After the birth of her newborn, the mother’s life is completely determined by her little one, but postpartum care is still important to recover from the trauma your body suffered during childbirth. There are so many changes that are brought about by pregnancy that continue even after the baby is born. Just like pregnancy, postpartum changes are different for every woman.
#1 Vaginal pain
If you had a wound from a vaginal tear or episiotomy during normal labor, it can hurt for a few weeks. The pain and discomfort gradually subside and disappear after a few weeks.
- Keep the wound clean
- Soothe the wound with an ice pack
- Whenever you urinate, pour warm water over your vulva.
- Make sure you are comfortable when sitting. If sitting up straight is uncomfortable, use a cushion or pillow.
- If the pain becomes unbearable or there is swelling and purulent discharge, contact your doctor.
#2 Vaginal discharge
A few weeks after delivery, vaginal discharge occurs, which is profuse for the first few days and gradually tapers to pink, brown, yellow, and then translucent white. You can pass small blood clots with the liquid.
The flow can increase suddenly when you change your position, e.g. B. Suddenly standing or sitting.
- Use pads instead of tampons
- Change sanitary napkins every four to five hours to avoid the risk of infection
- If you notice a bad odor in your discharge, have large blood clots, or have a high fever, call your doctor right away.
#3 Abdominal contractions
Do you remember those menstrual cramps? Similar to these, you may feel contractions in the abdominal region for the first few days. The doctor may have recommended some mild over-the-counter pain relievers.
#4 Trouble urinating
- Childbirth causes injury to the tissues surrounding the bladder. This leads to a stinging sensation when urinating.
- Whenever you go to the toilet, pouring some warm water around the vulva can help.
- If the pain is too severe or you have frequent urges to urinate, call your doctor to check for UTIs.
#5 Urine leakage
- During pregnancy and childbirth, bladder tissue stretches and weakens. This can cause urine to leak when you cough or laugh.
- Do Kegel exercises to tone and tone your pelvic muscles
#6 Painful bowel movements
It is a very common postpartum complication due to swelling and distension of the veins in the anus/rectal area.
- Immerse yourself in a tub filled with warm water
- Ask your doctor about a hemorrhoid medication that can be used topically
- Soften your stool by eating high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, drink lots of water!
#7 Sore breasts or engorgement
For most new mothers, breast milk comes within 24 hours of giving birth. It’s a rare situation where production exceeds demand, meaning your breasts are producing a lot more milk compared to what your baby needs. This causes your breasts to become heavy and swollen (also called engorgement).
- Breastfeed your baby as often as it is hungry
- Use a breast pump
- Apply ice packs if swelling is severe
- Make sure your baby sucks properly
- Wear nursing pads to avoid wet clothes due to breast leakage
#8 Hair Loss
During pregnancy and childbirth, a woman’s body goes through many hormonal changes. After childbirth, the body begins to shed hair. Therefore, most mothers experience hair loss six months after giving birth.
- Be prepared and don’t panic
- Eat healthy
- Shampoo only when needed
- Avoid straightening, curling, or using harsh chemicals that can make hair fall worse
#9 Stretch marks
Some find them bad, others wear stretch marks as a proud sign of their motherhood. It all depends on how you view the indispensable part of pregnancy. They do not disappear but slowly fade to a lighter shade.
#10 mood swings
Very often you find your mood on a roller coaster ride. Strong emotions like sadness, irritability, fear and mild depression are all part of this baby making game.
Read more about postpartum depression.
#11 Take care of yourself
- Look forward to newfound motherhood
- Seek help from your spouse, friends, and family. talk to them
#12 Weight loss
Well, the most difficult aspect of pregnancy. You will be completely out of shape for a while. It’s perfectly normal. People around you don’t judge you by your body shape. The glow that the little bundle of joy in your arms conjures up on your face takes away all your attention.
Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly (at least 4-6 weeks postpartum of course) to shed extra pounds.
What to avoid
- Your body has been working for the past few months. It deserves a good amount of rest and a chance to recover before beginning routine activities.
- Rest at least 4-6 weeks before any sexual intercourse or strenuous work
- Avoid long car journeys.
- Don’t use a douche to flush the inside of your vagina.
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