Postpartum Care & Recovery
Bringing a new life into the world is a momentous event. However, childbirth can also be a difficult experience for both mothers and babies. The key to a healthy recovery and postpartum experience is to give yourself and your new baby time and patience to get oriented.
What to Expect As You Recover
Whether you give birth vaginally or have a cesarean section, your body is likely to go through a significant and painful experience. For some women, the healing process can take months. Try not to feel discouraged if you don’t bounce back as quickly as you had hoped. During recovery, you may experience the following:
- Abdominal pain as your uterus shrinks
- Difficulty and/or infrequency in passing stool
- Hemorrhoids that developed during pregnancy or delivery
- Mild depression, otherwise known as the baby blues
- Mood swings due to hormonal changes
- Sore breasts and nipples if you choose to breastfeed your baby
- Soreness in the perineum, or the area between your vagina and anus
- Vaginal bleeding, which can last up to six weeks after childbirth
Should you navigate these common postnatal experiences, it's very important to drink lots of water, eat nutrient-rich foods, and rest as much as possible. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Blurred vision
- Changing your sanitary pad more than once an hour
- Intense leg pain and/or swelling
- Severe headaches
- Sudden weight gain
These symptoms are more serious and may require medical attention to address problems such as deep vein thrombosis, postpartum hemorrhage or other problems.
Keeping Mom and Baby Clean
Personal hygiene is important for you and your baby in the days and weeks following childbirth. Feel free to bathe, shower as usual, and make the experience as relaxing as possible. As a new mom, this is a good and much-needed time to recharge.
When bathing your baby, keep in mind that newborns do not need a daily bath. Three baths per week during the first year of life is enough to keep your baby clean without drying out their skin. Give your baby sponge baths only until the umbilical cord stump falls off, which typically happens within the first two weeks of age.
After that, bathe your baby briefly in a sink lined with a fresh towel or an infant tub recommended. Ensure the water is warm but not too hot, and never leave your baby unsupervised, not even for a second.
Postpartum Care Support at Riverside Healthcare
If you need postpartum care and support or have more questions about what to expect after giving birth, find an OB/GYN physician online or call (815) 935-4651 to speak with a member of our staff.
