Pregnancy & Birthing COE Home Page | Your Delivery Options | Preparing for Labor and Delivery | The Signs and Stages of Labor | Pain Management During Labor and Delivery | Delivery Interventions You May Receive | Perinatal Care for Baby | Postpartum Care for Mother | Breastfeeding
While adjusting to life with your newborn, be sure to pay attention to your own needs as well. After nine months preparing for birth, and many (possibly many, many ) hours spent delivering your baby, your body needs a few weeks to recover. If you know what to expect during this time, you’ll be ready to handle any changes. Listen to your body and your emotions, and take steps to speed healing.
Shortly after you have delivered the placenta, your health team will begin working on your recovery. You’ll have uterine massage to encourage your uterus to begin contracting. These contractions start the uterus on its retreat to its pre-pregnancy size, and prevent excess bleeding. You may also be given oxytocin to encourage contractions. The uterus usually returns to its pre-pregnancy size by six weeks after delivery.
Some women experience these uterine contractions as sharp abdominal pains, which are called afterpains. Afterpains are most common during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract. Afterpains typically subside by the third day. If this is your first baby, you are less likely to have afterpains than if you have given birth before. For severe pain, your doctor can prescribe pain medication.
Don’t be alarmed by bleeding after birth, this is normal. A bloody discharge called lochia occurs for three to four days after delivery. Lochia changes to a pinkish-brown within a week of delivery, and then to white or yellow. You should notice less blood after two weeks, but lochia can continue for six to eight weeks postpartum. Use sanitary pads and change the pads at least every four hours. This level of bleeding and discharge is normal, but excess bleeding is a concern. Call your doctor if you have any of the following:
Once delivery is complete, your doctor or nurse-midwife will examine the perineal area. If you had an episiotomy or your perineum tore during delivery, you’ll have stitches (with local anesthesia) to close these tears. While tenderness in this area is common after any vaginal birth, the incision or tear adds extra soreness. You may notice discomfort with walking, sitting, and going to the bathroom. Try soothing this area with an ice pack, anesthetic spray, or by sitting in a tub of warm, shallow water (a sitz bath). Your doctor can also prescribe pain medication.
An episiotomy or tear should be healed within three weeks. Call your doctor if you have any of the following:
In the first few days postpartum, you may notice that you are urinating much more than normal. This is your body’s way of getting rid of extra fluid from pregnancy. Some women have increased sweating for the same reason.
During pregnancy, the change in anatomy due to the growing baby and uterus can cause leaking of urine. In addition, injury to muscles and nerves during labor and delivery can also result in a woman’s being less able to control urine or sometimes even gas or stool. Wear a sanitary pad to catch leaks and talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Kegel exercises may help strengthen weakened muscles. For most women, these problems will go away within six weeks. If they last for more than six weeks, you should talk to your doctor.
You may not have a bowel movement until three or four days after delivery. Your first bowel movement can be quite painful, especially if you had a perineal tear or episiotomy. Drink a lot of water and juice, and take a stool softener to ease this pain. Do not avoid bowel movements, as this can lead to constipation and hemorrhoids. A warm sitz bath can ease pain from hemorrhoids. To keep this area clean and prevent infection, clean it with warm water (a squeeze bottle or wash cloth) and pat dry with gauze or a sanitary wipe. Always wipe from front to back.
A cesarean section (c-section) is major surgery so you may take longer to heal. Pain is greatest the day after surgery and should decrease from then on. Take care to protect your incision. Watch for swelling or redness, and alert your doctor immediately if you see any. Your doctor will also give you specific instructions for bathing, lifting, and gentle exercise during recovery.
When breastfeeding, avoid placing your baby directly on your stomach. Place a pillow on your stomach or use the football or lying down positions.
As your breasts increase milk production, you will notice them filling up quite quickly. This fullness can be uncomfortable. It is most noticeable by the third or fourth day postpartum as your mature milk is coming in. Breastfeeding your baby often and using both breasts at each feeding is one way to help reduce this discomfort. Between feedings, take a hot shower or use warm compresses or ice packs. If you do not plan to breastfeed, wearing tight binding clothing can help reduce symptoms.
After the hard work and straining of delivery, you may notice soreness in your upper body and head as well as your lower body. Some women have bloodshot eyes or facial bruising from their efforts. All of these aches and pains should resolve within a few days.
After delivery, your hormone levels go through major changes. You may have hot flashes or chills. You may also notice changes in your mood.
While a new baby brings a lot of joy, that same baby also brings sleepless nights, demanding feeding schedules, and unexplained crying. In those first few weeks with their new baby, about 80% of moms report sadness, crying, anxiety, or irritability. The causes of these common “baby blues” are many. They may be unexpected delivery experiences, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, the baby’s needs, loss of time to yourself, or any other combination of factors.
Recognize that these feelings are normal as you take on a new phase of life. Here are some tips for helping to manage those challenging early days:
Some women have feelings that are more severe and last longer than those associated with the baby blues. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects one in eight women during the first few months after childbirth. It can also occur in women who have a miscarriage or abortion, or who adopt a baby. Common symptoms include extreme fatigue, loss of pleasure in daily life, lack of interest in your baby, insomnia, sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, irritability, changes in appetite, and poor concentration.
The hormonal changes after delivery are believed to lead to PPD. Women with a personal or family history of depression are at greater risk of PPD. Risk also increases if a woman has a weak support system or other significant stress. PPD can be treated with counseling, antidepressant medications, or a combination of both. With treatment, symptoms can improve quickly. Women who do not get treatment can have symptoms for seven months or more. Talk to your doctor or someone you trust if you have any symptoms of PPD.
If you feel that you might hurt yourself of your baby, get help immediately. Call your doctor, 911, the national suicide hotline (1-800-784-2433), or the national child abuse hotline (1-800-422-4453). These are people who want to help you.
Before resuming sexual intercourse, wait for your perineal area to heal and bleeding to stop—about four to six weeks. This will make sex more comfortable and reduce the risk of infection. To allow your body time to recover from pregnancy and the demands of caring for a newborn, wait at least three months before trying to become pregnant again. Do not depend on breastfeeding for effective birth control. Most methods of birth control are safe and effective for breastfeeding women.
You’ll see your doctor for a routine checkup between two and six weeks after delivery. However, if any of the following occur, call your doctor immediately:
It can be easy to ignore your own needs as you focus on caring for your new baby. But it’s important for both you and your baby that you take good care of yourself. It’s essential that you fully recover from delivery so you are physically and mentally prepared to take on the challenges of the coming weeks, months, and years.
References:
After the baby is born. Womenshealth.gov website. Available at: http://www.4woman.gov/Pregnancy/postpartum.cfm . Accessed August 15, 2005.
Labor, delivery, and postpartum period: postpartum recovery and coping. Sutter Health website. Available at: http://babies.sutterhealth.org/health/healthinfo/index.cfm?section=healthinfo&page=article&sgml_id=tn9759&seq_id=9 . Accessed August 15, 2005.
Postpartum care. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy online. Available at: http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section18/chapter254/254a.jsp . Accessed August 15, 2005.
Postpartum depression. Sutter Health website. Available at: http://babies.sutterhealth.org/health/healthinfo/index.cfm?section=healthinfo&page=article&sgml_id=tn9654 . Accessed August 15, 2005.
Recovery from an episiotomy or perineal tear. Sutter Health website. Available at: http://babies.sutterhealth.org/health/healthinfo/index.cfm?section=healthinfo&page=article&sgml_id=tn7416-sec . Accessed August 15, 2005.
Recovering from delivery. The Nemours Foundation Web site. Available at: http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/home/recovering_delivery.html . Accessed August 4, 2005.
Urinary incontinence. Womenshealth.gov website. Available at: http://www.4woman.gov/faq/urinary.htm/ . Accessed August 15, 2005.
Last reviewed May 2007 by Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC, FACOG
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.