Care during Hospitalisation

Most Centres discharge the mother and the baby, if all is well, after 3 to 10 days. Going home as early as possible is now being increasingly encouraged. In the hospital room, where you are shifted after the delivery, you are supposed to take plenty of bed rest, including sleep, for 2 or 3 days. Then you will be allowed to sit at the side of the bed. If you wish, you may have a warm bath which, in fact, you should. In order to regain a normal figure, you must act on the doctor’s advice to start exercise while you are on the bed. He may want you to begin these on the very first day or a couple of days later. Gradually, the range of exercise is increased. The foot exercises will help you not to suffer from pain and aches in the feet which are invariably encountered after resuming activity at home. In the hospital, you must cooperate with the doctor and nurses who are regularly attending on you, taking care of medical problem, changing sanitary pads and making sure that superimposed infection does not occur. Constipation is common in the beginning. A mild laxative usually works but, at times, the doctor may advise an enema, which means injection of soap and water into the rectum.