What nobody tells you

So you've had a baby... You're probably feeling sore, tired and happy one minute, and are blubbing the next; you are besotted with baby, but not by the chaos that has entered your life. How come no one told you what it would be like?

Chances are, they probably did, but (and probably wisely so at the time), you chose to filter it out. And yes, this too shall pass, but for the moment some helpful post-birth guidelines may help to keep you on track with what is important now: treating your body with care, losing your preggy weight in a healthy way, getting more of that blessed thing called sleep, how vital your Kegel crunches are, accepting your very generous new cleavage, and ensuring that your relationship with your partner is on track.

Read on to ensure that you take to this incredibly topsy-turvy time with confidence and ease.

Be kind to your body
Now, more than ever, you need to take care of your body. It has just been through the rigours of pregnancy and childbirth - no mean feat! Pregnancy and delivery take a toll on your body and you will heal more quickly if you baby yourself. Rest as much as you can (say "yes!" to any offers of help), drink loads of fluids (especially if you are breastfeeding), and keep taking your prenatal vitamins to make sure you get the nutrition you need. Depending on the kind of delivery you had, your body will require specific care and attention for several weeks postpartum, so that it heals properly.

Here are some tips to follow:

If you had a vaginal delivery:

• Take a daily sitz bath (sit in your bath tub in 5cm of water) and use witch hazel pads to soothe your perineum, and, if you have them, any haemorrhoids
• if you had an episiotomy or suffered a perineal tear, shower daily, and for six weeks, spray warm water from a bottle on the area after going to the bathroom
• sit on an ice pad wrapped in a tea-towel for a few minutes a day, to aid the healing process," advises pelvic-floor specialist and physiotherapist, Corina Avni, from Cape Town
• ease lower back and lower-abdominal pain by applying a heating pad to the area, and taking a painkiller prescribed by your health practitioner
• if your rectus abdominal muscles have separated, enquire about an abdominal binder to hold them in place, elevate your legs whenever you can, to ease swelling
• call your doctor if you experience any pain that is worsening

• shower daily to keep the incision clean
• wear an abdominal binder for a week, and thereafter, as long as needed (enquire before you leave hospital), as even coughing or sneezing can strain the stitches
• the surgery, coupled with pre- and postoperative antibiotics may slow digestion, leading to constipation. If this happens, start stool softeners immediately. Call your doctor after three days with no bowel movement
• also call your doctor about increased soreness, tearing or swelling at the incision site