Chapter 531 Cherish Yourself
"This special period after childbirth has a crucial impact on the woman's entire life."
As I mentioned before, during pregnancy, as the fetus grows, and in order to ensure a smooth delivery, the pregnant woman's internal organs undergo changes.
After childbirth, it takes at least 42 days for the internal organs to fully recover, which is the main reason why new mothers need to observe the postpartum period.
Looking at the young women below the stage, seeing that they were all listening attentively, Li Sanniang smiled and continued, "Except for you few," Li Sanniang pointed to four young women in the air: Jin Zhenbao, Yu Xuelian, Song Fuling, and Sun Chunlan.
"Everyone else has experience with pregnancy and childbirth, and has gone through what it's like to be in confinement after childbirth."
"Then I'll start and let them come up on stage and tell us about it."
After Li San Niang had addressed the young girls, she smiled and looked at Yao Qingqing, Wang Yulian, and the others.
When Li San Niang spotted Yao Qingqing, she immediately straightened her back and became somewhat nervous.
"After childbirth, the uterus, which was stretched during pregnancy, must slowly shrink back to its original size, and the mother's breasts are also preparing to produce milk in order to feed the child."
During this process, the mother needs to expel waste through urination and defecation, and the gastric juice in her stomach needs to gradually return to a normal concentration so that she can eat normally and meet her nutritional and lactation needs.
The most significant of these is the discharge of lochia.
"Come here, Yao Qingqing, let's talk about lochia."
When her name was called, Yao Qingqing nervously stood on the platform with encouragement from Li Sanniang.
After bowing to the crowd below the stage, Yao Qingqing stood in front of the square table and began to speak.
"This lochia is something that all women experience after childbirth; it's the process of expelling waste from the uterus."
It usually takes about a month for most people to completely expel the waste.
However, some women need a month and a half to be able to take it.
The lochia is initially bright red for the first few days, then gradually turns pale red, and after about two weeks, it becomes a thick, white discharge.
Yao Qingqing stopped speaking and looked at Li Sanniang, who was sitting in the first row below the stage. Li Sanniang took the lead in clapping, and the other women followed suit.
Yao Qingqing, all alone, was moved to tears by the applause and Li San Niang's approving gaze. She also felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and her face flushed slightly.
"Yao Qingqing is right, that's exactly what lochia is like."
I'd like to add some more details to what Yao Qingqing said.
Firstly, lochia is actually the body's automatic expulsion of residual blood, necrotic waste, etc. from the uterus, which is a normal physiological process.
Secondly, the initial lochia is usually bright red and bloody, and it lasts for about three days.
Three days later, the lochia discharged is light red and serous in appearance, and lasts for about fourteen days.
The third stage of lochia is a whitish, viscous liquid that lasts for about two weeks.
Finally, the lochia has a bloody smell and no other odor.
However, if you smell a foul odor, it definitely indicates an infection, and you need to see a doctor immediately.
Li San Niang's explanation was detailed and comprehensive. Jin Zhenbao held the charcoal pencil that she had specially asked Jin Niangzi to buy and quickly wrote it down on the paper, afraid that she would miss the key points if she wrote too slowly.
"So, as Yao Qingqing said, the lochia usually lasts for about a month, but some people may experience it for a month and a half. This is due to individual differences. You will understand this as you gain more experience."
Li San Niang gestured for Yao Qingqing to return to her seat, and also gave the audience some time to take notes.
"After discussing lochia, we must talk about one of the most important things a woman does after giving birth: breastfeeding her child."
When breastfeeding, it's important to be aware of preventing mastitis (acute suppurative mastitis).
Then Li San Niang invited Li's mother to the stage to explain mastitis to everyone.
"This mastitis was caused by the woman contracting a pathogenic infection while breastfeeding her child."
If you get mastitis, this area,” Mother Li patted her chest to indicate, “will become red, swollen, hot, and painful, and it will be very uncomfortable.”
In severe cases, one might experience chills and high fever, and fall ill directly.
Furthermore, women who have this disease are not allowed to breastfeed, lest contaminants in their breast milk be passed to the child and cause illness.
Li's mother only described the specific symptoms of mastitis, and Li San Niang then added how to prevent it and what to do if one gets the disease.
"To prevent this disease, the woman must maintain good hygiene before and after breastfeeding the baby."
Regarding hygiene, I made it clear to you all in the first lecture that cleanliness and hygiene are very important for everyone.
You should inform the new mother that she should wipe herself with a clean, damp cloth before and after breastfeeding.
If there are any abnormalities in the nipples, you should pay even more attention.
Those with inverted, twisted, or split nipples, causing poor milk flow, are most susceptible to this condition.
Li San Niang spoke without any embarrassment; on the contrary, the audience listening to her were blushing.
Especially the married women, apart from the older Li's mother and midwife Sun, were really shy and embarrassed.
Looking at everyone's expressions, Li San Niang couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Haha, you guys, why are you getting shy?"
What's there to be embarrassed about?
"We are both women, and I have what you have. I'm not talking about anything like rolling around in the red tent, yet you're all getting embarrassed."
Li San Niang waved for everyone to rest for a while. Those who wanted water could drink it, and those who needed to change clothes should hurry up and do so. They could also take advantage of the break to calm down. Li San Niang looked at Cheng Wanwan's bright red cheeks and was afraid that if she continued talking, this woman who had just gotten married last month would hide under the desk to hide in embarrassment.
Fifteen minutes later, Li San Niang resumed her storytelling.
"If you unfortunately get mastitis, you must see a doctor as soon as possible. There is a prescription for this disease that can cure it."
Don't be embarrassed to tell others because your illness is in this location, as delaying treatment will only lead to more suffering.
The crowd below nodded in agreement with Li San Niang's statement.
If you don't cherish your own body, who will pity and care for you?
"Okay, let me add a few more points."
For new mothers, postpartum care involves not only eating well, drinking well, and sleeping well, but also maintaining a cheerful mood.
It's important to know that emotional distress will eventually manifest in physical health.
Furthermore, pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding are all extremely burdensome for a woman's body. After giving birth and completing the 42-day postpartum period, I have a few tips for taking care of yourself, which I will share with you next time.
Okay, that's all for today.
I've talked quite a bit today, so you'd better do your homework carefully, because I'll be collecting it next time.
Don't forget, this is related to your graduation credits.
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