Postpartum is the period after delivery. It is the time you have been looking for so long. Your mini-you is now a part of the outer world after months of nursing in your womb and lengthy hours of labor. 

Congratulations!

You have just accomplished something extraordinary and lovely. As you transition from pregnancy to postpartum, you’ll probably feel worn out, sore, and anxious. 

But what can you expect after giving birth? Read this blog to learn everything about what happens during postpartum.

Timeline for Postpartum Recovery

In the days and weeks after giving birth, your body and emotions will undergo many changes. 

Here are some significant events to be aware of soon following childbirth and postpartum recovery.

How long does the Postpartum Period longs?

The postpartum recovery time is about the first six weeks following childbirth, regardless of how you delivered your kid.

This does not imply that you will miraculously recover to your pre-Baby shape at six weeks. Instead, postpartum healing—the body postpartum recovery or the physical recovery of your body following childbirth—is what is meant.

How much time does it take for recovery during postpartum?

Your uterus will be back to the standard size, your vaginal, perineum or C-section incision will heal during the six-week.

You’ll undergo many changes in the first few weeks, including new degrees of fatigue and hormonal changes. After the initial six weeks of recovery, you will likely continue to experience changes in your body and emotions for a few weeks.

How your body will feel and change after giving delivery is referred to as your postpartum body.

Hormone changes after birth

Your body uses hormones as chemical messengers to instruct it on what to do and when. The hormones in your baby are altered during pregnancy to promote your unborn child’s development and prepare your body for labor. 

Your hormones are now on a new mission to aid in your recovery, foster a bond with your newborn, and if you so want, aid in breastfeeding.

The initial hormonal changes following delivery that your body will experience are:

• As soon as your baby and placenta are delivered, your levels of estrogen and progesterone fall.
• The bonding hormone oxytocin increases and plays a part in the powerful maternal instinct you’ll experience.
• For signaling the production of milk, prolactin levels rise.

Vaginal discharge and bleeding

You may experience mild vaginal bleeding and discharge or Lochia when your uterus sheds the thick lining maintained throughout your pregnancy. 

Even after a cesarean (C-section), bleeding and discharge are common. The color of Lochia will initially be bright red for one or two days before fading over time to pink, light pink, light brown, or light yellow. 

After having your baby, bleeding and discharge will be at their heaviest for the first few days before becoming lighter. 

Lochia typically lasts 4-6 weeks, with discharge gradually getting smaller.

What level of bleeding is excessive during postpartum?

Early on, you could feel like you’re bleeding profusely, much as during a hefty period. While this is quite natural, there are a few warning signals to look out for.

Call the nurse line or your care provider immediately if you’re using one pad each hour for more than two hours.  Additionally, notify your healthcare physician if you continue to pass blood clots or have a bloody discharge for longer than four weeks.

Increased bleeding after your Lochia begins to shrink may indicate that you need to make it more accessible and get more rest. 

If you continue to experience clots, it may mean that your uterus has problems expanding to its pre-pregnancy size. It’s always advisable to call in either scenario.

First period after giving birth

Getting your first period after giving birth might depend on several circumstances. 

One of the critical elements is whether you decide to nurse your child and whether your milk serves as their sole source of nutrition. Usually, those who choose not to breastfeed should anticipate that their period will return between four weeks and three months after giving birth, sooner than those who do. 

Some breastfeeding women may experience their period during that postpartum, but many may not until they’ve started to wean or have ceased breastfeeding totally.

Perineal pain pregnancy

Due to the strain of labor, both your vagina and your perineum (the region between your vagina and rectum) will feel highly uncomfortable and sore.

It will generally take you a few weeks to recover from giving birth vaginally, especially if your perineum tore or you underwent an episiotomy. Even if you didn’t push or labor but ultimately delivered through C-section, you’ll probably still feel pain.

What you can do to alleviate postpartum vaginal pain and encourage healing is covered in the “Postpartum basics” section that follows.

Postpartum Discomfort (contractions)

Although contractions, often known as after-birth pains, may occasionally be difficult, they are in no way comparable to labor pains. 

Contraception after birth indicates a positive thing. After-birth contractions aid in the uterine bleeding reduction and uterus reduction to pre-baby size.

If you breastfeed, you might experience after-birth discomfort the most. This is due to the hormone oxytocin released by nursing and produces uterine contractions.

Swollen Breasts

Since the beginning of your pregnancy, your breasts have changed. Your breasts will begin to fill with milk around the third or fourth day after giving birth, which will be the following significant change you’ll notice.  Your breasts can engorge and feel stiff, puffy, and sore.

It doesn’t matter if you decide to breastfeed; the first tightness and pain will disappear. 

However, if you choose to breastfeed, your breasts will often feel satisfied before feeding or pumping sessions. And if your next session is a little delayed, you might feel that tender, heavy feeling more intensely.

Cracked or Sore Nipples

As the blood flow increases during pregnancy, you’ve probably been noticing some soreness in your nipples for a while. 

The blood flow, however, reaches a new peak in the first few days after giving birth, making them more sensitive. Naturally, it will also have an effect if you decide to nurse.

Feeling discomfort is normal as your baby learns to correctly latch on to your breast. But that ought to stop once the baby learns to latch properly. Being uncomfortable when your baby settles into a routine is natural, but experiencing persistent agony while you feed your baby is not.

A lactation consultant can be quite helpful if you discover that you are having difficulties breastfeeding and can request one directly in the hospital.

Aching Muscles

It’s natural to experience some muscular discomfort throughout your body after giving birth because you’ve just performed the most challenging workout imaginable. 

Additionally, you can experience the effects of your labor for a few days.

Anywhere you held a lot of strain during birth, such as in your arms, neck, or jaw, should feel particularly sore.

Tiredness

Another very typical postpartum sensation is tiredness and fatigue. Again, it’s critical to get the rest you require because your body has recently undergone (and is still undergoing) a lot.

Many healthcare professionals advise sleeping whenever your infant does. Your well-being and that of your infant are of utmost importance. 

Over time, eating well and drinking plenty of water will also aid energy restoration and maintenance. Many people experience postpartum night sweats as a result of shifting hormone levels. They may be uncomfortable, but they are nothing to be concerned about. 

Just be sure to drink enough water and make an effort to maintain your calm. In a few weeks, night sweats should stop.

Lower abdomen ache at the site of your incision and nearby (if you had a C-section)

You will have discomfort and tenderness around and around your incision after a C-section, especially during the initial days and weeks of recovery.

Recovery Period After C-section

A C-section birth typically results in a slower postpartum recovery than a vaginal birth.  You’ll probably spend an additional day in the hospital, and you’ll be limited in how much you can bend and lift. 

In addition, you can be given a prescription for painkillers for one to two weeks after delivery.

You’ll be given comprehensive instructions on taking care of your incision and encouraging healing before you leave for home.  After giving birth, your incision should be healed in around six weeks.

Taking care of your C section scar

Be as gentle as you can while keeping your C section incision clean and dry having a healthy c section incision. 

This could imply:

• Use mild soap to wash your incision once or twice each day gently.
• Use a fresh towel to absorb any excess water, followed by complete air drying, replacing the gauze every day or if it becomes wet.

Keep in touch with your doctor during postpartum and let them know if you experience any infected c section scar.

How a Pregnancy Might Affect your Emotions, Attitude, and Mood

A new baby can bring with it a wide range of emotions. It will undoubtedly be lovely and thrilling, but it will also place new demands on your time, energy, and resources. 

Baby blues are highly likely to strike you at some point.

It might be unexpected and perplexing to have bursts of melancholy, worry, or impatience after the joy and beauty of childbirth. But it is incredibly natural.

In fact, during their first few days with their kid, over 80% of new mothers go through various emotions or mood swings. The baby blues are what cause this. You can have insomnia or periods of overload due to the baby blues. 

However, they typically disappear on their own after two weeks.

Being incredibly gentle to oneself at this time is crucial. Discussing your feelings with your partner or close friends might be beneficial. Inform them of your emotions so they can offer you support and a way out.

Call your healthcare practitioner if your baby blues linger longer than two weeks or if your symptoms worsen. There’s a chance that you have postpartum depression.

Your desire for sex can declines during postpartum

After giving birth, there are several reasons you might not feel like having an intimate relationship with your partner.  You’re worn out from putting so much time and effort into being an excellent parent. Your body can still be recovering or going through hormonal changes.

Discussing your sentiments with your partner can assist them in comprehending what you’re going through. 

Setting realistic expectations for yourself and your partner requires understanding when sex is deemed safe once more.

When should you start having sex after childbirth?

Around six weeks of giving birth, you can usually start having sex if you feel comfortable and your healthcare physician approves. 

Remember that hormonal changes, especially if you’re breastfeeding, might make your vagina feel dry and sore. 

A personal lubricant can be used to relieve discomfort. Even if you’re breastfeeding and haven’t yet noticed your period, it is still possible to become pregnant during the postpartum time. 

After delivery, it might be difficult to predict when ovulation will occur again, so wear protection. Birth control choices might be discussed at your postpartum checkup.

Your partnership with your partner may change

Although you and your spouse are generally aware that having a baby will impact your relationship, it could still be unexpected. It’s entirely typical. It will take some adjusting to the fact that your lives are now very different. 

Your best tool for adjusting to your new life as a parent will be open and honest communication.

Wan to read more? Click here.

The post Postpartum and Recovery first appeared on Women Life Blog.