Giving birth to your baby is an exciting time in your life. Regardless of the method you deliver your baby, you will experience bleeding, called lochia, for an extended period of time. However, if your lochia suddenly changes to bright red or...
Postpartum recovery and care of the mother is important following the birth of a baby. When a woman tries to do too much she can prolong the healing process, which includes the shedding of remaining tissues and fluids from the womb. Sanitary...
Beginning with the breaking of water and labor, a woman may begin to lose a small amount of blood from her vagina. This can increase as the baby is born and reach its peak when the placenta is delivered. Following the birth, a woman will...
Swimming after childbirth helps you lose weight and restore muscle tone. It also boosts your strength and energy, which may be sapped after your pregnancy and delivery. Swimming is particularly beneficial because it works your upper and lower body...
After pregnancy and once the baby is born, vaginal bleeding is a normal consequence as the body gets rid of all of the supporting tissue left in the uterus. Called lochia, this discharge is perfectly natural and nothing to be concerned about....
While some normal bleeding occurs after a pregnancy and birth, in some cases the level or type of blood flow is abnormal. Recognizing the signs of abnormal postpartum bleeding can help a woman and her doctor determine whether her body is...
Vaginal discharge is a completely normal occurrence in women and teenage girls. Discharge changes throughout a woman's menstrual cycle. Normal discharge varies between a white, sticky discharge to one that closely resembles an egg white. Discharge...
Regular periods resume for most women after a Cesarean section. However, they may be different than during her pre-pregnancy cycles. It can be difficult to tell when a woman should expect her first post-partum period, as well as what it will be...
A postpartum woman should always discuss abdominal pain after delivery with a health-care provider. In most cases, the pain is a normal after-effect of the birth and the uterus' attempt to shrink back to its original size. In other situations, the...
The endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. The endometrium, like any tissue, can become irritated, inflamed or infected. Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause endometritis. Endometritis is...
As you near your due date, you should start packing your bags to bring to the hospital when you go into labor. You can pack one bag with everything you need for labor and delivery, postpartum and discharge; however, it may be easier to pack one...
While you likely spent the months of your pregnancy reading about what to expect during delivery and how to care for a newborn, you may not have found enough time to educate yourself on postpartum challenges. As you welcome the new addition to...
When you're a new mother, firmly ensconced in diapers, feedings and trying to grab a few minutes of sleep, exercise may be the last thing you want to do. However, post-pregnancy exercise can be beneficial to both your body and your...
If you exercised during your pregnancy, then you know that using care and caution when choosing and performing exercises was important. The same is true of post-pregnancy exercising. Your body has been through a great deal, and it's important to...
Your nutrition after the birth of your child is just as important as when you were pregnant, particularly if you breastfeed. Your body will need nutrients, as it always has, but crash dieting and developing unhealthy eating habits after delivery...
In addition to the excitement of bringing home a snuggly new baby, most new moms can't wait to get back in shape after giving birth. Many women can safely begin exercising within a few days of delivery, but several factors will dictate both when...
Cesarean section is the most common surgery performed in the United States; nearly one third of all deliveries are cesarean sections, according to the Center for Disease Control. Bleeding can occur from the uterine or skin incision, from the...
Bikram hot yoga, the strenuous, 26-posture series introduced to the U.S. by Bikram Choudhury, requires yogis to practice in a room heated to about 105 degrees. Pregnant women can and do perform Bikram yoga right up to their delivery dates using...
When packing for the delivery of a baby you must consider many things, including your own comfort and the comfort of your newborn. Some mothers pack the maternity bag during the third trimester or between 32 and 40 weeks into the pregnancy. Other...
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...
