Postpartum Care

As your uterus shrinks, the muscle fibers contract, causing afterbirth pains. Afterbirth pains help the uterus return to its normal size and reduce blood loss after delivery.

These contractions are less painful than labor contractions and are most noticeable during the first three to four days following birth. You may notice increased contractions when you're breastfeeding.

Showers are usually fine as soon as you can walk after giving birth. Sitz or tub baths are usually safe after the second day postpartum and can help relieve discomfort due to hemorrhoids, soreness, episiotomy, or vaginal discharge. You shouldn't douche until after your postpartum checkup.

Your vagina, which has stretched to accommodate the birth of your baby, gradually returns to its previous condition by the end of your third postpartum week. The muscles in your pelvic floor and other supporting structures may not return to normal for six to seven weeks after the birth of your baby. If you had an episiotomy during delivery, it should heal in four to six weeks.

Some women may need catheters right after birth because their bladders may not empty. You must try to empty your bladder every three to four hours while in the hospital, especially immediately following your baby's birth.

In the first few days after delivery, you may notice that you eliminate large amounts of urine. Your body needs to get rid of the extra fluid that caused swelling in your hands and legs in late pregnancy.

Hormones, medication, dehydration, perineal pain, and decreased physical activity may make your bowel function sluggish after birth. You can expect to have a bowel movement within two to three days after delivery. Temporary constipation isn't harmful but can cause you to feel full and experience gas.

A laxative or stool softener may provide relief from constipation and hemorrhoids that develop during and after labor. You should also make sure to eat a variety of high-fiber foods and drink lots of water. If you're breastfeeding, consult your physician before taking any medication, including laxatives.

The vigorous bearing down during labor can sometimes cause bleeding beneath the whites of your eyes. This redness usually clears by itself in a few weeks without special treatment.

You should get up and move around as soon as possible after birth, but also check with your physician or nurse to ensure it's safe. Moving around minimizes the risk of blood clots in the veins of your pelvis and lower extremities. It may also improve bladder and bowel function.

Talk to your physician about when you can begin light exercise. This can include Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor and help prevent bladder control problems.

Walking at a leisurely pace is another great form of exercise in the weeks after giving birth. You should find you can gradually increase the intensity and frequency of your exercise sessions as your body returns to normal.

You may notice that you're losing large amounts of hair a few weeks after giving birth. This is a common problem that should resolve itself in a few months.

The best hemorrhoid treatments include cold compresses, topical ointments, and pain medications prescribed by your doctor. A stool softener or laxative may help prevent further irritation.

Severe pain from hemorrhoids may also cause constipation. If you're experiencing pain or irritation, you should contact your physician.

If you had an episiotomy, change your sanitary pad frequently and clean your perineum with lukewarm water after urination and bowel movements. This will reduce the risk of infection. You should use a handheld shower, a squeeze bottle, or a sitz bath to cleanse the episiotomy site two to three times a day.

You may also want to use antiseptic spray or antibiotic cream to provide relief. You can use antiseptic towelettes and toilet paper to pat the perineum dry.

You should also wipe and wash from front to back to prevent contamination and avoid infection. Keeping your episiotomy site clean and dry will help it heal more quickly.

Breastfeeding usually delays menstrual cycles. Most women get their first period within seven to nine weeks after giving birth.

If you're nursing, you'll probably resume menstrual periods by 12 weeks postpartum. But you may not have a period until you stop breastfeeding. Your body may produce eggs before the start of your menstrual cycle, making pregnancy possible.

In the first couple of days following childbirth, you may feel muscle aches and fatigue in your shoulders, neck, and arms. This is a result of the physical exertion of labor. Joint stiffness in the hands is common due to a natural redistribution of fluids that occurs after pregnancy.

You may also find that your abdominal muscles are weak, soft, and flabby after giving birth. Sometimes, your abdominal muscles can separate with a bulge between them. Your doctor can suggest some helpful exercises and share guidance on when it's safe to exercise.

Your ob-gyn will let you know when it's safe to resume sexual activity. You should discuss resuming sex with your partner to prevent frustrations and misunderstandings.

You may experience a decreased sex drive due to fatigue and the time demands of your new baby. You may also have concerns about discomfort if you had a tear, episiotomy, or cesarean incision.

When you resume sexual activity, you can expect vaginal dryness due to the hormones of pregnancy and breastfeeding. A water-soluble cream or jelly is safe to help with this problem. If difficulty with sexual intercourse persists, talk to your doctor.

Many skin changes result from an increase in hormones during pregnancy. Skin changes will gradually disappear several months after childbirth.

These can include rashes, tiny red blood vessel spots, blotchiness on your face, or a dark line on your lower abdomen. Stretch marks will usually fade to silvery lines but do not disappear completely.

During pregnancy, the weight of your uterus will increase to more than two pounds, which is approximately 11 times its nonpregnancy weight. After the birth of your baby, your uterus will take some time to shrink back to its normal weight, which is a mere 2 ounces.

The term for the discharge from your vagina is lochia. During the first few days after your baby's birth, you'll experience a discharge similar to your menstrual flow.

Three to four days after birth, the discharge becomes paler and thinner. By the second week, the lochia is thicker and more yellowish in color. After four weeks, as your uterine lining heals, the discharge decreases substantially.

If you developed varicose veins during pregnancy, elevate your legs and wear elastic support hose when walking or standing for the first six weeks postpartum. If your varicose veins don't improve within six months of giving birth, you should talk to your doctor.

You probably won't return to your pre-pregnancy weight for some time after the birth of your baby. But you can expect to lose a significant amount of weight immediately after delivery. Most new moms are about 12 pounds lighter after giving birth.

More weight loss typically occurs during the postpartum period as your body's fluid levels return to normal. If you need to lose more weight, your doctor can provide guidance on safe exercises and nutritious eating programs.

Don't diet or starve yourself. Healthy eating helps you maintain a strong postpartum body.