Is it true that mothers shouldn't take a nap after giving birth? & bull; hello healthy

There are many myths about the puerperium that are still believed by Indonesians. Apart from not being allowed to leave the house for 40 days, new mothers are also said to not be allowed to take a nap after giving birth. What did the doctor say about this "grandmother's ban"?

Why can't you take a nap after giving birth?

The ancestral prohibition that mothers should not take naps may be based on the fact that newborn babies need constant care and supervision. However, this does not necessarily mean that mothers are absolutely not allowed to take a nap, even 10 minutes after giving birth.

Every mother who has just given birth can take a nap whenever she can. Naps are not something that should be avoided by mothers after giving birth. Sleep is precisely the main need of every human being that must be met, including by new mothers.

Sleep helps restore stamina, thereby speeding up the recovery process after giving birth. When you sleep, the immune system releases compounds called cytokines to fight inflammation and infection in the body. If you don't get enough sleep, your body lacks cytokines to keep you from getting sick.

Lack of sleep will make the mother's body condition, which in fact is not fit enough after giving birth, actually decreases. As a result, the mother will not have enough energy to care for her newborn baby. Therefore, a nap after giving birth can be a very good way to "compensate" for a lack of sleep. Regular naps can also help reduce the stress and anxiety that often afflicts new mothers after giving birth.

Unfortunately, not all mothers can have a good nap after giving birth because they have to frequently breastfeed their children. Well, this is what might interfere with your daily sleep routine.

Tips for rest after giving birth

Taking care of a newborn baby can be very tiring. If you are not good at managing your time, you may experience less sleep more often. To prevent this condition from happening to you, here are some postpartum rest tips that you can apply at home:

1. Go to sleep when your baby is asleep

Try to rest when your child sleeps. But make sure your baby is kept safe and comfortable. Even though on the other hand you are tempted to do various other household chores that are no less important, but resting yourself for some time seems more beneficial. You can set an alarm if you are worried that you are going to sleep too long.

2. Understand your baby's sleep patterns

The phase when your baby wakes up several times a night will not last forever. As babies get older, their sleep duration usually takes longer. Find out more about what an ideal baby bedtime is and how it can help your baby sleep faster.

3. Go to bed early

Try to get into the habit of going to bed early, for example during the week after giving birth. If you can't close your eyes when you're ready to go to sleep, do everything you can to calm your body and mind so that you feel stimulated to go to sleep earlier. Some things you can do such as soaking in hot water a few hours before bed or listening to your favorite music.

4. Ask your husband for help

Don't hesitate to ask for help from other people, including your partner, when you really need their help. You can share tasks with your husband, such as who will change the baby's diaper or carry him when the baby cries at night. In addition, you can also ask for help from your closest relatives to clean up the house so you can rest longer.