommended to eliminate any worry about pressure on the incision.
Make sure you let your partner know about any pain or discomfort while trying any sex position. Do not try any new sex positions that you haven’t attempted before, during this time.
Some Useful Tips for Sex After Caesarean Delivery
It's natural to feel worried about having sex after having had a C-section. You may be feeling tired or be genuinely worried about the pain it may cause. Also, there is an assumption that having a caesarean delivery relieves the vagina of any of the effects of a normal delivery. But that’s just a myth - the truth is, your vagina deals with quite a lot even when you have a C-section. Oftentimes, a C-section is called for in an emergency situation where a vaginal delivery doesn’t seem to be possible. This means that you might have pushed and exerted quite a bit of pressure on your vagina before undergoing surgery, which will affect it. Also, hormonal changes after childbirth can result in vaginal dryness as well.
So, here are some of the things you can do to make the experience easier for you:
For one, keep your expectations super low. It’s really not like riding a bike - having sex after having gone through a medical procedure, then waiting for a while, will have its effects. What you can do is use this opportunity to engage in other intimate activities. Spend some quality time together, cuddling and talking. You can also probably get your partner to massage you in an intimate way.
Choose comfortable positions during sex so that you can focus on the act itself than on any discomfort you may feel. If you feel like it is too soon or that you’re not comfortable, indulge in oral sex - this way, both of you can enjoy the process.
Brush aside any concerns about your body and how it looks, and take time to explore each other’s bodies. Initiating sex may be difficult for your partner too as he may be concerned about your well-being. Talk to him and assure him that you are ready for it.
Ensure that when you have sex, you use lubricants (lots and lots of it!), and to take it easy on yourself and your vagina as well!
Don't Forget About Contraception!
You will be ovulating although your period wouldn’t have resumed yet, and therefore, it is very important to consider birth control methods. Speak to your doctor during your post-delivery appointment about the best ways of contraception to keep chances of immediate pregnancy at bay.
You will need loads of patience while dealing with this sensitive issue and a dash of humour will be helpful too. Expect an initial awkwardness and some inhibitions before your sex life returns to normal. For any abnormal pain or bleeding, quickly get in touch with your doctor for some timely advice about having sex after a C-section birth.
Also Read: Nursing After C-Section Delivery Read more
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Your 3 Week Old Baby - Development, Milestones & Care
Having spent a few weeks with your child might make you believe that you are getting to know each other pretty well. And as much truth as there might be in it, there are also certain new things that a child might start doing or end up throwing a few surprises which could make you wonder if you really do know your baby at all. Worry not, as all these are signs of your baby’s increased growth and rapidly building up his understanding of the world around him.
3 Week Old Baby Development
Each baby grows a little differently from the other. Therefore, there is no specific rule or benchmark as such that defines a healthy growth of a child. A 3 week old baby growth spurt could occur that might cause your baby to look a lot more different in a short period of time.
Your child will start making even more sounds than before and start taking efforts to look around by turning his head gradually. The eyes will start gaining some stability and he will be able to look in a direction properly.
[Also Read: Newborn Baby Development]
Three Week Old Baby Milestones
On a general level, a 3 weeks old baby’s weight and height are demarcated for each gender. Female babies are somewhere around 52-53 cm long, with a weight of around 3.5-4 kg. For male babies, the length is 53-54 cms and weight is around 4-4.5 kg. Babies that are larger than usual or premature may be outside this scale.
Around this age, babies will start moving their mouths in myriad ways and may even end up smiling a little at certain sounds or when seeing your face. Your baby will start jabbing out his tongue more often now and start making other sounds gradually.
As the upper body strength of your baby starts developing, it is good if he lies on his chest under your supervision and tries to lift his head or attempt to use his arms to support himself. With these attempts, they can develop the required strength to hold themselves firmly upright.
He will also start understanding slight differences between you and other people, or even between his parents. By interacting with other parents and their children, your baby can understand the social aspect of life and discover various people around him.
[Also Read: Newborn Baby Milestones]
Feeding
A 3 weeks old baby feeding amount increases as compared to before and he tends to exercise a lot more effort in suckling more milk, which can result in tiredness. This results in longer sleep cycles or sleeping the moment feeding is completed.
Since the stomach is still small, it won’t be able to hold a large amount of milk which would lead to frequent feeding cycles. These could be once every two hours or so, too. If your baby has trouble breastfeeding and resorts to bottle feeds, these could then be once every 4 hours or so. Again, this is too early to enforce a routine since the growth cycle is still at quite a peak.
[Also Read: Newborn Baby Feeding]
Sleeping
The increased feeding often results in tiredness that sets in real quick and causes your baby to sleep almost instantly. This could be right after you are done feeding or simply cuddling them casually and they fall asleep within no time. A full stomach keeps your baby satisfied and calm, and his body automatically realizes that it is great to fall asleep now.
Due to this constant hunger cycles, a 3 week old baby sleep patterns do not fall into a specific structure since they will be ready for milk within a few hours or so after the previous feeding. Even after a feeding, if your baby does not fall asleep readily, it is important to let your doctor know about it. He would primarily check if the weight gain is as expected. In cases with birth complications or premature babies, they might take a little longer than other babies to reach the proper weight.
In order to make it more conducive to sleep, wrap your child in a light cloth and lay him in the crib. At times, babies wake up with a startle and may end up hitting themselves or the crib. Wrapping them in a cloth restricts such limb movement. As always, ensure your baby lies on his back while he sleeps.
[Also Read: Newborn Baby Sleeping]
Behavior
All human beings are born with certain reflexes ingrained in them, and with babies, those start becoming more evident at this stage. Sucking on the breast, grasping around for objects or a firm grip on the breast, and moving of legs, are all those that occur almost by themselves. This is also the stage where the reflex of waking up with a start, or reflexively moving limbs while sleeping, may occur. These mostly continue for many years thereafter as well.
When awake, babies seem a lot more alive than before as they have increased response to voice and facial recognition. They could focus on some aspect of your face as well, such as your nose, or an earring, or your mouth. Making various noises and using their tongue to show suckling are all signs of discovery that your baby undergoes. At times, there might be weird sounds or movements that your baby makes which might be new to you. Rest assured, these are just unique identities of your baby.
3 Week Old Newborn Baby Care Tips
Here are some tips to care for a 3 week old baby.
Proper Feeding
Feeding can get quite tiring for the baby at this age but it is important that they have regular feeding nonetheless. They might sleep off while feeding or wake up shortly after one has completed. Make sure they get as much food as they require.
Adjusting to Sleeping Patterns
You might want to sleep as soon as your baby has slept, but find yourself waking up to hunger cries just a few hours after it. Or worse, you might end up cuddling your baby to sleep after a feed, since he has trouble falling asleep by himself. With erratic patterns, it is still important to note that they get good sleep.
Supervised Time on Tummy
As their upper body strength increases, it is necessary to help babies understand that. Your child should be laid on his stomach occasionally so that he can try to hold his head or use his arms. He will start moving his eyes around to look at his surroundings as well. If he starts crying, put him on his back again and try later.
Regular Change of Nappies
With increased feeding comes increased pooping. Keeping a spare change of nappies at all times becomes a necessity. Also, it is good to maintain a dedicated area to do so, since you won’t be constantly hunting for a clean one and running around to find what’s needed.
Navel Care
By this time, the umbilical cord portion on your baby’s tummy would have dried and fallen off. However, the area is still a little sensitive. Therefore, it is necessary to be gentle while giving the baby a bath or so. Ensure the area stays dry and airy for a good time.
Hygiene
Although bathing your baby daily is not necessary, a bath is necessary to keep all areas clean and tidy. Also, with a nice bath, your baby will feel calm and comfortable and can help him fall asleep easily, too.
Proper Pooping
Certain babies do end up facing constipation. It is important to observe your baby’s bowel movements and check if they have one after each feed or so. In certain cases, bottle-fed babies may have only 3 movements or so in a day. In any case, if your baby does not poop for 2-3 days or more, it is necessary to bring that to the doctor’s attention.
[Also Read: Newborn Baby Care]
Tests And Vaccinations
As before, if all the vaccines of the first week have been administered successfully within that week or the next, there is no need for any vaccinations in this week at all.
Games and Activities
As your baby starts making various sounds at this age, it is good to indulge in talking sessions with him. He will tend to observe your eyes and mouth when you make sounds and try to repeat them back to you. Do the same and repeat the sounds he makes back to him. An affirmation of sorts will make him happy and more connected to you. As your baby can now see a lot better than before, making funny faces, using your hands to keep him engaged, are all wonderful to add life to a baby’s world. Use your two fingers to walk up to your baby’s body from his feet and make sounds that build up gradually. That anticipation and final climax can make your baby laugh to no end.
[Also Read: Newborn Games and Activities]
Contact Your Doctor If
Babies at this stage might face diarrhea due to increased feeding. If it continues for more than a week, is more frequent, and contains blood, contact your doctor immediately.
Vomiting and spit ups might occur, but shouldn’t last more than a day or be as much as around 10 times in the same day. Pooping, too, should ideally happen on a daily basis. So, if there are no bowel movements for up to two days, let your doctor know soon.
At 3 weeks, your baby will start interacting with you more often. This also brings a lot of fun-filled moments for you and keep you engaged a lot more. It is best to split activities with your spouse since you require a good amount of rest as well.
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Can You Donate Blood While Breastfeeding?
Donating blood is a very fulfilling community service but is blood donation safe while nursing your baby? The answer is yes. However, remember to consult a doctor and get your blood test done to rule out anaemia or any other blood disorders before you donate your blood while breastfeeding. With your donated blood, you can save someone’s life. It is a “small gift” to the community which can have a large consequence on someone who requires it.
When is the Best Time to Donate Blood for Breastfeeding Woman?
Here are a few tips to remember about donating blood when breastfeeding.
It is advisable for nursing mothers to donate blood only after 6 months from the date of delivery since delivery and breastfeeding causes a lot of fatigue in mothers.
If you have not had any immunization within the past one month, you may donate blood.
You may donate blood if you have not had any minor dental work in 24 hours and major dental work in a month’s time.
It is advisable not to donate blood even if you have taken an aspirin in 72 hours.
It is advisable to donate blood only if you have not undergone a blood transfusion during delivery.
If the last time she donated blood was more than 3 months ago, you may consider donating blood.
Lastly, a nursing mother should donate blood only when she feels comfortable about it.
Things to Consider Before Donating Blood while Breastfeeding
Donating blood is undoubtedly a very noble initiative taken by an individual. However, we should refrain from being impulsive and consider the points listed below before making a move.
1. Stay hydrated.
Breast milk comprises 87% water and when you donate blood it takes away 15-16 ounces of water from your body. Therefore it is imperative that after donating blood, the donor should take as much fluid as possible in the next 48 hours to keep the body hydrated and replace the fluid that has been drawn out. The donor should also drink a lot of water in the 24 hours prior to donating blood.
2. Keep your iron levels normal.
Breastfeeding mothers should eat iron-rich food for several weeks before donating blood to have a normal iron level while donating blood. In case the donor suffers from low levels of iron, she may suffer from weakness after donating blood. Iron-rich food includes spinach, fish, chicken, whole grains and eggs. Do not forget to take fruits rich in vitamin c like orange, tangerines, grapes, plums, cherries for better absorption of iron.
3. Reconsider blood donation if you have a low supply of milk.
It is a known fact that when an individual donates blood, she loses about 15-16 ounces of water from her body; breast milk is three-fourths water. Therefore, if a nursing mother with low milk supply loses that much of fluid from her body, she may have a further decrease in her milk supply. However, many do not agree with this.
4. Eat a good meal before and after donating blood.
Breastfeeding a baby takes up 500 calories a day and donating blood also takes up quite a bit of your energy. Therefore eating a substantial meal with plenty of proteins and iron-rich food will keep you in good stead. However, one should eat 1-2 hours before donating blood but do not eat a full stomach.
5. Rest.
Let your mommy duties take a back-seat after donating blood. Take a good nap to restore back all the energy. After your body feels rested, it will do the needful to make up for all the blood that you have donated and a relaxed body will up your supply of breast milk. A good sleep of 7-8 hours in the night prior to the donation.
Things to Remember Before Donating Blood during Breastfeeding
Usually, people are of the idea that breastfeeding and blood donation cannot happen at the same time but according to experts donating blood while nursing a baby does not pose any risks either to the mother or the baby. Here are some things that one should remember before doing it.
The haemoglobin level should be between the 12-16 %
The blood pressure of the donor should be normal
Her heart rate and pulse rate should be normal
Her body temperature should be at a normal range of 96.2 - 97 degrees Fahrenheit and Oral temperature not more than 37.5 degrees Celcius
It is necessary to drink about half a litre of water before donating blood to prevent a drop in blood pressure which may result in lightheadedness or fainting.
Vigorous exercises should be avoided before or after the donation.
Intake of fatty food should be avoided for at least 24 hours before the donation. It can give wrong test result of the blood that has been donated by you.
Remember to relax while your blood is being drawn otherwise you may start feeling sick. You may do so by listening to music, sing or talk to someone to keep you calm.
Donating blood while nursing your baby is definitely inspiring; however, do it only after consulting your doctor and getting a health check. If your health does not permit, do not fret over it but wait for the right time. After all, you do not want a noble deed like blood donation to be a bad experience for you.
Also Read: How To Avoid Caffeine during Breastfeeding? Read more
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Smooth Walking in an 18 Months Old
A toddler learning to walk smoothly requires patience and regular exercises. As motor skills increase, your child will be running right into your arms - minus sways or lurches! Get ready to walk along with your kid and make him sure-footed.
When you ask your toddler to get her favourite toy, does she walk smoothly towards the playpen? Usually, toddlers walk in awkward ways or are sure-footed only with small steps. With 18-month-old toddlers, it's quite normal to find staggers, bumps, falls and an unbalanced gait. Gradually, with improved motor skills coming into play, they can be seen dashing confidently to the door when their parents arrive in the evening. Here are some little things that you need to know about making your baby walk without lurches or bumps.
Helping your Toddler to Walk Smoothly
It's Okay if Your Toddler is Walking Awkward
Your baby may not learn to walk properly until four to five months after his friend. Relax. There’s generally a wide variation in the time frames in which different kids get smoothness in their walk. But then, this doesn't necessarily signal delayed walking or a leg problem. As they mature, children will be able to run and play equally well.
Better Motor Skills Equal Less Staggers
While some initial walkers would stagger around the room with hands held high above the head for balance, others would have what is called a toddler wide legged lurch where they keep bending forward in their gait. Slowly and steadily, 18-month-old toddlers start becoming sure-footed as their motor skills improve. Most of them would start picking pace as they find themselves better balanced with stronger muscles.
Try Leg Strengthening Exercises for Toddlers
An 18-month-old walking baby may showcase certain foot and leg problems that are making her lurch while walking. This is particularly true in the case of kids who start "cruising" after crawling. They tend to take the support of couches, tables, or furniture pieces for keeping them from falling off. This is where parents need to find the right ways to improve leg muscles in their 18-month-old toddlers. Visit a physiotherapist and get started with the prescribe exercises and movements to fix this problem.
Do Bow Legs Cause Lurches?
A toddler learning to walk smoothly may or may not have bow legs. Though most new parents may think otherwise, the fact is that all babies have bow legs when they are born. It’s quite common to find this outward curve of leg bones going away on its own by the age of two. In other words, bow legs will not affect your tot’s ability to walk smoothly.
You may be closely watching every developmental milestone your tot achieves- but hey, it's alright if his walking is replete with lurches and lags now. They will go away in a few months as his muscle movements improve. If you are still worried, get in touch with a therapist. Read more
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Dr. Minal Acharya has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
6 hours ago
Q. Hii...., Is it safe to eat jackfruit in 4th month of pregnancy, daily 2 ...
Dr. Minal Acharya
Nutritionist
6 hours ago
A. dear mam, you can eat jackfruit during the 4th month of pregnancy. there is no problem in having it. you can eat all types of seasonal vegetables and fruits even green leafy vegetables.
shahin has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
5 hours ago
Q. is that positive result??? my Due date is tommoro I am having vomitting and nausea and back pain etc please reply asap
shahin
Mom of a 6 m old boy
4 hours ago
A. yes
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. Hi I'm in 23weeks pregnancy
my afi is 26 I have no diabetes or any other issues
is that risky ? what to do for making normal delivery possible
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. yes AFI level is very high and yes you need to be very careful to have regular follow up with your doctor take the precautions advised by your doctor and regularly keep a watch on baby movements
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. nasal congestion during 9th week pregnancy is normal or something serious?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. it's ok . take steam twice daily or you can use nasal drops
You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
2 hours ago
Q. Is there any issue with this test
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. You have not given any details about us to what test are you talking about or anything associated with that for that matter can you please repost your question with all the necessary details required to understand your question as accordingly I can assist you on that
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
25 mins ago
Q. my baby is 8years old and she wets bed can anyone suggest me what to do??
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
24 mins ago
A. normally bedwetting is very common during the night time and the child is able to tell you regarding urination during the daytime.
usually this problems improves with increasing age of the child and usually no medicines are given until and unless recommended by the doctor( you can easily wait for ten years of age of the child)
usually treatment of medicines (if started) gives only symptomatic relief and the problem goes away only with increasing age with the strengthening of the muscles of the bladder which control the urination.
steps
decrease the amount of water intake just before going to bed and make the child pass urinex before going to sleep.
also you can wake up the child at around 2 o'clock 3 o'clock and make the child pass urine.
never criticizex the child for this act because this will again aggravate the problem due to stress.
meet your doctor who will tell you more regarding this .
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