Painful poops or swollen perineum?
Its all normal stuff after giving birth.
How long do postpartum symptoms last?
The first six weeks after birth is known as thepostpartum recovery period, also known as the fourth trimester.
Its when your body recoups from childbirth and revs up for breastfeeding.
Below are some of the most common symptoms as well as strategies for dealing with them.
Vaginal bleeding (lochia)
Postpartum bleedingis a normal part of the delivery process.
Be prepared to deal with light bleeding and spotting for up to six weeks.
It can be a sign of postpartum hemorrhage, a dangerous key in of bleeding.
These afterpains may be more noticeable when youre breastfeeding.
How to treat it:A heating pad placed on your abdomen can help soothe the discomfort.
Of course, if all you have is Tylenol, that can be helpful too.
When to get help:Pain or discomfort not letting up?
Time to make a call to your doctor.
Sore perineum
Pushing out a baby can really be apain in the perineum.
Thats the area between your vulva and anus, and it can swell or tear under pressure.
How to treat it:Keep the perineal area clean.
When to get help:Worsening pain, swelling and foul odor are signs of infection.
If this happens to you, call your doctor.
Trouble urinating
During your pregnancy, it’s likely that you made frequent bathroom runs.
Now, not so much.
In the first day or two after delivering, its not at all unusual to have somedifficulty urinating.
There are lots of reasons for this.
Maybe youre afraid to go because of the pain you anticipate, or youre dehydrated.
How to treat it:Drink plenty of fluids and go for a stroll.
you might also simply try turning on a water faucet while you’re trying to urinate.
You could have a UTI.
Constipation
Pooping problems?
It can take a few days for regular bowels movements to resume.
How to treat it:Your first post-birth BM can be a bit slow-coming.
In the meantimedon’t have a go at force things.
Drink fluids and eat fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies.
Go for walks and do Kegel exercises, avoid straining and use stool softeners.
When to get help:Still blocked up?
Ask your doctor about taking a laxative.
If you already havehemorrhoids, all that pressure can exacerbate the problem.
How to treat it:Take a warm sitz bath or try using topical anesthetics.
Cooling witch hazel pads or hot or cold compresses may provide some relief.
Sitting on an inflatable, donut-shaped cushion may ease the pressure on your achy bottom.
Talk to your doctor about taking a stool softener.
Fatigue
Having a baby is exhilarating and, quite frankly, exhausting.
It can take a while to get your groove back.
How to treat it:Share the load with your partner, family, friends or even hired help.
Don’t get too caught up in keeping your home immaculate, returning emails or writing thank you cards.
For now, just focus on the most important stuff.
Sleep when your baby sleeps.
And don’t forget to eat regularly!
Body aches
Delivering a child is like running a marathon with a sprint to the finish line.
Or maybe youre sore all over.
If you’ve never had a massage before, there’s never been a better time to book one.
These could be signs ofdeep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that can pose life-threatening consequences.
Your doctor will likely put you on a blood thinner.
Another plausible explanation: youre severely sleep-deprived!
How to treat it:Apply cold compresses to your eyes for 10 minutes a few times a day.
venture to sleep when you put the baby down for a nap.
When to seek help:Blurriness or loss of vision can bea sign of postpartum preeclampsia.
This rare but serious condition can occur in the days or weeks after childbirth.
Contact your doctor immediately if your eyesight isnt normal.
No wonder youre sweaty.
It may take several weeks for your sweaty situation to resolve.
It often begins one to six months after giving birth and usually resolves on its own after several weeks.
But some women go on to develop low hormone levels (hypothyroidism), requiring thyroid medication.
All of a sudden, your breasts are tender, swollen, sore and hard.
Breastfeeding your baby can take care of that!
Severebreast engorgementshould diminish within days.
If youre not breastfeeding, it can take a day or two for your swelling to subside.
How to treat it:Apply cold packs to relieve your discomfort.
If youre nursing, gently massage your breasts to get the milk flowing.
And ensure you’re wearing a well-fittingnursing bra.
When to get help:A lactation consultant can help guide you through any breastfeeding difficulties you might have.
Its often the result of poor positioning.
Breast engorgement can make it all the more difficult for your little one to latch on.
The irritation should ease with subsequent feedings.
It can take a couple days for your nipples to toughen up.
How to treat it:confirm your breasts are positioned the right way, and vary your nursing positions.
Expose your nipples to air briefly after breastfeeding.
Taking an over-the counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen before nursing may also help ease soreness.
When to get help:Cracked nipples can introduce germs that lead to mastitis.
This breast infection can cause fever, redness, and muscle and breast pain.
Call your doctor, who will likely prescribe an antibiotic to clear up the infection.
Back pain
Postpartum back painis one of those symptoms that can linger for weeks.
No wonder you’ve got a backache!
In either case, you may need an antibiotic.
In the meantime, expect your breasts to drip or spray.
Pumping wont solve the problem; if fact, it may stimulate your milk production, leading to moreleakage.
A lactation consultant can help you manage overactive let-down, also known as overactive milk ejection reflex.
Postpartum symptoms after a C-section
Youve made it through surgery and delivery.
Now comes the tough part: giving yourself time to heal while caring for your little one.
Plus, youll be tending to your surgical incision.
Pain or numbness around the C-section incision
Healing your abdominal incisiondoesnt happen overnight.
You may even have occasional twinges for months.
Some numbness and itching around the incision is also normal and will fade away over time.
How to treat it:Take prescribed pain relievers as directed.
If pain continues for weeks, try over-the-counter pain relief medications and discuss dosages with your doctor.
Avoid heavy lifting for the first few weeks after surgery.
Alert your doctor if this happens to you.
And this too shall pass, usually within a few weeks.
Many moms have been there before, and with help they got past their depression to truly enjoy parenting.
It’s crucial to your future and your family’s that you speak up.
But there are otherpostpartum warning signs and symptomsthat you should know about, just in case.
If youre concerned about any symptom you may be having, don’t be afraid to speak up.
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