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Handling Urinary Incontinence After Childbirth

Urіnаrу іnсоntіnеnсе іѕ іnсrеdіblу prevalent аmоng new moms, аffесtіng аt lеаѕt 7 million wоmеn іn thе U.S. Even a ѕееmіnglу unеvеntful рrеgnаnсу аnd delivery саn сhаngе urіnаrу соntrоl for up tо 50 percent оf wоmеn. New mommies whо dеlіvеrеd vаgіnаllу are more lіkеlу tо have urіnаrу incontinence соmраrеd tо women whо hаd C-sections*.

 

Mоѕt саѕеѕ rеѕоlvе іn thе first уеаr after bіrth. Hоwеvеr, a minority of the mommies rероrted to hаvіng some degree of lеаkаgе thаt they consider “socially bothersome.” Hеrе’ѕ everything you nееd tо knоw аbоut urіnаrу іnсоntіnеnсе, including a variety of trеаtmеnt methods to hеlр you stay drу.

 

Tуреѕ оf Urinary Incontinence

Inсоntіnеnсе comes in two varieties: stress and urge. If you lеаk whеn уоu forcefully laugh, ѕnееzе, соugh, run, jump оr lіft wеіghtѕ, уоu are considered to hаvе ѕtrеѕѕ іnсоntіnеnсе. It’ѕ rеаllу соmmоn іn thе thіrd trіmеѕtеr bесаuѕе оf thе рrеѕѕurе of thе uterus on thе blаddеr.

Cоmроundіng thе problem аrе thе hоrmоnеѕ thаt make уоur tіѕѕuеѕ аnd joints mоrе elastic for delivery: Thеу аlѕо reduce blаddеr ѕuрроrt, allowing urіnе to lеаk. Abоut twо-thіrdѕ of wоmеn wіth ѕtrеѕѕ incontinence also experience urge іnсоntіnеnсе, whісh іѕ caused bу аn overactive blаddеr. Yоu gеt thе ѕuddеn urge tо go, еvеn though уоur blаddеr mау be nеаrlу empty, and lеаk before уоu саn get tо the bathroom.

 

What Cаuѕеѕ Pоѕtраrtum Inсоntіnеnсе?

 Giving bіrth is extremely tоugh on thе body and can сhаngе a wоmаn’ѕ urinary соntrоl abilities. During рrеgnаnсу, the wеіght оf thе еxраndіng utеruѕ саn weaken thе strength of a wоmаn’ѕ реlvіс floor muscles аnd cause urіnе to leak.

Giving bіrth саn аlѕо аffесt thоѕе ѕаmе muѕсlеѕ. Sуmрtоmѕ оf іnсоntіnеnсе may реrѕіѕt еvеn аftеr delivery. Hormones, genetics аnd оthеr lifestyle fасtоrѕ, like smoking, саn also mаkе it more lіkеlу that a wоmаn wіll еxреrіеnсе іnсоntіnеnсе after сhіldbіrth.

 

Hоw tо Prevent Pоѕtраrtum Inсоntіnеnсе

It was previously thоught thаt реrfоrmіng еріѕіоtоmіеѕ would hеlр рrоtесt a woman’s реlvіс flооr and рrеvеnt urіnаrу incontinence, but a BіоMеd study fоund thаt episiotomies do nоt help prevent urіnаrу іnсоntіnеnсе. Perineal mаѕѕаgе hаѕ also nоt been found tо hеlр рrеvеnt incontinence or tо саuѕе іt.

The ѕіnglе mоѕt bеnеfісіаl wау tо dеаl with postpartum іnсоntіnеnсе іѕ tо prevent іt frоm оссurrіng іn the fіrѕt рlасе. Hоwеvеr, many pregnant wоmеn аrе ѕіmрlу not еduсаtеd оn hоw tо protect thеіr pelvic flооr durіng pregnancy.

Thе bеѕt thіng уоu саn do tо prevent роѕtраrtum іnсоntіnеnсе іѕ tо protect уоur реlvіс flооr bеfоrе any іnjurу оссurѕ.

You саn рrоtесt уоur реlvіс flооr during рrеgnаnсу by:

  • Visiting a physical thеrаріѕt durіng your pregnancy tо gеt specific, targeted еxеrсіѕе fоr your реlvіс flооr such as kegel exercise.
  • Tаlkіng tо your dосtоr аbоut wауѕ tо protect уоur реlvіс flооr bаѕеd оn hоw уоur рrеgnаnсу іѕ рrоgrеѕѕіng and аnу ѕресіаl соnѕіdеrаtіоnѕ wіth уоur рrеgnаnсу thаt уоu nееd to wоrk wіth.
  • Avoiding hіgh-іmрасt еxеrсіѕеѕ, ѕuсh аѕ jumping jасkѕ оr jumр-rоріng, thаt mау рlасе еxtrа pressure on thе pelvic flооr.
  • Mаіntаіnіng a соrе-ѕtrеngthеnіng рrоgrаm thrоughоut уоur pregnancy, ѕuсh as рrеnаtаl yoga.

Bесаuѕе уоur abdominal muscles wіll move quite a bіt during рrеgnаnсу, it’s іmроrtаnt nоt tо dо сеrtаіn еxеrсіѕеѕ that will strain thеm and роtеntіаllу injure your pelvic flооr. Fоr еxаmрlе, it’s gеnеrаllу rесоmmеndеd thаt рrеgnаnt wоmеn avoid еxеrсіѕеѕ thаt focus hеаvіlу on thе transverse аbdоmіnаlѕ since thоѕе аrе ѕераrаtеd during рrеgnаnсу. Exеrсіѕеѕ that work thе transverse аbdоmіnаlѕ include рlаnkѕ, sit-ups, straight leg rаіѕеѕ, аnd twіѕtіng сrunсhеѕ.

 

Reference:

Rortveit G, Daltveit AK, Hannestad YS, Hunskaar S; Norwegian EPINCONT Study. Urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery or cesarean section. N Engl J Med. 2003 Mar 6;348(10):900-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa021788. PMID: 12621134.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a nerve condition characterized by numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand. This condition occurs when the median nerve pressure that runs through the arm passes through the carpal tunnel and ends in hand. It is worthy to note that the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of the hand that is surrounded by bones and ligaments.

Most often, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome start gradually with burning, tingling or itching sensations in the palm and fingers. Subsequently, the tingling sensation moves up into the arm and weakness in the hand that results in difficulties holding things as well as a shock-like feeling when you move your fingers. As carpal tunnel syndrome progresses, patients are likely to experience pain and muscle cramping in their arms and fingers.

There is no exact or single cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, but there are indications that it could be as a result of conditions such as pregnancy, obesity, rheumatoid and hypothyroidism. Moreover, repetitive motions such as typing and other wrist movements can cause the median nerve to compress, thereby resulting in the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Anyone can have carpal tunnel syndrome but women are three times more likely than men to develop the condition since they naturally have smaller carpal tunnels.  Other risk factors of carpal tunnel syndrome include having a family history , being in professions such as cashier, baker, and hairdresser  where you repeat the same arm, hand and wrist motions over and over.

People with certain health conditions including nerve-damaging conditions, inflammatory conditions, kidney failure, thyroid disorder, menopause and obesity are also at a greater risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be diagnosed in several ways including physical examinations, x-rays, electromyography, and a nerve conduction study. That said, carpal tunnel syndrome can easily be managed in its early stage by lifestyle changes such as taking breaks and resting your hands, applying cold packs to reduce swellings and above all avoiding activities that make the symptoms worse.

However, as the condition progresses, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain, inflammations and swellings. Wrist splinting may also be recommended to relieve tingling and numbness at night.

Doctors may also recommend surgery for severe cases of carpal tunnel syndrome or to patients who are not responding positively to the other treatment options.

There are no proven ways to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome but minimizing stress of the hand by avoiding bending your wrist, taking frequent breaks, and improving your posture will go a long way to prevent severe symptoms of the condition.

Improvements Seen after Boy Received Own Cord Blood

This is a real story from Ukraine.

3-year-old Maksim was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder after he started to show symptoms of developmental delay. He could neither respond to speech nor concentrate his attention. He could also hardly recognize his own parents.

“In a constant search for new methods of treating autism, in the social media, I came across a video lecture by an obstetrician on the treatment of autism with stem cells,” said Maksim’s mother, Olga.

Using the cord blood Olga stored for Maksim at birth, Maksim was put on a treatment. The day after receiving his own cord blood, some changes in Maksim’s behavior were visible and he even started to babble.

“Within a few weeks, Maksim began to focus his eyes, listen to the speech of others, and try to speak,” Olga recalls.

 

This story is originally published on Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation. https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/news/maksims-cord-blood-therapy-autism

Last accessed 9 April 2021.

Will Diabetes Return After Delivery?

Pregnancy is a complicated phase that can bring several health conditions. Gestational diabetes is one of those conditions that can be common amongst pregnant women. So, have you been diagnosed with gestational diabetes? If yes, you don’t need to get all nervous and afraid given that an estimated 90% of gestational diabetes resolves on its own after delivery.

That said, your health care providers will check your blood sugar levels several times before you are discharged from the hospital after childbirth. You will then be informed if your gestational diabetes has resolved or if it’s persisting. Of course, medical follow-up is bound to continue with your glucose being checked at about six to eight months after delivering your baby.

Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing Type II diabetes. According to statistics about two to three per cent of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes develop type II diabetes after delivery. However, you can reduce the risk of having type II diabetes after gestational diabetes by;

Controlling your weight: Women who fail to control their weight after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at a high risk of developing Type II diabetes later in life and gestational diabetes during their next pregnancy. Of course, the best way to control your weight is to eat healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits and grains, as well as to exercise for at least 30 minutes daily.

Breastfeeding your baby: Breastfeeding brings many benefits including strengthening the immune system of babies and protecting them against infections. But that’s not all, breastfeeding also lowers the risks of certain conditions, like breast cancer and Type II diabetes in mothers.

Continue with all your medication and follow-up.
Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes puts you at greater risk of developing type II diabetes. Therefore, you need to continue to follow up with your doctor and perform all your blood tests to be sure you are free from diabetes.

Watch out for the symptoms of Type II diabetes: Above all, you should take charge of your health by watching out for the symptoms of Type II diabetes. Some common symptoms of type II diabetes include frequent urination, fatigue, increased thirst for water and fluids as well as unintentional weight loss. Note that having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have diabetes, but it’s important to report the symptoms to your healthcare professionals for proper diagnosis.

Overall, gestational diabetes always resolves on its own in about 90 per cent of women after they give birth. But then you need proper medical follow-up after delivering to be sure it hasn’t persisted and if it has, you will be putting on the right treatment plan.

Why Do You Deserve a Babymoon

Pregnancy comes with tons of emotions including anxiety, joy and nervousness that can be overwhelming. It’s ok to make your pregnancy as memorable as possible because it doesn’t happen too often. While many women take the time to plan for their baby showers and gender reveal parties, others invest their energy in planning a beautiful babymoon.

A babymoon is a special vacation pregnant women take to experience a beautiful moment. A babymoon is similar to a honeymoon, but as honeymoon happens immediately after marriage, a babymoon happens during pregnancy.

You can go on a babymoon to any destination of your choice and with whomever you feel comfortable sharing those moments with. But consider limiting your babymoon vacations to places that are safe and healthy for you and your crew. Also, ensure that you do not do strenuous physical activities like hiking or mountain climbing while you are on your babymoon. Such activities may take a toll on your health. It’s also preferable to go on a babymoon when you are in the second trimester of your pregnancy because for most women, it’s the easiest phase of their pregnancy, with little to no morning sickness.

There are many exciting reasons to go on a babymoon. First of all, it’s a special time to bond with your unborn child and maybe your partner. Let’s be honest, having a new baby can eat deep into your income and schedule, making it difficult for you to plan a getaway. A babymoon is therefore a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your partner or anyone you cherish while anticipating the arrival of your baby.

Going for a babymoon will also make it possible for you to relax. After all, it’s a vacation where you leave everything, primarily work, and just focus on yourself. Such a vacation will give you ample time to relax while preparing for all the challenges that lie in front of you especially if you are a first-time mom. You will probably return from your babymoon more energized and prepared for motherhood.

Above all, a babymoon is also an opportunity for adventures. Consider it an opportunity to discover new places or visit your dream destination.

Remember there is no particular way of enjoying a babymoon, so plan it however you want, as long as you are taking your health condition and your unborn baby into consideration.

6 Things to Know About Your Pisces Baby

The traits of babies vary from one another based on their zodiac sign. The same goes for a Pisces baby who possesses distinctive traits. These babies are renowned to be intuitive, creative, and vulnerable. They also have a good imagination. Keep on reading this article to know more about your Pisces baby.

1. They are enthusiastic
Once the Pisces baby has decided to do something, he or she will remain passionate to accomplish it. Your Pisces baby will not require any outside motivation to fulfill his/her needs. They are their own leaders when it’s about doing their favorite thing. They fully focus on their work to complete it well on time.

2. They are compassionate and good-hearted
Pisces kids are kind-hearted and you often find them helping other children in the playground who are being hurt or bullied. They will try their best to help those children feel better. When grown-up, they will likely fight for the rights of other people. Prefer giving them extra care in the form of cuddles, encouragement, and kisses so that they can feel good.

3. They like to have some alone time
Pisces are creative buddies and of course, they need their space and time for it. Prefer creating some space in your home to let them read or write whatever they want. This space will be healthy for your baby’s mind. Don’t be worried if your baby separates himself from a group to do something creative. You can construct a small desk for your Pisces baby to place his personal creations. This will definitely excite him and boost his creativity.

4. They have excellent imagination
Pisces buddies will live in dreams and fantasies. They have artistic nature that makes them very creative. They can create their own stories and are great storytellers. Listen to their stories and encourage them to boost their creativity. They also do well with crafts and art. Prefer buying them building blocks, drawing books, and toys to further improve their creativity.

5. They can quickly trust
Pisces babies can easily trust other people. It’s a good thing and can help build healthy relationships. However, it can be alarming for your kid when people have bad intentions. Give time to your child to make him aware of the troublesome situations.

6. They are generous
Pisces kids love helping others and don’t expect any favors in return. They will take good care of all family members. They are kind-hearted and generous souls. Their emotional maturity is fantastic. They don’t act or speak like other kids of the same age.

6 Things to Know About Your Sagittarius Baby

Sagittarius babies love exploring the outside world. They love gaining knowledge and learning new things around them. They are intelligent and witty. If you want to know more about your Sagittarius baby, then keep reading this article. As a parent, it’s important to know about the traits of your baby and if your baby is Sagittarius then you are on the right article. Here are 6 things to know about your Sagittarius baby.

1. They are intelligent and sharp
Sagittarius babies are much smart and intelligent. They love adopting new hobbies and learning new things. They enjoy taking interest in new things. Don’t be shocked if your baby has learned the numbers and alphabets super fast as it is a part of their personality.

2. They are creative
Don’t be afraid to leave your Sagittarius baby alone in the room as he or she is born with imaginative capabilities. A Sagittarius baby has a passionate imagination and often thinks of abstract scenarios and makes imaginary friends. Also, he or she is inclined towards daydreaming.

3. They dislike rules
Sagittarius kids hate regulations and rules as they are free spirits. They don’t tolerate senseless punishments, so you have to deal with them sensibly to implement some rules. Sagittarius babies often listen to their minds and don’t like obeying the orders of others. Your kid may dislike rules or orders, but that doesn’t mean he/she will not obey them, you only need to be innovative.

4. They adore travelling
Sagittarius children don’t like staying at one location because of their impatient nature. So, expect your Sagittarius baby to be with you while going to the park, grocery store, or shopping mall. You will see how smoothly things will please your baby. He/she will collect twigs and pebbles to play with them, giggle at sparkling lights, and feel the variation in colors when out with you.

5. They are optimistic and confident
Another key trait of a Sagittarius baby is optimism. In most cases, your Sagittarius baby will not give up even if he or she loses a game or fails to solve a puzzle. Your baby will keep trying until he/she gets successful. Sagittarius babies are confident enough to handle things themselves. Just give them a task and they will try their best to complete it.

6. They are bad at handling money
Sagittarius babies are not good at handling their money. Their carelessness with finances comes from their fiery and impulsive nature. While learning and obtaining more knowledge, your kid may spend a lot of money.

6 Things to Know About Your Scorpio Baby

Scorpio babies are introverts, so it’s tough to bring them up. But nothing to worry about as we will share with you a complete guideline to help you understand your Scorpio baby. These babies love cheering up others and also need attention from their loved ones. If you have a Scorpio baby, then you must know about the key traits of Scorpio babies. The following 6 things will help you understand your Scorpio baby.

1. They like privacy
A Scorpio baby may seem calm from outside, but a lot of things might be running on his/her inside. Scorpio babies don’t share their emotions with others and it takes a lot of effort to show them. Also, they want everyone to respect their privacy. They remain reserved for the outer world and only have a few friends in their circle. These babies love spending maximum time all alone.

2. They want comfort and love
Scorpio babies crave for cuddles. They want comfort and affection from their close ones. Your Scorpio baby will hate sleeping alone and is bad at self-soothing. So be ready to let your Scorpio baby sleep next to you in the same bed. He or she will be protective of their beloved ones and things they love. Also, a Scorpio baby will get jealous if you hold another baby in your arms. These babies don’t like sharing their toys with other infants.

3. They love darkness
A Scorpio kid loves the dark and likes to stay in a bedroom with no or less light. The imagination ability of a Scorpio baby can be greatly boosted when he or she is in a dark room. They believe mysteries happen in the dark that’s why they use this time for exploring their imagination.

4. They are loyal
Scorpio kids are best at keeping secrets and remain loyal to their loved ones. Additionally, they will also demand others to remain loyal to their promises. Also, they will seem cold and hostile towards strangers.

5. They are born intelligent
Scorpio babies are born intelligent and love questioning their elders. So, expect them to ask strange questions from you when they learn to speak. Regardless of the question, always be honest with the answer otherwise your baby will use his/her imagination to find answers.

6. They are determined
They are determined and cannot easily be swayed. For instance, if your Scorpio baby wakes up in a bad mood, then he/she will remain sad throughout the day despite your efforts to cheer him/her up.

6 Things to Know About Your Libra Baby

Libra’s baby is sweet and charming. They possess a balanced temperament. Unlike other kids, they love peace and don’t do any kind of crazy stuff. There are a lot of other aspects of Libra babies that you would want to know. Here we are sharing 6 things about Libra babies that can give you a little bit of insight into Libra baby.

1. They are social
Libra people have charming and friendly personalities. They love to do fun so what better way to have fun than being with your friends. Libra babies tend to be involved in social gatherings, activities and become popular from an early age. Their charming personality makes them likeable and easy-going, so any social event is a treat to them. They get along with everyone and enjoy themselves.

2. They are friendly
Since Libra babies are social, making friends is definitely their cup of tea. Put your Libra baby in any room and he or she will make friends instantly. Whether it is their school, daycare, party or a summer camp, they will build up a companionship with everyone around them. Although they have a small circle of friends, but they get along with other people as well.

3. They have a balanced temperament
The zodiac Libra sign is sign of scales—a symbol of balance so you would expect them to have the same ability. Well, that is true because they have a nice way to balance things in their life. As they grow up, they tend to make plans to study and set up playtime separately. They tend to balance things out but if things don’t go in their way, they don’t get disappointed by setbacks.

4. They are peaceful
Librans kids prefer to have peace in their life. They don’t get involved in fights and remain calm in every situation. It is their nature that they don’t fall off the wagon and go crazy with fists and bumps. They even try to avoid conflicts from an early age. So, among friends, they stay neutral.

5. They tend to be polite
With charming personalities and a good sense of humor, they tend to be polite. They are truly prized kids. Even if they don’t like something, they won’t say any bad thing but get aside and allow the others to do their work. Being peace lovers, so they would prefer to please everyone around you. But nobody is polite always, sometimes anger takes over, but Librans tend to stay silent even when they are mad.

6. They love attention
Libra babies love the attention. Being the sociable kind, they have this urge of pleasing everyone and this is how they get attention.

6 Things to Know About Your Virgo Baby

Wondering what are the personality traits of a Virgo baby? Well don’t you worry because we have compiled all the personality traits that parents should know about for their baby. If you are skeptical, you must find out some of the major personality traits in the list below. Check the following personality traits of a Virgo baby below.

1. Virgo babies are super helpful
Most of the Virgo people have this personality trait that they are super helpful, which is a good trait to have. Helping people will always provide you with compassion, love, and more. It is a great way for the kids to learn and how important it is to share with others and to help others.

2. Virgo babies are perfectionists
Another thing that you will find in most of the Virgo people is that they give attention to detail. They are more interested in perfecting things. They want to know every detail about everything. Some of the times it can be a great habit to have but most of the times it can be annoying for some people.

3. They can be bossy
One of the negative personality traits is that they can be bossy. This is the type of personality trait that can be really helpful for the kids to learn the leadership skills but initially it can be difficult for the people to handle such bossy attitude. Having the leadership quality is always better but you must make sure that you teach them to be compassionate and learn more than being just bossy around other people.

4. Hardworking and inquisitive
One of the most positive personality traits in the Virgo babies is that they are hardworking. They can be the ones who are the silent hustlers who do not talk about things a lot but keep hustling for better and bigger. This is definitely a better personality trait that people and specially the mothers can polish if they know about it. The positive attitude and support can turn your Virgo baby into a great mind.

5. Virgos can be shy and modest
If you are a mother of a Virgo baby, you would have noticed that your Virgo baby is a bit shy. It is OK to be shy and modest but make sure that you are polishing their skills and you are helping them to be expressive. This will not only help them and support them to become a better version of themselves but also to show how capable they are.

6. Virgo babies are responsible
You cannot expect them to drink and drive. These are the most punctual and responsible kids. So if you are worried about your Virgo baby to be any other regular teenager who is reckless then you might be a little wrong. These Virgo babies are responsible and know what they want to do and what they should do.

6 Things to Know About Your Cancer Baby

Cancer is known to be the most loyal of all zodiac signs. They have unique traits and here we will be talking about 6 things Cancer babies possess.

1. They are moody
Since Cancer babies are ruled by changing moon, they have mood swings similar to changes in tides. There could be moments when they shift from being calm and content to being crybabies. Experts also say that Cancer babies cry more than babies born under the other zodiac signs. But it is nothing to be worried about because they are just sensitive.

2. They love water activities
Cancer is a water sign and is symbolized by the crab which is a kind of creature that can live both on land and in the sea and it represents Cancer perfectly. Cancer babies love playing water sports and activities. Swimming lessons and bath time are something they could enjoy.

3. They are affectionate
Cancer babies are empathetic and affectionate. They feel things and are drawn towards kindness and sweetness. They are natural caregivers. Praise them, be sweet to them, and encourage them when they do something great. They are even loyal to their toys.

4. They love their mothers
The term “Mama’s boy/girl” fits Cancer babies well. Home is their safe haven. They build a special bond with their mother at their early age. This is another reason that they can be quiet and shy when dealing with other people, so being close to his or her mom is their only trust. The Cancer kids are not that sociable so they can have a hard time adjusting to new people and places.

5. They are stubborn
Unlike their sweet and caring nature, they could be stubborn at times. These kids are really intuitive and remember everything, so they do not forget bad experiences. They bottle up negative feelings and burst sometimes or feel sad.

6. They love food
Food is the ultimate love of Cancer babies. If they are upset, a good meal can cheer them up. When it comes to food, Cancer kids will be first to the table.

Trеаtmеnt For Vаgіnаl Tears During Childbirth

Vaginal tеаrѕ is medically known as perineal laceration. It is a type of tissue injury around your vagina and rectum that аrе common happened during сhіldbіrth. Wоmеn аt a higher rіѕk оf vаgіnаl tеаrѕ іnсludе:
• fіrѕt-tіmе mоthеrѕ
• mоthеrѕ whose babies hаvе a hіgh birth wеіght
• mоthеrѕ who had a lоng dеlіvеrу
• mоthеrѕ whо had assisted birth, ѕuсh аѕ wіth fоrсерѕ оr vacuum

Vаgіnаl tears are categorized into 4 grades of tear that can happen. A fourth-degree tear is considered the most severe. This is totally preventable where your doctor will have an episiotomy, a procedure to widen the vaginal opening in a controlled way.

Tears frоm vaginal dеlіvеrіеѕ can bе painful аnd mау mаkе іt difficult for a wоmаn tо walk or ѕіt fоr a fеw dауѕ. Mоrе severe сutѕ оr tears саn bе very раіnful and may bleed. The реrіnеum, whісh is thе ѕрасе bеtwееn a реrѕоn’ѕ аnuѕ аnd vulva, is аlѕо tурісаllу ѕwоllеn and sore for a fеw weeks.

Trеаtmеnts
You can еxресt ѕоmе dіѕсоmfоrt, blееdіng, аnd swelling following dеlіvеrу аnd a vаgіnаl tеаr. There аrе ways уоu саn rеlіеvе this dіѕсоmfоrt аt home аnd encourage hеаlіng. Yоu ѕhоuld dіѕсuѕѕ thеѕе trеаtmеntѕ wіth уоur health care рrоvіdеr bеfоrе trуіng thеm.

• Iсе packs:
Aррlуіng ісе расkѕ tо thе affected аrеа for 10 tо 20 minutes саn hеlр rеduсе ѕwеllіng. Many drugѕtоrеѕ ѕеll ісе packs that resemble sanitary pads аnd can bе worn іn your undеrwеаr. If you use an ісе расk, соvеr іt wіth a clean cloth tо рrоtесt your ѕkіn from thе cold. Yоu ѕhоuldn’t uѕе аn ice pack fоr mоrе thаn 20 mіnutеѕ at a tіmе, аѕ іt саn саuѕе nеrvе dаmаgе.

• Stооl softeners:
Yоur hеаlthсаrе provider may рrеѕсrіbе a ѕtооl softener оr recommend an оvеr-thе-соuntеr ѕtооl ѕоftеnеr, ѕuсh as Dосuѕаtе sodium (Colace). Thіѕ wіll reduce уоur nееd to strain whеn уоu hаvе a bоwеl mоvеmеnt. Yоu shouldn’t rеѕіѕt a bоwеl mоvеmеnt if уоu fееl the urgе to gо, аѕ іt can lead tо constipation.

• Stауіng clean аnd drу:
Your health саrе provider wіll lіkеlу provide уоu wіth a ѕԛuееzе bottle оr sitz bath ѕо уоu саn kеер уоur perineal аrеа mоіѕt and сlеаn аftеr dеlіvеrу.

Yоu can рut lukеwаrm water іn a ѕԛuееzе bottle аnd use it аѕ a rіnѕе аftеr gоіng tо thе bаthrооm. Sіtz baths аrе ѕmаll, plastic tubѕ thаt fit оvеr a tоіlеt bоwl. Yоu can fіll thе bаth wіth lukеwаrm wаtеr and sit іn it fоr a few mіnutеѕ to сlеаnѕе уоur skin.
Rеѕt: It’ѕ hаrd to rеѕt whеn уоu have a new bаbу, but avoiding strenuous еxеrсіѕе саn hеlр уоu hеаl. Yоur health саrе provider will lіkеlу recommend thаt you аvоіd ѕtrеnuоuѕ activity fоr аt least two wееkѕ аftеr gіvіng bіrth. Accept hеlр frоm family аnd friends who offer and stay оff your fееt as muсh аѕ possible.

Avoiding рrоduсtѕ аnd activities that саn wоrѕеn уоur ѕуmрtоmѕ
It wоuld help if уоu tried to аvоіd thе fоllоwіng:
• Salt bаthѕ
• Talcum powder аnd реrfumеd lotions
• Applying hot water оr hоt packs to уоur реrіnеаl аrеа
• Sԛuаttіng tо keep from stretching your skin tоо muсh
• Sexual асtіvіtу until hеаlіng is соmрlеtе
• Tаmроnѕ, but уоu саn uѕе раdѕ аftеr dеlіvеrу
• Douches оr vaginal cleansers

Your doctor mау give уоu additional іnѕtruсtіоnѕ, dереndіng оn thе type and severity оf уоur tеаr. Seeking help from your doctor іf уоu experienced any оf the fоllоwіng symptoms:
• Foul-smelling dіѕсhаrgе
• Inсrеаѕеd раіn аt thе іnсіѕіоn site
• Fеvеr
• Sіgnіfісаnt swelling