Fall Prevention for New Moms: In the Hospital
Fall Prevention for New Moms: In the HospitalAfter months of carrying your baby, you finally get to meet him. Congratulations. There are a lot of things tothink about after giving birth—but the risk of falling and hurting yourself in the hospital usually isn’t high on thatlist.However, after the hard work of delivering your baby, you are at higher risk of falling and hurting yourself. Justsome of the things that can increase that risk include: Having an epidural or other pain medication; Having a CSection; Excess blood loss or low blood pressure; Conditions like obesity or depression.But the biggest risk of all is just being exhausted. After delivering your baby, even simple things can be moredifficult than you expected. Even walking through your delivery room can pose a falling hazard, especially ifthere are cables on the floor.You may even be at a higher risk of falling on the second day after delivery, after spending the first nightwaking up with your newborn. The good news is there are simple things you can do reduce your risk of fallingand hurting yourself. The most important is to be aware of your own limits and ask for help when you need it!Your healthcare team is there to help you.To be extra safe, try following these tips: Before you get out of bed, try sitting on the bedside for a few minuteswith your feet dangling. This will allow any spells of dizziness to pass before you stand up. Use side rails andhandrails when walking, especially at first. Don’t try to navigate a dark room on your own. Ask for help! Avoidtaking a hot shower immediately after delivery. This may increase your risk of passing out in the shower stalland falling.Climbing in and out of bed or transferring your baby to her bassinet can also increase your risk of falling. Whenyou’re ready to transfer your baby, ask for help, especially at first.“If you’re not feeling comfortable to get up and move the baby from holding to the bassinette we wantyou to use that call light, use your phone, utilize us, call your nurse so we can help or a spouse that’s inthe room can help.”Your hospital can also take steps to make sure you stay safe. These include: Keeping cables and cordsorganized and pathways clear of furniture and clutter; Quickly cleaning up any spills and clearly marking wetfloors; Making sure the rails on your bed are raised and the bed brakes are engaged, so your bed is morestable.It’s also important to make sure your delivery room is well lit. A dimly lit room can make it harder to see thingsat floor level and increase your risk of falling.Most importantly, you and the hospital must work together to prevent the risk of falling so you can enjoy takingyour newborn home.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG56228A EN FallPreventionForNewMomsInTheHospital.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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