Post Natal : Problems and Solutions

   After being dismissed(I'm not sure if it's the correct term) in the hospital, I was really tired and restless, especially that my baby was waking up every two hours to feed, and I haven't regain my strength after I gave birth and you haven't adjusted having your baby around yet.

My Problems and Solutions::

1. Baby wakes up every 2 hours or less
   
      As we all know baby needs to sleep a lot in 24 hours, and since they haven't adjust on the life outside your tummy yet, and at the same time you also need to sleep to regain you strength.
   
   Solution ::
   
     Most babies, often wake-ups to feed, when they get hungry easily, they tend to sleep shorter, so the solution would be to make your baby full, so that she would sleep longer, to do that he/she needs to feed longer. How do you that when the moment he/she latched to your breast  she shuts her eyes?
     Make him/her feel uncomfortable by stripping some of his/her clothes to make him/her a little bit cold if you're worried that your baby might get sick because of the weather, don't worry its not as if you will strip every single clothes he/she have on, and make him/her butt naked, and to top it off , if you are going to breastfeed him/her your body temperature would be enough to make his/her body feel not warm enough.
   
2. Breast sores because of breastfeeding?
   
     Okay, this is not he same for everyone, some mommies, complain about this for a month or so and some last for only a week.
   
   Solution::
   
   > drink warm water while baby is feeding
   > put a warm (cold) compress before/after/during feeding,
   > and make sure you put breast pad
      (when you're not wearing this one your brassiere might rub against your breast and making you uncomfortable )
   
3. Breast milk shortage?
   
     Many moms, especially first time moms are worried about not having enough milk to give to their baby, so how would you make sure you have enough or how would you increase your milk supply.?
   
   Solution::
   
   > drink a lot of water
   > eat fruits and veggies
   > eat dry foods(ex. rice) with soup
   > eat moringa / malunggay
      (moringa has also a capsule version)
   > skin contact with baby
      (when you are breastfeeding your baby, its helpful to to have skin contact --- both of you are naked while she feeds, if it's cold you can cover yourself and your baby a blanket)
   > pump your breast
      (breastfeeding works on a supply and demand thing. and you would also see if you really have enough milk.^^)
   > drink fenugreec
      (ask your pedia before drinking this one)
   
      If you are still having problems with breastfeeding/milk supply, ask your pedia/ob for help, because some moms really have problems producing milk.
   
4. Soothing your Baby
   
     This one is a little tricky, first you need to get familiar wit their cries, how does her cry sounds like when, she's in pain, hungry, or want to sleep. and this depends on your baby
   
   Solution ::
   
     Try this one step by step
   
   >  try to make her sleep; swaying, dancing, swaddling your baby, and or take her/him out for a walk.
   > if your baby cannot sleep, this is the time you feed her.
   > if the first two doesn't work try checking his/her diaper.
   > if nothing works to soothe your baby's crying take him/her to the hospital.
   
5. I can't get my husband to be involved
   
   Solution ::
   
   > leave him with the baby, he would figure the things he needs to do when your not around.
   > tell him to give you the baby, if needs nursing already.
   
   *if he doesn't do the things you are doing the exact same way, keep your mouth shut and let them handle things, if they really can't do it and can't find a way, they would ask for your help. don't destroy their confidence, for this would only discouraged you man to take care of your baby.

//*I don't remember other problems I have during this period so if you have other problems share it through the comment below and I'll share solutions that I personally tried.
   I'm not a doctor or specialist or something but I'm willing to learn from all of you and share my experiences as well*//

Giving Birth::My Hospital Bag

  My hospital bag was not as complete as you think, because I only brought 1 set of changing clothes  (no clothes to shield me from the cold), and 2 sets of changing clothes for baby, baby blanket, diaper, baby's bath soap, oil , and money. That's the only thing I thought was necessary, because of this my husband have to buy or go home to get the other things I didn't bring.if I would remake this scene in my life, this is the list of things I would bring with me and the reason why.

1. for me (the mother)

• 2 Pajamas
• 2 Jacket
• 2 socks
• 1 bonnet
  
     This first four things in my list are needed to shield me from the cold weather even though I feel that my environment is warm and almost hot, because after giving birth all the pores of our body is open, and if the cold wind gets inside those open pores, it will affect our bodies in the long run. like having arthritis, and such, or getting cold easily, and the most visible effect would be having a rough like sand texture of the skin.
  
• my own blanket
• my own pillow
  
  
  
    I would be honest , public hospital's pillow and blankets here in the Philippines are not so comfortable, so its better to bring your own.
  
• bath soap
• shampoo
• comb
• towel
• feminine wash
• toothbrush and toothpaste
  
  
  
  
     Hygiene reasons
  
• adult diaper
  
  
  
  
    blood is still going out of me after giving birth

2. for my baby

• clothes
• booties, mittens, and bonnet
• blanket
• travelling sized bath soap (optional)
• towel(optional)
  
    The last 2 which I marked as optional depends on the hospital, because when I give birth in this certain hospital (Baguio General Hospital), they didn't give my baby a bath so it would depend.
  
• diaper
  
    I suggest you bring a 2 pcs. / 4 pcs. pack in the hospital, because some hospitals (not all) is said to get stuffs from their patients and such things so its better to be sure than sorry.

3. extra things

• feeding bottles (optional)
  
  
  
    I will include this one because you won't know if you would be giving birth through c-section, and if you deliver your baby this way you wont be able to breast feed her.
  
• breast pump
   
  
  
    Weather you delivered normally or via c-section you will need this to increase your milk supply especially if you plan on breastfeeding your baby
  
• cellphone and camera (optional)
  
    of course you want to record and capture one of the best events in your life
  
• baby's car seat (optional)
  
    you need this if you have a car
  
• plastic bags
  
    you need to at least have 3 - 4, one is for your trash and baby's trash, second one is for your used clothes and the last one would be for wet clothes
  
• thermos (container to keep hot liquid from getting cold)
  
    after giving birth you can't drink cold water, if I'm not mistaken the reason is the same when you get cold air through your open pores after giving birth.
  
• food and water
  
    after exhausting hours of giving birth, this is one of the most important things I need regain my strength even for just a little.

 This list of things might seem a lot (for some people) or incomplete for some, or some might even think that some of the things listed here are unnecessary to bring when you are about to give birth, well it's up to you, this things listed here are the things I think I would need the second time I give birth, I don't want to make my husband so tired going back and forth from the hospital to our house, or hospital to the convenience store just to  buy this things/ stuffs.

^^

Pregnancy : Third / Final Trimester

  I will tell you honestly this is the most exciting and boring part of your pregnancy why boring.? This is the part when you think that the time is running so slow, specially during you 7th and 8th months of pregnancy, its like the time is not running at all (specially if you are an at-home-person), and you want to pull the time so that you would be able to hug and kiss your baby.
  During this time of your pregnancy just continue your less carbs and less sugar diet you might also want to walk around and try to avoid having your siesta (afternoon nap), so that you would lessen the risk of giving birth through c-section.
 One of the exercise that my husband's aunt taught me was doing the open  squat and stand exercise, she said this will help to make your vulva (vagina's opening) to be more stretchable and ready for your baby.

squat and stand exercise

    On the last month of my pregnancy, I started to get nervous and excited like how should I push my baby, what would she look like and hope she would get out of me in a healthy condition and normal and things like that.
   Because of my nervousness that I wouldn't know how to push my baby, I ask around to my nurse friends and to my friends who already gave birth, which was a very HUGE MISTAKE, why.? because when the time of giving birth has come I always kinda check if its painful if its get painful I push which was WRONG, definitely wrong I was better off not knowing how to push.
 
(*on my upcoming blogs, I will also share to the filipino beliefs during and after pregnancies which is kinda funny and cool and weird at the same time*)