Hygiene After Delivery: Tips

Giving birth is a physiologic function; hence during the initial days after the baby's arrival, your body is vulnerable and will be going through a course of healing. From general health, dietetic status to your overall level of fatigue there are numerous factors that can affect you during this stage of healing. While giving birth to a beautiful bundle of joy is one of the most important moments in a woman's life, it can also turn out to be distressing as your body goes through various changes like vaginal soreness and urinary problems. To recoup your health after delivery and to avoid complications during the initial postpartum stage, strict adherence to diet, good rest and post-delivery hygiene is necessary. Hypothetically after delivery most mothers ignore their well-being and only try to give special attention to their infant. ADVERTISEMENT

So it is advisable to consider delivery hygiene practices to keep your baby and yourself healthy. Following these postnatal hygiene care tips is important to ensure that you and your baby are in good health. Our postnatal hygiene tips will help you take better care of your breasts and stitches if you have had a caesarean section. Also keeping the intimate areas clean at all times is of utmost importance if you want to shun away the infection. Hand washing The first delivery hygiene practice that new moms have to follow is proper hand washing. This postnatal hygiene tip is simple but is also the best way to keep away from getting sick with cold, flu and stomach problems. Washing your hands can get rid of germs that you come in contact with in your daily life. When can I wash? There are two aspects of delivery hygiene when it comes to washing like "when can I wash" and "how do I wash". Wash your hands before and after eating, before dressing and giving medicine to a wound, before holding or carrying your infant and also before and after changing the diaper. How do I wash? Apply soap and rub your hands until there is lather. For 20 seconds continue to wash between your fingers, under the nails, the back of your hands, and also the wrists. Make sure to rinse your hands off well under running water. Pour warm water Postpartum urinary incontinence is a common problem among mothers. You may leak urine when you cough or laugh. To ensure proper post delivery hygiene use press pads against the wound to absorb leaking urine. The other postnatal hygiene tip to follow is to ask the practitioner if the urine incontinence doesn't taper off even after a few weeks. Bladder infection Pain or a burning sensation when you urinate frequently, indicates a bladder infection. The helpful tip for bladder infection is to drink plenty of water and urinating often can reduce the chance of bladder infection and cramping. Reduce the infection Every time you urinate or defecate, use a squirt bottle filled with water to douse off on your anus (perineum). After you have washed the affected area, remember to pat dry. This step is important delivery hygiene to follow that helps to reduce the pain and the infection. Keep the perinea clean Appropriate perinea care is important for preventing infection from the episiotomy and bladder. Make sure to keep the perinea clean from dried blood. Use sanitary pads to reduce the infection rather than tampons. Maintain cleanliness You may have a problem with stitches after you have undergone a caesarean. Maintain cleanliness and take care of the naval and also your stitches to avoid an infection. Prevent infection in breasts Take care of your breasts after breastfeeding by rinsing them with water so as to wash away the saliva. Cotton bras are good while breastfeeding as it dries quickly and also keeps the germ away. For leaking breasts post-pregnancy use breast pads, change them when wet since it can become a breeding ground for germs. Lanolin cream to treat sore nipples Lanolin cream is best to treat sore nipples. The lanolin cream doesn't have to be washed away before breastfeeding. It is always essential for mothers to practise delivery hygiene after child birth and follow these postnatal hygiene tips to ensure proper healing and for speeding up the recovery process.

William and Kate nickname baby George PG Tips after teabag brand

Proud royal parents William and Kate have given their new son George an unusual nickname – after a brand of teabags.

Pals started calling Prince George PG, so the couple took the next logical step and dubbed him Tips.

The future king has amazed his parents with his progress ever since his birth on July 22 and has already outgrown his first romper suits.

He weighed 8lb and 6oz at birth, making him the largest royal baby ever, according to a well-placed palace source.

But George is believed to have gained five pounds since then.

So at 13lb, he is already the size of an average three-month-old.

The source added: “He is being fed on demand and he has a very healthy pair of lungs. Very noisy.”

Kate is believed to be breast-feeding her first-born, topping him up around 12 times every 24 hours.

The young royals are planning to take their son to see Prince Philip at Balmoral in the next week or two.

The source added: “They are trying to organise it so that Charles, Camilla and the others are there for a large family photograph.”

So far the only official picture has been the one taken by Kate’s father Michael Middleton in Bucklebury, Berkshire, two weeks ago.

In his first interview since the birth of his son, William chatted about fatherhood calling little George a “rascal”.

And Kate was seen out and about in Anglesey on her first official engagement this week with William.

Job Hunting Tips for Baby Boomers

The prolonged weakness in the labor market since the 2008 financial crisis has affected people of all ages—but baby boomers face unique challenges in the job-hunting process.

Last month’s jobs report that showed employers added 204,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 7.3% is hopeful news for job seekers, but older candidates still need to learn how to best sell their experience to companies.

While it’s rare for people to describe looking for employment as fun, Jean Baur, author of The Essential Job Interview Handbook: A Quick and Handy Resource for Every Job Seeker, says when age becomes a factor, the process tends to become “discouraging.”

She explains that while older candidates often come with resumes full of experience, they also face major challenges in today's job market overcoming stereotypes.

I talked with Baur to find out the best tips and advice for job-seeking baby boomers to overcome any pre-conceived notions and to not only find t a job in the current labor market, but the right job that best fits their qualifications. Here’s what she had to say:

Boomer: What assets do boomers have that younger job seekers don’t yet offer?

Baur: The most obvious part of the answer is experience. Boomers bring years of work as well as their other life experience to the job. This means making better decisions than workers who are just starting out. It also may mean being calm in a crisis as well as having the ability to manage and mentor others. Experience is gold, and boomers should remember that as they look for new opportunities.

Boomer: How can boomers be more flexible when re entering the job market?

Baur: I always think of that saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." So boomers must be careful to show they're flexible in terms of learning new skills, being up-to-date with the technology that's relevant to their work and sometimes being open to taking a step backward in order to move ahead. It's easier to find work if you're not fixated on a particular title or salary, but instead demonstrate you're flexible and can be a strong contributor.

Boomer: How would you advise boomers to search for jobs in today’s labor market?

Baur: Boomers need to take advantage of their experience as they look for work, specifically by using their extensive networks to get inside information on potential opportunities before they're advertised. They also need to be proactive and to create a list of companies or organizations where they would like to work, and share that with their contacts. Another part of a smart search is to target employers directly. Find out the name and contact information of the hiring manager  and in a brief email, show how you can help. And then, of course, follow up. I urge boomers to take advantage of the internet, but to be very careful not to let that become the focus of their search efforts.

Boomer: What are some tips for baby boomers to counter age discrimination when seeking employment?

Baur: Any job seeker, but especially a baby boomer, must prepare what I think of as both the inside and the outside. The inside covers what you can do: your skills, experience, education, work history, and training. To sell these effectively, you must have strong accomplishment examples or stories that offer a potential employer proof. For the outside, you have to take care of grooming, clothing and overall appearance as well as posture, gesture, facial expression, eye contact and voice. The outside is what conveys enthusiasm--a winning quality and particularly important for boomers in countering age discrimination. Get excited about your work and make sure you're coordinating these critical inside and outside issues. A smart employer will be very happy to hire you.

Tips To Make Homemade Baby Food

Many parents rely on big companies to create baby food that contains all of the necessary nutrition. Find out ways to make homemade baby food that is both healthy for your baby and the earth.

One reason parents prefer to make their own food is because they can know exactly what is in it. It can help determine and eliminate possible food allergies since there is no question about possible cross contamination that often occurs among big food companies. Making your baby’s food also allows you to be more picky as to what types of food your child is consuming, resulting in them developing an acquired taste that may be healthier for them and more specific to the types of meals you normally cook. Select organic produce from stores you trust to ensure your baby is not consuming any pesticides or other harmful materials. And another perk is that you’ll save more money in the long run.




If you are interested in making your own baby food, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

    If you would like to make some type of vegetable puree, start by steaming the vegetables to make them softer while still allowing them to maintain their nutrients. Then use a potato smasher or a food processor to grind them.
    If using fruits, buy fresh and organic, wash well and remove peels, cores and seeds. Then grind them into a puree.
    Bake, broil or stew meats (remove skin before serving meat and trim all visible fats). Use a blender and a small amount of liquid (water, breast milk or formula) in order to puree. Chop meat and poultry into tiny pieces for older infants.
    Avoid using canned fruits and vegetables or anything with added salt or sugar. Avoid adding any type of seasoning to your baby’s food as well.
    Never add honey to avoid possibly causing botulism.
    Use homemade refrigerated food within 48 hours after preparing.
    If making baby food in large quantities, put the food in ice cube trays, cover and freeze for later use. Be sure to date and label foods and use the refrigerator to thaw instead of putting the food out at room temperature.
    Do not use beets, turnips, collard greens or spinach to make baby food because they contain high amounts of nitrates.

If you find that making baby food may be too time consuming, then just buy organic and stay away from products with added salt or sugar and/or corn syrup and modified starch. Packaged baby food still contains a great amount of nutrients and vitamins, but if you prefer to make your own, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor in order to ensure the best nutrients for your baby and no allergy risks.