The period after you’ve given birth to your little one is the most crucial one. The stage of postpartum starts with “The Golden Hour”- the much-awaited beauty of bonding and connection. But this phase of your life doesn’t end there.
Childbirth or postpartum comes with a lot of challenges. You’re entering the world of motherhood, after all.
Your body as well as your mind is going to take some time to adjust. At the same time, you’ll enjoy taking care of your baby.
If you want to find out what they are, here are the first 30 days’ guidelines divided week-wise for you.
The First Week of Postpartum
During your pregnancy, you thought that you’d get relief from all your pains after your baby is born. But that’s only half-truth. In the first week, after your childbirth, while you’re nuzzling, cuddling, pampering, and breastfeeding your newborn, your hormones are in constant flux. At this stage, your organs are trying to go back to the pre-pregnancy position. All you need to do is bear with the changes.
You’ll Lose Weight
It’s a no-brainer that you’ll still look pregnant, and heavy. During your pregnancy, it’s not just the weight of your baby that adds to your pregnancy weight. Pregnancy hormones, amniotic fluid, placenta, diet, and limited physical activity also play a big role. After pregnancy, you may lose 10 to 15 pounds, immediately. But that’s not all! Postpartum weight loss will take place slowly and most healthily. While the uterus takes its own time to go back to its usual size, you’ll continue to lose excess fluid over the next few weeks.
Tips to Manage Postpartum Weight Gain
Breastfeeding can surely help with your postpartum weight management, but a healthy diet along with regular physical activities is also a good way to shed your pounds.
Uterine Contractions
The uterus weighed around 2.5 pounds during pregnancy but shrinks back down to 2 ounces by 6 weeks. Thanks to your changing hormones, vaginal bleeding, and breastfeeding sessions. These contractions (also known as afterpains) are going to be intense for two or three days after the delivery and may resemble menstrual cramps.
Tips to Manage Uterine Contractions
You can surely get pain-relief medicines from your healthcare provider to reduce your afterbirth pains.
Practising some breathing techniques, walking gently, and putting hot and cold compressing near the pelvis can also be helpful.
Vaginal Bleeding or Lochia
After the birth of your baby (vaginal or c-section), you’ll experience postpartum – vaginal bleeding or lochia. There are chances that you’ll bleed through the first week of your postpartum. You can expect heavy bleeding at this stage. The blood should be bright red, as this is a combination of tissue, and mucus in it. Over time, the discharge may be watery or pinkish.
Tips to Manage Vaginal Bleeding or Lochia
Wear sanitary pads to deal with postpartum bleeding or lochia. If the bleeding is extensive, this could be a sign of postpartum haemorrhage. You might need hospitalisation or other medical help in this case.
Vaginal Tear or Soreness
At the time of your delivery, if you experienced vaginal tear. That means the wound is still there. It hurts, we know. It may take a long time for extensive tears to heal.
Tips to Manage Vaginal Tear or Soreness
You may sit in a warm bath, and apply an ice pack to the area. You might even have to consult your healthcare provider as he or she might give you pain relief medicines, along with a numbing spray or cream to soothe the area.
Breast Changes
Within a few days after the delivery of your baby, your breasts will feel full, tender, and sore. Something, which is also known as breast engorgement. This is mainly due to the declining hormones, after the placental delivery.
Tips for Breast Changes
Frequent feeding can reduce breast engorgement. In between your feeds, put cold washcloths on the breasts. You may alternately, consult the healthcare practitioner for a lotion or cream to soothe the area. You can alternatively get help to massage the breasts to reduce your discomfort.
A Feeling of Tiredness
You’re after all recovering from the nine months long pregnancy and childbirth. This is a huge transformation in your life. It’s no surprise that you’ll feel tired and sleep-deprived.
Tips to Deal With Your Postpartum Tiredness
Try to sleep when your baby is sleeping. Have a balanced diet inclusive of lean meat, whole grain bread, and pasta as well as fruits and vegetables. You can always get some help from your partner and the rest of the family members.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Due to the dramatic change in the hormones in the first week, and with the increase in milk supply feeling hot or getting night sweats is normal. With the increase in your feeding sessions, you might sweat more.
Tips to Deal With Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Try to avoid foods that will trigger hot flashes. Coffee or caffeinated drinks, and spicy, as well as hot foods are some of them. Drink enough water. Take rest whenever you can.
Postpartum Oedema (Swelling)
Your pregnancy hormones, preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension have given rise to pregnancy swelling or oedema. Having said that, in pregnancy, 50% more blood and fluids are required for the placental as well as the growth of the baby. The condition persists till such time that you have given to your baby. It even stays a week after childbirth. However, this condition gets better in the next few weeks.
Tips to Deal With Postpartum Swelling
Avoid standing for a very long time. While you’re sitting, remember not to keep your legs crossed, as the blood flow gets restricted. Wear comfy shoes (sneakers would be better), while you’re on your feet. You may wear loose-fitting clothes too. Stay hydrated.
Passing the First Bowel Movement After Childbirth
You might feel scared of passing the first stool right after childbirth. Holding waste inside can increase postpartum constipation and further worsen the risk of haemorrhoids (piles). Postpartum constipation, just like pregnancy constipation is a common medical condition.
Tips to Deal With Postpartum Constipation
You might need medicines as well as a stool softener.
Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression
Your bodily changes after childbirth, declining postpartum hormones (oestrogen and progesterone levels), rising prolactin and oxytocin levels, and continuous breastfeeding have left you tired, moody as well as depressed. It’s normal for you to feel depressed or feel the “baby blues”. Now may feel very happy, but the next moment you might feel overwhelmed. You might even feel irritable or discouraged.
Tips to Deal With Postpartum Depression
Have a balanced diet, get enough rest, and accept help from your family as well as friends. Along with this being physically active and talking to some of your favourite people can make you feel sorted.
C-section Scars and Incisions
As a result of C-section scars and incisions, in the first week of your childbirth, your movement may be difficult. You might even have trouble going in and out of your bed.
Tips to Deal With C-section Scars and Incisions
Just a little movement would avoid blood clots. While being in the hospital, you might be catheterised also for easy urination, and that needs to be removed.
The Second, Third, and Fourth Weeks of Postpartum
By the time you step into the second and third week of postpartum, you will start feeling a lot better. As vaginal bleeding overall may be lighter during this phase of your life. Thanks to your declining hormones. Vaginal tears (including muscle and skin) may also feel slightly itchy. Since you’ve already lost your water weight immediately after you’ve given birth, continuous breastfeeding in these weeks and the following weeks can return the uterus and pelvis in position.
Based on your breastfeeding, however, nipple sores may be common now. The problem may lie with your little one’s improper latching style. The nipples may hurt if the baby has thrush, or maybe tongue-tied. You might alternately need a lactation specialist’s help to deal with your breastfeeding challenges. If you had undergone baby blues or postpartum depression in the first-week post-childbirth, the symptoms may now seem to be fading away.
The C-section scars may feel itchy and the incision can be gently removed. Also, move gently to check whether you have narcotic pain. You can expect the narcotic pain to reduce.
The Fourth Week of Postpartum
Once you’ve reached the 4th-week mark of your postnatal stage, you’d feel like it was yesterday, that you had given birth. Remember, you are still in the stage of recovery, and trying to set a pattern for yourself. As it will take some time for you to get back to the new “normal.” You will still bleed, but it will be very light now. The c-section scar and pain will start healing and will be on the milder side.
You must have given birth vaginally, so it’s a very good time to include an exercise program in the postpartum regime. In case you’ve given birth via c-section, you’ll have to wait till you get an all-clear after you’ve been checked up by your healthcare practitioner. The doctor may advise you to include postpartum exercises in your regime. He or she will give you those activities that will boost your energy levels. Walking might help. Pushing the stroller might also create a difference. However, eat healthy, be physically active (try not to overdo it) limit visitors, and take power naps.
The postpartum journey is unique and varies from one new mom to another. Changes in your body’s shape, the curves, and the stretchmarks are all the hallmarks or rewards of motherhood. This is nothing more than a celebration. Enjoy it to the core!