After nine long months, the wait is over and your family has a new addition. However, even though your pregnancy is over, there are still several health-related issues that you need to tend to at your follow-up appointments with your OBGYN. Here are just a few topics you may consider discussing with your doctor at your post-natal appointments.
Birth Control
Even if you want to expand your family sooner, rather than later, it is important to give your body a chance to recover from your pregnancy. Talk to your OBGYN to determine what type of birth control is best for your health needs and personal preferences.
Some women hate having to take a pill every single day. If so, a birth control ring or an intrauterine device (IUD) may be good options.
Others find that birth control pills help with other ailments, such as acne, migraines, and hormonal mood swings. If you suffer from these issues, see what types of pills can help you prevent pregnancy and manage conditions related to hormonal fluctuations.
If you believe that your family is complete, talk to your doctor about long-term or permanent birth control methods, such as tubal ligation.
Nutrition
After giving birth, many women are anxious to lose the rest of their pregnancy weight and get back in shape. However, it is important to make sure that you are consuming a healthy, well-rounded diet. Your body is still recovering from carrying a child for nine months, and if you are breast feeding, you have unique caloric and nutritional needs that you have to take into consideration. Some women also have existing health conditions, such as diabetes or PCOS, that govern how they should be eating post pregnancy.
Though your doctor can certainly provide you with diet-related advice, you may find it beneficial to meet with a registered dietitian. A registered dietitian can help you determine how many calories you should be eating each day and what kind of foods should comprise the majority of your diet.
The Timeline for Resuming Your Normal Activities
Whether you give birth vaginally or via a cesarean section (c-section), there are a few activities that you may have to avoid in the weeks after you give birth, such as sexual intercourse, driving, bending, lifting excessive amounts of weight, and vigorous activities.
It is important to talk to your doctor to see when it is safe to resume these activities. For example, you don't want to go from having a lifting restriction to lifting all of the heavy things. Make sure to ease back into restricted activities; be prepared to stop or slow down the activity if you find it uncomfortable.
To learn more, contact a medical facility like Bee Ridge Obstetrics Gynecology.
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