Postpartum Week One

Morning sickness, stretch marks, hormonal changes and uterine growth all occur during pregnancy. It’s safe to say that pregnancy brings about an abundance of changes in a woman’s body. However, changes within a woman’s body do not stop once pregnancy is over and delivery has occurred. New mothers experience a wide variety of postpartum changes as well, varying from swollen breasts to postpartum depression.

There are a variety of physical changes taking place within your body during this first postpartum week.

• Contractions: Many women feel contractions, or afterpains, for several days beyond delivery as the uterus goes back to its pre-pregnant shape and size.
• Vaginal Soreness: If you had a vaginal delivery, the vaginal area is likely to be tender. Walking and sitting are likely to be uncomfortable and urination may sting. It is important to keep the vaginal area clean by using a squirt bottle filled with warm water. Ice packs, sitz baths, topical pain sprays and witch hazel pads can help relieve pain.
• Abdominal Incision Soreness: If you had a cesarean section, the incision site will be tender for several weeks as it continues to heal. Report any odor, bleeding or severe pain to your healthcare provider.
• Vaginal Discharge: All women experience lochia for approximately six weeks after delivery. The first few days after birth discharge will be bright red and heavy. Blood clots are common, but you should notify your caregiver if you experience clots that are larger than a golf ball or if a sanitary pad becomes soaked within one hour.
• Engorged Breasts: As your milk comes in, whether you’re breastfeeding or not, the breasts will feel heavy and tender. If you are breastfeeding, nurse your baby often and use a breast pump to express any remaining milk after a feeding. Ice packs may offer additional relief for the pain. If you are not planning on breastfeeding, avoid any type of breast stimulation. Because expressing milk encourages your body to produce more milk, do not pump milk or manually express the milk.
• Bowel Movements: Many women find the first bowel movement after giving birth to be uncomfortable. It is common to go 3-4 days without having a bowel movement after delivery because of the internal changes taking place during this time.

In addition to physical changes taking place, emotional changes are also occurring as hormone levels continue to change.

• Mood Swings: Motherhood brings on a variety of demands. With little sleep and unbalanced hormone levels, mood swings are common. You may find that you burst out crying for no apparent reason. Rest as often as possible and know that this too, shall pass.
• Baby Blues: Many women experience a feeling of being sad during the first few weeks postpartum. You might be overwhelmed with the daily care of your baby, disappointed in the appearance of your body or frustrated with the increased demands around the home. Notify your doctor if you feel depressed or if you are not interested in caring for your newborn, as this could lead to postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis.

More comments: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next More sections: All sections Trying to conceive Pregnancy & Birth Birth defects Babies