| Once a mother has delivered, a great choice
is a disposable panty. You are probably thinking
there's no way a disposable panty can be worth the money you pay
for them, but look again. For the first few days after giving birth,
new mothers need to feel as comfortable as possible. These disposable
panties are cotton-knit one-size-fits-all and feel especially soft
to the skin. They're lightweight, breathable and designed with a
stretchy fit to slip on easily and hold absorbent pads in place.
Best of all they're disposable, so a new mother can focus on their
baby instead of the laundry. They're priced at around £5 for a package
of three panties.
After the baby is born, another useful product
that until recently was only available during your hospital stay
is the peri-cold pad. These are wonderful. Even if you haven't had
an episiotomy, you are bound to experience some pain while your
body recovers from childbirth. These soft, absorbent cold pads are
gentler and more giving, so they feel better against the tender
perineal region than standard ice packs and make the first weeks
after delivery much less painful. Tucked deep inside each soft cotton
pad are tiny capsules of ammonium nitrate and water. When you squeeze
the pad, just prior to use, the chemical creates a soothing cold
that will last for up to 40 minutes. These pads are available through
the Medela Company and they are referred to as the Medela
Instant Therapy Kit. The kit includes a soft stretch
knit panty made of polyester and Lycra that holds the pad in place.
The panty is a mesh fabric to allow as much air as possible to
circulate. Both the panty and the pads are disposable. The kit contains
two pads and the knit panty for £10. They are well worth the
money to help speed your recovery and make you more comfortable
so you can get down to the business of taking care of your baby.
Another creature comfort and a necessity for mothers with back problems
is a maternity belt. As your baby drops into positions
for its grand entrance, you may feel an equally grand pressure in
your pelvis area. You can alleviate some of the pain by slipping
on a maternity belt. Glamorous they aren't, but they sure to help
to relieve back, leg and abdominal pain.
Plus, they can be worn
discreetly under your clothing. Most maternity belts are straightforward
as a piece of heavy duty elastic (2-4 inches wide and long enough
to go around a pregnant woman) that goes around your back and over
and under your belly to give support. If you have underlying back
problems before becoming pregnant or have developed a back problem
early in the pregnancy then the Loving Comfort Maternity Support
may be what you'll need.
In 1986, a man by the name of Loren Working was
sitting in an aeroplane when he noticed a pregnant woman in great
discomfort. Loren, who designs orthopaedic supports for the physical
therapy industry, realised that the woman needed back support, the
kind of support that wasn't available with standard belts which
work through abdominal compression.
He devised a comfortable support
with lift under the abdomen, transferring the weight of the load
to the spine. The belt velcros into place easily, supporting the
abdomen, reducing pressure at the pelvis, and improving circulation
in the legs and relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve. It gently
compresses the pelvic ring to reduce pain. Made of webbing and mesh,
to let air circulate, the support belt cannot be seen under most
clothing and adjusts as your body grows and changes. Most women,
who find the last months of pregnancy uncomfortable, feel immediate
relief when they use this belt.
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