Changes To Expect Postpartum And How To Care For Yourself
Postpartum refers to the first six-week period after childbirth. It's a beautiful time when you finally get to hold your baby, but it's also a healing period and an adjustment for mothers. As a mother, it's natural to have most of your focus on the baby, but you also need to focus on self-care.
You might have had a vaginal delivery or a C-section. You might have had an easy delivery or a complicated one. No matter your experience, your body needs to recover since it's gone through a trauma. The recovery can take months after childbirth. For most women, it takes approximately six to eight weeks. Your body will be going through a lot, and the best way to handle it is for you to rest and eat well. And don’t forget that your hormones also fluctuate, so you might feel very emotional.
After giving birth, there are several changes that you'll notice in your body during postpartum recovery. If you had a C-section especially, you'll have more restrictions on what you can and can't do. The following are some of the things you can expect after childbirth and how you can care for yourself.
Abdominal pain
You'll experience abdominal pain as your uterus starts shrinking back to its normal size and shape. These pains are referred to as "after pains," and they're sometimes sharp and other times dull. The pains are mostly felt when you breastfeed. A chemical is released at that time that contracts your uterus. Applying heat to your abdomen will help control the pain. You can use a hot water bottle or heating pad. The pains will get better after some time; however, you should see a doctor if they persist.
Constipation
Being constipated is common after giving birth. It can be caused by pain-relieving medicine or if you had anesthesia. Sometimes it's also caused due to fear after an episiotomy, thinking you might tear the stitches or feel pain due to bowel movement. You can ease constipation by eating fiber-rich foods and drinking a lot of water. Your doctor might also prescribe a stool softener.
Hemorrhoids
You may develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy or from the strain and pushing during delivery. Hemorrhoids are swellings of veins around the rectum. They cause pain during a bowel movement, itching, and also bleeding. You can relieve the pain by applying witch hazel that's kept refrigerated on the hemorrhoids.
Perineum soreness
The area between your vagina and anus is what is known as the perineum. It might tear during delivery, or the doctor might cut the area to widen the vagina during delivery. It's normal for the perineum to be swollen or sore postpartum. Sitting on an ice pack for 10 minutes will help with the pain during recovery. Be sure to rinse the perineum using a squirt bottle with warm water after using the bathroom during the first week. If the soreness doesn't decrease each day, you might have an infection.
Vaginal bleeding and discharge
During recovery after childbirth, you'll experience lochia. Lochia is vaginal bleeding and discharge, which happens even if you had a C-section. This discharge is the extra blood and tissue that grew and nourished your baby and is now being eliminated from your body. It's heavier during the first ten days; then it tapers off. Ensure you only use sanitary pads because tampons can lead to infection by introducing bacteria. You'll pass clots too, but if they're larger than a quarter, you should see a doctor.
There’s so much that goes unsaid and too many “no one told me” moments when it comes to postpartum care. The truth is, you can think you know everything about what to do after giving birth, about recovery timelines, and postpartum care, but the gap between what we are told to expect and what happens postpartum can be vast. The postpartum period is fraught with challenges, unique, and best understood by the women who experience it firsthand from healing your body. If you have questions or concerns about your postpartum recovery, always consult with your physician.
