There are several studies on health which have found out that one out of every 5 pregnant women will most probably suffer from bacterial vaginiosis at a later stage of their life. Bacterial vaginiosis is one of the most common infections that occur inside the vagina of a pregnant woman. The key to the health of your baby lies in the health of the mother, and if you have an infant, it gets even more imperative to take care of hygiene.
Both moms and dads these days are aware of the fact that nourishing the baby starts from the time within the womb. There’s no doubt that parental hygiene begins right from the time you conceive and continues till the time your child is born. Infections like bacterial vaginiosis may have certain negative impacts like low weight of baby during birth, premature birth, second trimester miscarriage and various other risks. This makes it clear how the hygiene of the mom is necessary for the health of your baby.
Hygiene comes in several forms – Decoding the best hygiene tips for a mom
- Make sure there’s cleanliness all around you
One mistake that moms make is that they don’t keep their surroundings and the environment clean. Dirty surroundings usually lead to infection. Hence if you wish to stay away from all sorts of bacterial infections, make sure you take care to keep your home and other surroundings clean.
- Keep chemicals at bay
Pregnant women are more sensitive during pregnancy because there will be an increase in things such as hormonal changes and change in blood circulation. Although stores are usually stocked with various soaps like Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap and other feminine washes which claim to be the best in assisting women keep bacterial diseases at bay, you should make sure you don’t use them beyond a limit. Overusing them would adversely affect your pH balance in those areas, and never use perfumed products or vaginal deodorants as they contain chemicals which can cause harm.
- Follow principles of Ayurveda
Along with the above mentioned hygiene tips, you can also follow some Ayurvedic principles as they may help you in maintaining perfect hygiene. As long as Ayurveda is concerned, they believe in consumption of enough water to make sure there is a free passage of motion and also a balanced diet which lets you stay healthy. Ayurveda also believes that adding oils and massages to your daily routine will help both the health of the baby and the mom. The oils like mustard, sesame oil and coconut oil frees the movement of muscles and joints and boosts circulation of blood. Post-pregnancy too, there are few exercises that you can continue to keep yourself fit and healthy.
- Care for your breasts
As soon as you conceive, you put your first step on the journey of motherhood. Taking care of your breasts will start off right from the time you become pregnant. After you deliver your baby and begin nursing, you can use breastmilk to soothe your skin once baby finishes feeding.
- Your diet is also important
Due to the fact that all such infections are based on the growth and spread of bacteria, so if you can eat sufficient amounts of fresh vegetables like green veggies, seafood whole grains and fruits, this will keep your immune system strong.
You need to be sure that you’re taking care of your own requirements with same determination as you should take care of your baby. Also make sure you get enough sleep as this can be vital for maintaining a healthy immune system.
Few tips for feminine hygiene that all moms should know
Are you someone who has recently gone through labor? If answered yes, it is pretty natural that you will not pay enough attention to your own hygiene and wellness. However, there are several infections to which new moms are vulnerable, especially during the initial days and weeks after childbirth. This is why it is pretty common for new moms to develop infections especially they had a difficult delivery. If you wish to avert such risky infections, it is vital to take care of your health. Here are few things that you should know.
- A new mom is vulnerable to most bacterial infections
Postpartum infections can stem from the time when the bacteria that is already residing in your body start spreading at the time of childbirth on all the tissues that are exposed, especially when there are tissue damages. Doctors reveal that postpartum infections begin inside the uterus post delivery. In case there’s infection inside the amniotic sac, the uterus can also develop this infection. Your risk increases based on whether you had a caesarean delivery or a normal vaginal delivery. Your risk is lower in case of vaginal birth.
- Be careful while washing
During the postpartum phase, the doctor will give you a small squirt bottle along with some instructions on how you should wash the vagina. The water that you use should be sterile and spray the liquid from the front towards the back as it sounds more soothing. If you buy an empty squirt bottle from the medical store, don’t forget to sterile the bottle. The bathtub where you do this should be clean.
- Watch out for signs of infections post delivery
Up to 8 days post delivery, it is common to find vaginal discharge and bleeding but if you find these to continue for a longer time period; you should consult your doctor as that might prompt symptoms of infection. There might be large clots of blood which are larger than normal, vaginal discharge with bad odor or abdominal ache or fever. Be aware of suffering from these infections so that you can take immediate action.
- Use a pH balanced feminine wash which is gentle enough
When you buy a feminine wash for your vagina, make sure it matches in the best way with your vaginal salinity and acidity so that it can support the vaginal flora to protect you from infections. This will help you prevent yourself from unpleasant odors, discomfort and bacterial vaginiosis.
Baby hygiene rules every mom needs to follow
When you’re a mom, it is your duty throughout the day to get a sound sleep whenever your baby sleeps. It is not a matter of joke to handle a new-born baby and personal cleaning is especially important. Here are few things that you need to do in order to make sure you have a happy and healthy baby.
- Give baby a refreshing bath
There are few babies who love to bath and there are others who are scared of bathing. You need to show a lot of care when you bathe a new born baby. If you can opt for an oil massage before bathing him, this will strengthen his bones and help him get a sound sleep. Make sure you hold babies gently and apply a baby cream to keep the skin supple and soft.
- Trim your baby’s nails often
You need to be extra careful when you cut your baby’s nails. Peel them off after bathing him as his nails get softer post bath. In case you use a nail-cutter, be careful so that you don’t hurt the skin underneath.
- Clean his nose and ears
When you clean your baby’s nose and ears, use a damp cloth to remove the grime and dirt that you find. Use lukewarm water and take it in a dropper. Drop 1-2 drops in each nostril as this will soften the crust. Remove the dirt with a damp cloth thereby leaving your baby to breathe easily.
- Be careful to remove dirt from eyes
When you bathe your baby in water, this easily brings out the dirt that was there in his eyes. Use soft muslin cloth while cleaning his eyes and don’t force anything while cleaning his eyes.
- Teach children to brush their teeth
The act of brushing teeth should be taught from the time he gets his first tooth. Take a wet cloth and clean his entire mouth after you feed him so that the baby develops a habit of cleaning his mouth from a very young age.
Not being able to provide yourself and your baby with proper hygiene is something that can lead to different bacterial infections and diseases. Henceforth, follow the different hygiene tips mentioned above if you want to stay away from infections.
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