It is very common for women to self-neglect once their
baby arrives. It is certainly not intentional but
it just seems to happen with most new mothers. The
general rule is to remind yourself to prepare for
the period post birth as you prepared for the birth
itself. You need this reminder because it is very
easy to forget yourself with all the excitement around
you.
The labor is over
After delivery you will be taken to your room to rest.
You will feel very tired, more so if your labor was
long and you did a lot of pushing and slept very little
the night before. You will be encouraged to urinate
in the case of a normal delivery; catherization, a
procedure whereby a tube is passed into the bladder
to help you void is required, especially for C-section
cases. You will be given pain relievers to help you
deal with the pain from the stitches and sitz baths
and cold ice packs for the episiotomy (a cut in the
perineum to aid delivery) and hemorrhoids if any.
A cream will be applied on the stitches to prevent
them from drying out. You will be taught how to change
your sanitary pads and how to clean up after your
visit to the washroom, to prevent infection. It is
normal to feel dizzy and light-headed when you get
off the bed; this is more likely due to the after
effects of the epidural you were given. With ample
rest, you should be fine before being discharged from
the hospital. Address any issues if in doubt with
your doctor before leaving for home.
Home sweet home..
After being discharged and taken home, the intense
fatigue felt following the birth has more or less
subsided. However you have a new source of headache
and concern to deal with: your baby's unpredictable
schedule. You may be getting very little sleep at
night and insufficient rest periods in the day, which
may very well overwhelm you in the start. Gradually
you will adjust to this unpredictable schedule as
well; it is just a matter of time. If you face problems
adjusting and find yourself tired even after a month,
be sure to mention this to your doctor during your
first postpartum visit. If you had lost lots of blood
during delivery, it may take you weeks instead of
days to regain your lost strength. Muscle tone in
the abdomen returns very slowly for most. This again
differs from one woman to another and is dependant
on the amount of stretching the abdomen underwent
and the mother's muscle constitution. The postpartum
period is one where your body undergoes major changes:
a change in hormones, body shape and body size. Some
of these changes are unpleasant; some you will gladly
welcome. It is important to know that these changes
are necessary before you return to normalcy and that
you have nothing to fear. The other key factor is
to listen to your body - no two pregnancies are alike
and the same applies to the recovery period. While
for some of you the postpartum timetable may fit perfectly,
for others it may not go according to plan. There
are several discomforts (the unpleasant changes) you
will have to undergo after welcoming your bundle of
joy into this world!
• Within the first 72 hours your breasts will
produce milk in abundance; simultaneously blood vessels
fill up causing breast tissues to swell. This is termed
as
breast engorgement
and can be quite painful with the pain spreading into
the armpit area. Your breasts may feel tender and
lumpy when touched; fortunately this problem subsides
when your milk is expressed on a daily basis. For
mothers who are not feeding, don't bother expressing
or pumping and let the milk dry up on its own. Avoid
nipple stimulation and applying warm towels as this
work on producing more milk. Instead use ice packs
on your breasts and a good support bra to ease the
pain and speed up the drying process. The discomfort
should disappear in about 3 days and can be relieved
by pain medications.
•
Painful episiotomy
can take a while, upto 6 weeks or more to heal. The
V zone having been stretched or torn during delivery
may cause your perineum area to feel sore. Continue
with the ice packs or sitz baths (sitting in warm
water for a while) after going home. Be particular
in how you clean yourself to avoid infection; a spray
bottle will come handy while toilet paper should be
avoided for the time being.
•
Lochia,
a bloody vaginal discharge is another 'discomfort'
to deal with; it is actually the uterus shedding the
lining that was formed during pregnancy. After the
initial heavy bleeding which lasts for about a week,
light bleeding resembling menses, follows. Menses
like flow continues for a few weeks to be replaced
by white, creamy discharge with an unpleasant odor
at the tail end. Lochia usually stops 3-6 weeks after
delivery. Your next menstruation will depend on whether
you are nursing, although most nursing mothers will
have their periods long before they cease breastfeeding.
•
Afterbirth
pain or uterine contraction is another common
discomfort you will just have to go through; like
the other discomforts, this one too won't last and
can be relieved. It is caused by your oversized uterus
shrinking back to its pre-pregnancy size. With first
babies the pain is usually mild. The contractions
get stronger with subsequent babies but in both scenarios
they only last for a couple of weeks. You will continue
to feel some bloating and discomfort with your stomach
still looking large. Try sleeping or lying on your
stomach with your pillow tucked under your abdomen.
Make sure your bladder is kept empty. If pain is unbearable,
check with your doctor on medications you can take.
•
Constipation
after delivery is caused by lax abdominal muscles
and reduced movement through the intestines. Pain
from the incision or hemorrhoids creates a mental
block, aggravating the problem further. Avoid straining;
instead consume plenty of fluids and juices, dried
fruit or and a high fiber diet usually does the trick.
Resort to a mild laxative if nothing else works.
•
Hemorrhoids
can become swollen and even protrude during pregnancy,
labor and delivery. The pain can be discomforting.
There are special sprays, ointments or dry or moist
heat that can be applied to the affected area. Cold
compresses are also very soothing. Hemorrhoids will
shrink in size and sometimes even disappear altogether.
•
Frequent urination
is caused by the pressure on your bladder which in
turn creates the urge to pee. You will also find it
increasingly difficult to hold your urine. This problem
can be corrected with time and you can speed up the
process if you start practicing kegel exercises, once
your V zone area is healed and not causing you any
more pain.
Most of the aches and pains should disappear
after a few days post delivery except for the caesarean
and episiotomy pains which will take some more time
to heal. If these pains are intense and unbearable,
consult your doctor.
When postpartum symptoms become
your doctor's concern..
Call your doctor if you notice any of the following:
• Fever over 38 degrees Celsius (after the first
24 hours)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chills
• Loss of appetite
• Painful urination, burning and urgency
• Pain, swelling and tenderness in the legs
• Pain in the lower back or abdomen
• Severe constipation
• Chest pain and cough
• Hot, painful, swollen, tender breasts
• Persistent pain in the V zone with increasing
tenderness
• Bleeding heavier than your normal period
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Vaginal discharge with foul smell
It pays to note
It is important to begin exercising your
pelvic
floor muscles to restore its tone soon after
your delivery. Despite your busy schedule set time
aside for this after checking with your doctor. Failing
to do so has heavy repercussions in the form of inability
to retain water and prolapsed womb in later life.
It can be done several times anytime of the day while
you are sitting, standing or lying down. Stitches
are no issue here; instead this exercise will promote
healing by increasing blood flow to the affected area.
Just squeeze and lift the muscles around the front
passage as if you are trying to interrupt the urine
flow. Hold to the count of three and then relax. Repeat
a number of times.
Postnatal posture
is just as important now as your posture was during
pregnancy. In pregnancy, hormones have softened and
stretched the spinal and pelvic ligaments in preparation
for childbirth. Your back muscles which are weaker
now have to bear the additional strain when you breastfeed
your baby or carry him around. Any activity done wrongly
can add to the backache. It may take upto several
weeks before your back heals. In the meantime these
tips will help you deal with your back:
1. find a comfortable position when breastfeeding;
a pillow (nursing pillow if you have one) positioned
right is very helpful
2. avoid stooping or lifting heavy objects for the
first 6 weeks after birth; bend your knees when lifting
objects off the ground
3. use prams with handles at waist levels so you don't
have to lean forward when pushing it
4. sit with a supporting cushion in the small of your
back and avoid slouching
5. try to bathe your baby at waist level to avoid
bending
6. walk tall with your stomach tucked in
7. use a baby sling that carries your baby centrally
