Vaginal Post Partum

Post partum recovery is just as important as your baby’s health because a healthy mommy is key for your child’s life and development. After delivering your baby you will most likely be at the hospital anywhere from 1-5 days depending on your health and doctors orders. When it come to recovery it is important to focus on yourself even though you might want to give your full attention on your newborn. In this blog post I will be discussing some of the things that new moms will experience after childbirth and tips to try to alleviate some of the symptoms. Recovery is different for all women and you might recover fast or it may take you longer than expected.

Depending on whether you have a vaginal birth or a C-section is how your recovery is going to go. If you have a vaginal birth you will most likely recover in about 6 weeks, but women claim that it takes them longer to feel a little like themselves again. Within the first 6 weeks expect vaginal soreness because of any tears that might have occurred. Some tips you might want to try are to use witch hazel pads by placing them on a pad to alleviate pain. When using the bathroom, use a squirt bottle with warm water to clean the vulva rather than wiping. Another tip is to sit on padded chairs and use pillows for extra cushion because the pressure of sitting can make it extremely uncomfortable.

Maternity Pads to help with the excess bleeding

Another thing to expect is contractions. Even though you already gave birth your uterus is contracting to stop from excessive bleeding. These will often resemble menstrual cramps and can often be alleviated with over the counter medications. Along with contractions difficulty urinating and having bowel movements can appear. Sooth this by eating foods high in fiber and it will also make it easier when going to the bathroom, which will help avoid hemorrhoids.

Pillow used to sit after childbirth

Sore breasts are a common sign because of the breast milk that is coming in for your baby. The only way to ease this discomfort is to either nurse your baby or pump so that your breasts aren’t so engorged. If you do not want to feed your baby breast milk then keep your breast compressed and do not feed or pump because your breast will think they need to keep producing milk.  Another thing that can change is your mood. After birth you can feel an excess amount if emotion like anxiety, irritability, happiness while feeling stressed. All of those emotions at the same time are normal and will stop in the matter of a week or two. One last thing that happens among almost all moms is weight loss. You will begin to lose some of the weight that was gained especially if you decide to breast-feed.  

Overall recovery will take time and it is important to be patient as well as giving your body time to feel normal again. After birth your body will never feel like it did before you had a baby, but it is a feeling you will learn to embrace.  

Web Links:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/postpartum

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/labor-and-delivery/in-depth/postpartum-care/art-20047233?pg=2

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/postpartum-first-6-weeks-after-childbirth-recovery-at-home

Picture links:

http://www.northfieldhospital.org/womenshealthcenter/files/2010/01/Mom-with-newborn.jpg

http://www.doereport.com/imagescooked/14243W.jpg

http://paul.sensistatic.nl/checkziscom/img/143/c1453f40bc1d5d4292b3cb935b8a053a.395.jpg

https://img1.etsystatic.com/027/0/9375780/il_570xN.587409445_db5x.jpg