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|  | |  Recovering From Delivery
Your baby's finally here, and you're thrilled — but you're also exhausted, uncomfortable, on an emotional roller coaster, and wondering whether you'll ever fit into your jeans again. Childbirth classes helped prepare you for giving birth, but your weren't prepared for all of this!
What to Expect Physically in the First Few Weeks
After your baby arrives, you'll notice some changes — both physical and emotional.
Physically, you might experience:
- Sore breasts. Your breasts may be painfully engorged for several days when your milk comes in and your nipples may be sore.
- Constipation. The first postpartum bowel movement may be a few days after delivery, and sensitive hemorrhoids, healing episiotomies, and sore muscles can make it painful.
- Episiotomy. If your perineum (the area of skin between the vagina and the anus) was cut by your doctor or if it was torn during the birth, the stitches may make it painful to sit or walk for a little while during healing. It also can be painful when you cough or sneeze during the healing time.
- Hemorrhoids. Although common, hemorrhoids (swollen anal tissues) are frequently unexpected.
- Hot and cold flashes. Your body's adjustment to new hormone and blood flow levels can wreak havoc on your internal thermostat.
- Urinary or fecal incontinence. The stretching of your muscles during delivery can cause you to inadvertently pass urine when you cough, laugh, or strain or may make it difficult to control your bowel movements, especially if a lengthy labor preceded a vaginal delivery.
- "After pains." After giving birth, your uterus will continue to have contractions for a few days. These are most noticeable when your baby nurses or when you are given medication to reduce bleeding.
- Vaginal discharge (lochia). Initially heavier than your period and often containing clots, vaginal discharge gradually fades to white or yellow and then stops within 2 months.
- Weight. Your postpartum weight will probably be about 13 pounds (the weight of the baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid) below your full-term weight, before additional water weight drops off within the first week as your body regains its sodium balance.
What to Expect Emotionally in the First Few Weeks
Emotionally, you may be feeling:
- "Baby blues." Up to 80% of new moms experience irritability, sadness, crying, or anxiety, beginning within days or weeks postpartum. These baby blues are very common and may be related to physical changes (including hormonal changes, exhaustion, and unexpected birth experiences) and the emotional transition as you adjust to changing roles and your new baby.
- Postpartum depression (PPD). More serious than the baby blues, this condition is evident in 10%-25% of new moms and may cause mood swings, anxiety, guilt, and persistent sadness. Your baby may be several months old before PPD is diagnosed, and it's more common in women with a history of depression, multiple life stressors, and a family history of depression.
In addition, when it comes to sexual relations, you and your partner may be on completely different pages. He may be ready to pick up where you left off before baby's arrival, whereas you may not feel comfortable enough — physically or emotionally — and may be craving nothing more than a good night's sleep. Doctors often ask women to wait several weeks before having sex in order to allow healing to occur.
The Healing Process
It took your body months to prepare to give birth, and it takes time to recover. If you've had a cesarean section (C-section), it can take even longer because surgery requires a longer healing time. If unexpected, it may have also raised emotional issues.
Pain is greatest the day (or two days) after the surgery and should gradually subside. Your doctor will advise you on precautions to take after surgery, and give you directions for bathing and how to begin gentle exercises to speed recovery and help avoid constipation.
Things to know:
- Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily.
- Expect vaginal discharge.
- Avoid stairs and lifting until you've healed.
- Don't drive until you can make sudden movements and wear a safety belt properly without discomfort.
- If the incision becomes red or swollen, call your doctor.
Some other things to consider during the healing process include:
Birth Control
You can become pregnant again before your first postpartum period. Even though this is less likely if you are exclusively breastfeeding (day and night, no solids, at least 8 times a day, never going more than 6 hours without feeding), have not had a period, and your baby is younger than 6 months old, it is still possible. If you want to protect against pregnancy, discuss your options with your doctor. This may include barrier methods (condoms, diaphragms, spermicidal jellies, and foams), IUDs, pills, or shots.
Breastfeeding
You need adequate sleep, fluids, and nutrition. An easy way to stay on top of drinking enough fluids is to have a glass of water whenever your baby nurses. Until your milk supply is well established, try to avoid caffeine, which causes loss of fluid through urine and sometimes makes babies wakeful and fussy. If you have any breastfeeding problems, talk to your doctor or a lactation specialist. Your clinic or hospital lactation specialist can advise you on how to deal with any breastfeeding problems. Relieve clogged milk ducts with breast massage, frequent nursing, feeding after a warm shower, and warm moist packs applied throughout the day. If you develop a fever or chills or your breast becomes tender or red, you may have an infection (mastitis) and need antibiotics. Continue nursing or pumping from both breasts. Drink plenty of fluids.
Engorged Breasts
They resolve as your breastfeeding pattern becomes established or, if you're not breastfeeding, when your body stops producing milk — usually within a few days.
Episiotomy Care
Continue sitz baths (sitting in just a few inches of water and covering the buttocks, up to the hips, in the bathtub) using cool water for the first few days, then warm water after that. Squeeze the cheeks of your bottom together when you sit to avoid pulling painfully on the stitches. Use a squirt bottle to wash the area with water when you use the toilet; pat dry. After a bowel movement, wipe from front to back to avoid infection. Reduce swelling with ice packs or chilled witch hazel pads. Talk to your doctor about taking an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen to help with the pain and swelling.
Exercise
Resume as soon as you've been cleared by your doctor to help restore your strength and pre-pregnancy body, increase your energy and sense of well-being, and reduce constipation. Begin slowly and increase gradually. Walking and swimming are excellent choices.
Hemorrhoids and Constipation
Alternating warm sitz baths and cold packs can help. Ask your doctor about a stool softener. Don't use laxatives, suppositories, or enemas without your doctor's OK. Increase your intake of fluids and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.
Sexual Relations
Your body needs time to heal. Doctors usually recommend waiting 4-6 weeks to have sex to reduce the risk of infection, increased bleeding, or re-opening healing tissue. Begin slowly, with kissing, cuddling, and other intimate activities. You'll probably notice reduced vaginal lubrication (this is due to hormones and usually is temporary), so a water-based lubricant might be useful. Try to find positions that put less pressure on sore areas and are most comfortable for you. Tell your partner if you're sore or frightened about pain during sexual activity — talking it over can help both of you to feel less anxious and more secure about resuming your sex life.
Incontinence
Urinary or fecal incontinence often resolves gradually as your body returns to its normal prepregnancy state. Encourage the process with Kegel exercises, which help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. To find the correct muscles, pretend you're trying to stop urinating. Squeeze those muscles for a few seconds, then relax (your doctor can check to be sure you're doing them correctly). Wear a sanitary pad for protection. Let the doctor know about any incontinence you experience.
What Else You Can Do to Help Yourself
You'll get greater enjoyment in your new role as mom — and it will be much easier — if you care for both yourself and your new baby. For example:
- When your baby sleeps, take a nap. Get some extra rest for yourself!
- Set aside time each day to relax with a book or listen to music.
- Shower daily.
- Get plenty of exercise and fresh air — either with or without your baby, if you have someone who can babysit.
- Schedule regular time — even just 15 minutes a day — for you and your partner to be alone and talk.
- Make time each day to enjoy your baby, and encourage your partner to do so, too.
- Lower your housekeeping and gourmet meal standards — there's time for that later. If visitors stress you, restrict them temporarily.
- Talk with other new moms (perhaps from your birthing class) and create your own informal support group.
Getting Help From Others
Remember, Wonder Woman is fiction. Ask your partner, friends, and family for help. Jot down small, helpful things people can do as they occur to you. When people offer to help, check the list. For example:
- Ask friends or relatives to pick things up for you at the market, stop by and hold your baby while you take a walk or a bath, or just give you an extra hand.
- Hire a neighborhood teen — or a cleaning service — to clean once a week, if possible.
- Investigate hiring a doula, a supportive companion professionally trained to provide postpartum care.
When to Call the Doctor
You should call your doctor about your postpartum health if you:
- experience an unexplained fever of 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) or above
- soak more than one sanitary napkin an hour, pass large clots, or if the bleeding level increases
- had a C-section or episiotomy and the incision becomes more red or swollen or drains pus
- have new pain, swelling, or tenderness in your legs
- have hot-to-the-touch, reddened, sore breasts or any cracking or bleeding from the nipple or areola (the dark-colored area of the breast)
- find your vaginal discharge has become foul-smelling
- have painful urination or a sudden urge to urinate or inability to control urination
- have increasing pain in the vaginal area
- develop a cough or chest pain, nausea, or vomiting
- become depressed or experience hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, or any thoughts of harming your baby
Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: June 2008
Originally reviewed by: Serdar H. Ural, MD
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