Table of Contents Introduction The Truth About Postnatal Weight Loss UNDERSTANDING THE POSTNATAL WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY SETTING REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS HEALTHY EATING HABITS FOR POSTNATAL WEIGHT LOSS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE EXERCISE REGIMENS MANAGING SLEEP DEPRIVATION ADDRESSING HORMONAL CHANGES UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF ESTROGEN THE IMPACT OF CORTISOL ON WEIGHT LOSS EMBRACING SELF-CARE AND MENTAL WELL-BEING MANAGING STRESS AND ANXIETY BUILDING A SUPPORT SYSTEM DEALING WITH PLATEAUS AND SETBACKS REASSESSING GOALS AND STRATEGIES STAYING MOTIVATED AND FOCUSED SEEKING PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE CONSULTING WITH A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WORKING WITH A REGISTERED DIETITIAN CELEBRATING NON-SCALE VICTORIES IMPROVEMENTS IN ENERGY LEVELS ENHANCED BODY CONFIDENCE AND SELF -ESTEEM MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BEYOND WEIGHT LOSS EMPHASIZING LONG -TERM HEALTH AND WELL -BEING

Table of Contents Introduction The Truth About Postnatal Incontinence and How to Manage It UNDERSTANDING POSTNATAL INCONTINENCE CAUSES OF POSTNATAL INCONTINENCE PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH HORMONAL CHANGES TYPES OF POSTNATAL INCONTINENCE STRESS INCONTINENCE URGE INCONTINENCE MIXED INCONTINENCE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR POSTNATAL INCONTINENCE PHYSICAL THERAPY AND PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES MEDICATIONS BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO MANAGE POSTNATAL INCONTINENCE DIETARY MODIFICATIONS WEIGHT MANAGEMENT BLADDER TRAINING WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP SEVERE SYMPTOMS LACK OF IMPROVEMENT PREVENTING POSTNATAL INCONTINENCE PRENATAL PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES PROPER PUSHING TECHNIQUES

This guide has been developed jointly by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and is designed for use by all personnel involved in the care of pregnant women, their foetuses, and their neonates.

This guide provides a full range of updated, evidence-based norms and standards that will enable health care providers to give high quality care during pregnancy, delivery and in the postpartum period, considering the needs of the mother and her newborn baby. All recommendations are for skilled attendants working at the primary level of health care, either at the facility or in the community. They apply to all women attending antenatal care, in delivery, postpartum or post abortion care, or who come for emergency care, and to all newborns at birth and during the first week of life (or later) for routine and emergency care. This guide is a guide for clinical decision-making. It facilitates the collection; analysis, classification and use of relevant information by suggesting key questions, essential observations and/or examinations, and recommending appropriate research-based interventions. It promotes the early detection of complications and the initiation of early and appropriate treatment, including time referral, if necessary. Correct use of this guide should help reduce high maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity rates prevalent in many parts of the developing world, thereby making pregnancy and childbirth safer.

The emphasis of the manual is on rapid assessment and decision making. The clinical action steps are based on clinical assessment with limited reliance on laboratory or other tests and most are possible in a variety of clinical settings.

Pelvic Floor Re-education encompasses a variety of techniques for increasing the strength of, and control over, the pelvic floor muscles. These techniques are now emerging as an effective and viable alternative to surgery in the treatment of urinary incontinence and related conditions. This volume presents a reasoned, scientific approach to the use of pelvic floor re-education. Starting with the latest theories on anatomy, pathophysiology and possible causes of pelvic floor damage, the text then describes the importance of pelvic floor evaluation in determining the type of treatment required. A number of re-education techniques are assessed including isolated muscle exercise, vaginal cones, biofeedback control and electrical stimulation. Recent research work is also reviewed which allows the reader to evaluate the different modalities advocated in the management of pelvic floor dysfunction.