INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Many medications are not safe for nursing mothers to use because they may pass through your breastmilk to the baby. Talk to your doctor about safe medication options to help you manage your pain after an episiotomy. Paracetamol is often prescribed for breastfeeding mothers who require pain medication after an episiotomy. The perineum is the area between the vagina and anus where the episiotomy was made. You can use an ice pack to help reduce swelling and ease the pain. Wrap an ice pack in a towel and place it between your legs while you are lying in bed or reclining in a chair. Make sure that you do not leave the ice pack on for more than 15 minutes at a time. Take it off now and then to prevent your skin from getting too cold. Tightening your buttocks as you sit down will help to pull the tissue together in the perineum, which will help to prevent it from stretching and pulling at your stitches. You may also find that sitting on a pillow or inflated ring will reduce the pressure and pain in your perineum. Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend that you take a daily sitz bath. Sitz baths can help to reduce the pain, swelling, and bruising around the wound area.  Fill a bathtub with warm or cool water. Warm water increases the circulation and may feel good, but cool water can decrease the pain a bit faster. Sit in the bath for up to 20 minutes. Urination can cause stinging and pain in your wound area. Any urine that runs over your wound may also introduce bacteria into your wound. To reduce discomfort and keep your stitches clean, pour water over the area using a squeeze bottle or water bottle as you are urinating. After you have finished going to the bathroom, squeeze a little more water over the area to clean it off. Bowel movements can be a challenge after an episiotomy. To provide support during a bowel movement, press a fresh sanitary pad against your perineum and hold it there while you go. Doing so should help to reduce your pain and discomfort. Make sure that you discard the pad after you have finished and use a new one every time you have to go. Constipation will increase the pressure against the perineum during a bowel movement. This increased pressure will lead to increased discomfort and stretching of the incision line. To reduce your chances of becoming constipated, make sure that you drink plenty of water, eat fiber rich foods, and get some mild exercise during the day.  Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day if you are bottle feeding and a few extra if you are breastfeeding. Try not to get compulsive about drinking water because over hydrating can cut your milk supply. Just don’t allow yourself to be thirsty during the day. Eat foods that are fiber rich. Fiber rich foods will help loosen your stool and make it easier to have a bowel movement. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of fiber. Get some mild exercise during the day. Exercise helps your colon move food along. Aim for 15 to 30 minutes of mild exercise a day in the postpartum period. Talk to your doctor if you still experience constipation. Call your doctor if these measures do not make a difference in your bowel habits within a couple of days. Your doctor may recommend a gentle stool softener until your body becomes regular again. Do not take an over-the-counter stool softener without consulting your physician.

SUMMARY: Ask your physician about painkillers that you may be able to use. Place an ice pack on the perineum when you are resting. Tighten your buttocks as you sit down. Talk to your doctor about sitz baths. Pour water over your stitches while you urinate. Put pressure on your wound during bowel movements. Reduce your risk of becoming constipated.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Combine equal parts of these ingredients by weight in a bowl. You can get plaster of Paris at craft stores or home improvement stores and cornmeal at any grocery store.  If you don't have a way to weigh it, try 2/3 cup (110 g) of each. If you don't have cornmeal, try using flour instead in the same proportions.  The plaster of Paris will get harder in the rats' stomach, eventually killing them. This step is optional, but the sweetness of the sugar will encourage the rats to eat more of the mixture. After adding equal parts of plaster and cornmeal, add half a part of sugar. Pour the milk into the powdered mixture. You may need more milk as you go along, but start with this much so you don't make the mixture too wet. If you don't have milk on hand, you can just use water. The milk will give it more flavor to draw in the rats, but most likely, they'll still eat it just for the cornmeal or flour. This mixture isn't toxic to humans, so it's not a problem to use your bare hands. However, if you don't want to get your hands all sticky, you can put gloves on.  If the mixture isn't sticking together and you see loose powder still, add more water or milk, a spoonful at a time. You want it to form a dough you can roll into balls like clay. If it seems too liquidy, add more plaster and cornmeal/flour in equal parts, only adding a spoonful at a time until you get the right consistency. Pinch off some of the dough and roll it between your hands to form a small ball. You can make them even smaller if you prefer. The rats will eat them either way. Place the balls where you see evidence of rats (out of reach of children and pets), and check back in a day or 2 to make sure they're eating the balls. If they're not, you may need to move the balls. If the rats still aren't interested, you may need to make a new set.

SUMMARY:
Mix 1⁄4 lb (110 g) of plaster of Paris and 1⁄4 lb (110 g) cornmeal in a large bowl. Add 1/3 cup (55 g) of sugar to make it more enticing. Start with 1 cup (240 mL) of milk. Knead the mixture together with your hands. Roll the mixture into balls about the size of golf balls.