Postnatal care is important for all new mothers, especially during the six-week period after you give birth. During this period, known as puerperium, your body slowly goes back to its pre-pregnant state, according to Patient UK, and postnatal self-care ensures that you're as comfortable as you can be while you're body goes through various changes. See your treating doctor for postpartum checkups to make sure that your physical and emotional health is in the pink.
What Happens Post-Birth
After baby enters the world, your body goes through drastic changes as it heals. Without the additional load, your cardiovascular system normalizes within a couple of weeks, says Patient UK. Your vaginal wall and perineal area is inflamed and bluish in hue for one to two weeks, and your uterus slowly shrinks.
Vaginal Care
Vaginal discharge called lochia can last for up to three months after you give birth, says the Mayo Clinic. Flow will be bright red and heavy for the first few days, gradually becoming lighter as it changes to pink, yellow, brown or white. The clinic stresses the importance of using sanitary napkins rather than tampons to ward off infection. Assuage vaginal soreness by applying a cool compress to the inflamed area or using witch hazel pads, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Make sure you keep this part of your body clean. Rinse the entire area with water after you go to the bathroom or pour warm water over your vagina as you urinate--this also prevents stinging. Bowel movements are less painful if you firmly press a clean sanitary pad against the wound as you defecate. If sitting down causes you discomfort, the Mayo Clinic suggests using a "doughnut" pillow.
Urinary Difficulties and Hemorrhoids
Pregnancy also can cause temporary hemorrhoids and varicose veins, which can get worse after you have your baby, says the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Use sitz baths, witch hazel pads and medicated ointments and sprays recommended by your doctor. Constipation is a common postnatal concern, as are urinary problems. Avoid painful bowel movements by eating foods high in fiber and getting plenty of liquids, suggests the ACOG. Ask your doctor if a stool softener is helpful, and if so, which ones are safe.
Urinary problems can present in the form of the urgent need to urinate without actually passing urine, and pain or burning. A warm sitz bath is helpful, says the ACOG, as is directing a spray of warm water at your genital area with a squeeze bottle. You might experience urinary incontinence after you give birth, cautions the ACOG. The Mayo Clinic also indicates that you also might suffer from fecal incontinence, especially after a long, hard delivery. As your body heals, this problem resolves in most cases. Use Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor and gain more control over your muscles, but if you continue to suffer from incontinence, see your doctor for help, the ACOG advises.
Breast Care
Tender, leaky, engorged breasts can be uncomfortable after you give birth. To relieve milk-engorged breasts, the Mayo Clinic suggests expressing some of the milk with a breast pump or applying cold compresses to your breasts. Wear a firm support bra if you don't intend to nurse, but don't use a breast pump to express your milk, which makes you produce more, warns the Mayo Clinic.
Leaking breasts also are common. There's nothing to do to prevent leaking, but you can protect your bras and clothing by wearing nursing pads. The Mayo Clinic advises staying away from plastic-lined pads, as these can irritate sensitive nipples. Change the pad whenever it gets wet or after you get through nursing.
Emotional Care
Many new mothers go through a mild depression known as the "baby blues" for the first couple of weeks after childbirth, says the Mayo Clinic. Get as much rest and relaxation as you can, but if you begin feeling more anxious and depressed and the feeling is persistent, tell your doctor immediately. According to a December 2005 article in the "American Family Physician" written by physicians Carol E. Blenning and Heather Paladine, postpartum depression is a significant contributor to the deaths of both new mothers and their children.
See Your Doctor
Blenning and Paladine recommend a structured approach to postnatal care during visits to your treating physician to address all relevant physical and emotional concerns, including common complications such as prolonged bleeding, thyroid disorders, urinary incontinence, endometriosis, postpartum depression and decreased libido. Although it's likely that your experiences aren't dissimilar to those of other mothers, the Mayo Clinic urges you to share all concerns with your doctor during postnatal checkups.
