What you need to know about after the baby is born.

The hard part is done and you are now a mother! Congratulations. Yet the decisions are not over. These are some more of the of the decisions you'll have to make in your first minutes (to hours of motherhood). 

AFTER BIRTH

Pitocin injection: It creates contractions that help the uterus return to normal size. This pinches off the blood vessels in the uterus and prevents the mother from losing too much blood. Acts in the same way as the induction does.
Pros:  Acts to prevent hemorrhaging in the mother.
Cons: Creates stronger contractions. This treatment is usually unnecessary and can be replaced by massaging the uterus with your hands, breastfeeding 35 or taking Black Cohosh (ask a qualified professional before attempting any of these on your own).

 

Vitamin K injection:
Pros: This injection is given routinely to babies after birth because Vitamin K encourages blood clotting.36 Hemorrhaging is rare in babies after birth but until babies start digesting milk, they will not be making their own Vitamin K.37 This puts them at slight risk for hemorrhage even in the first few days after birth.
Cons: The needle is temporarily painful for babies and Vitamin K has been associated with an increased chance of childhood leukemia (as much as an 80% increase).38
POST-PARTUM: 

Breast milk:  The best food you can feed your child. The benefits of breastfeeding are beyond contestation.
Pros: It contains everything a baby needs. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life. Breast milk also contains anti-bodies which help the baby maintain a strong immune system and fight disease. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop food allergies, need glasses or die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.39
There is also a bonding advantage. The sucking from the baby helps to release hormones which not only create more milk production but help the mother bond with her baby and help to keep her spirits up.40
Breastfeeding has also been shown to raise the IQ of a child by as much as ten points.41 This can be attributed to the Omega 3 fatty acids and arachidonic acid found exclusively in breastmilk.41
Cons: None.
 

Vitamin D drops: Vitamin D is not present in breast milk. If you are breastfeeding your doctor will recommend that you supplement your baby's diet with Vitamin D drops. These can be purchased at any grocery store. The generic brands are just as good. Vitamin D is created by our bodies when we have proper exposure to sunlight. Babies often fail to get proper amounts of sunlight because we keep them covered up to protect their sensitive skin from sunburns. The winter time also poses a challenge for obtaining adequate sunlight. This applies to all members of society, young and old.
Pros: Vitamin D drops can prevent rickets, a condition where permanent bowed-legs (understand that bowed-legs in babies is 100 per cent normal) occurs and the hips become misshapen.42

 

Cons: No known cons. Not necessarily needed as long as the child is exposed regularly to sunlight (about four minutes a day wearing nothing but a diaper)43 or is drinking cow's milk (hopefully only after nine months of age). If parents choose to forgo Vitamin D drops it would be advisable to have their Vitamin D levels tested periodically by a physician to ensure that they are meeting their daily needs.

 

 

Vaccines:

 

Please read my upcoming article on vaccination. The topic is far too vast to expand on here.

Article 3 of 3

Article 1: Pregnancy testing: http://www.squidoo.com/pregnancytest/

Article 2: Labour and Birth: http://www.squidoo.com/birthrisks/

To read my personal story of my first days home with my new baby just click here: http://www.squidoo.com/firstweek