Postpartum Care: A Guide to Taking Care of a Body That Just Delivered

Medically reviewed by Cordelia Nwankwo, MD

The postpartum period, the time after giving birth, is a crucial time for recovery and the long-term health of the parent and baby. It's also a time of intense physical and emotional changes.

It is normal and expected to experience several physical symptoms like swelling, cramping, breast tenderness, constipation, and leaking milk. It is also common to experience emotional changes like feeling sad and overwhelmed.

This article discusses postpartum care, what to expect, and how to care for yourself. 

Postpartum Care: Instructions for the First 24 Hours

The first 24 hours after birth can feel like a whirlwind. Your focus is both on healing physically and caring for your newborn.

Physical symptoms you may experience in the first 24 hours include:

• Perineum soreness: If you had a vaginal birth, the area between the vagina and the rectum may feel sore or painful. This is because of stretching or tearing during labor and delivery.

• C-section pain: If you had a surgical deliver known as a cesarean section (C-section), you may feel exhausted and pain around your incision. Rest is crucial.

• Afterbirth pains: After giving birth, your uterus will begin to shrink back to its original size, which may cause abdominal cramping.

• Vaginal discharge: Vaginal bleeding after delivery is expected. However, call your provider if you have heavy, bright red bleeding or are passing golf ball–sized blood clots.

• Breast engorgement: This occurs when the breasts fill with milk a few days after delivery.

• Swelling: Pregnancy causes water retention in the body, especially the hands, feet, and face. It may also be a sign of preeclampsia and should be discussed with a medical provider.

• Constipation: It may feel difficult to have a bowel movement after giving birth.

• Pain with urination: If you had vaginal tearing with birth, you may experience pain or burning with urination, leaking, and incontinence.

• Fatigue: Your body will feel tired from the exertion of childbirth, blood loss, and a lack of sleep.

It's common to feel overwhelmed and exhausted or down and sad. The "baby blues" are typical feelings that come after having a baby and are typical for up to two weeks.

Postpartum Care in Days and Weeks After Birth

The days and weeks after giving birth can be emotional. You will likely not feel like yourself because of your physical recovery, changing hormone levels, and caring for a newborn.

It is important to see your healthcare provider during the postpartum period. Your provider can help keep you and your newborn healthy.

Healing From Birth

Giving birth is physically exhausting and requires time to heal. There are many symptoms you might feel during the postpartum period. Fortunately, there are ways to help relieve them.

Sleep

Postpartum sleep can be challenging. You will likely feel tired in the weeks and months after giving birth. To help your body heal, focus on resting as much as possible. Sleep when your baby sleeps. Consider limiting visitors to help you catch up on rest. If some of your loved ones have offered to help you, ask them to take over household chores so you can use that time to rest.

Mental Health

It's common to feel sad, anxious, or irritable for up to two weeks after giving birth. When frequent feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, or anger last longer than two weeks, you may have postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 8 people in the postpartum period. Symptoms may include:

• Feeling angry, sad, hopeless, guilty, or worthless much of the time

• Eating more or less than usual

• Sleeping more or less than usual

• Crying frequently

• Losing interest in favorite activities

• Withdrawing from friends and family

• Having thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby

If you are concerned about your mood, talk with your healthcare provider right away. Fortunately, postpartum depression is treatable with therapy support groups, medication, and support. Other measures that may help include:

• Rest as much as possible.

• Ask for help.

• Make time to see friends and family.

• Share your experience with fellow parents or a support group.

• Avoid making significant life changes.
  

Learn More: How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last (And Can You Shorten It)?

Contraception

It may seem too soon to start thinking about future pregnancies, but it is important to have a contraception plan when you are postpartum. Most healthcare providers recommend abstaining from sex for about four to six weeks after giving birth. This is how long it usually takes to heal.

Once you are ready to have sex again, talk with your provider about a contraception plan. You may consider barrier methods like condoms and diaphragms or hormonal methods like pills, patches, intrauterine devices (IUDs), or shots. 

Coping Through Postpartum Changes

The postpartum period brings countless changes. It may be helpful to make a plan for changes in this new chapter of life.

Physical and Self-Esteem

The physical exertion of childbirth, lack of sleep, and other factors may make you uncomfortable. Focus on rest and recovery. Caring for a newborn requires a lot of time, but aim to eat, sleep, and shower daily.

Plan to wear a sanitary pad in the days and weeks after birth due to vaginal bleeding. Drink plenty of water, and add healthy, fresh foods to your meals when possible.

Talk with your healthcare provider about an exercise plan. There are several benefits to working out in the postpartum period, including increased energy, better sleep, stress relief, and stronger muscles. Start slow, taking 10-minute walks, and work up from there. 

Adjusting to Parenthood

Adjusting to life as a new parent (or a parent with another child) takes time. Try to focus on small things that help you feel like yourself. Sleep whenever you can, and spend time resting throughout the day. Talk to your partner, friends, or loved ones about how they can support you.

It's normal to not feel like yourself at first or to feel sad and overwhelmed in the postpartum period. If you find yourself feeling this way for more than two weeks, speak to your healthcare provider because you could be experiencing postpartum depression.

Feeding

Learning how to feed your newborn takes time and may be challenging. If you are using formula to feed your baby, discuss recommendations with your child’s pediatrician.

If breastfeeding, seek support from a lactation consultant, midwife, or healthcare provider. They can help with any breastfeeding challenges or questions. It's important for people who breastfeed to drink water throughout the day and consume an extra 500 calories daily.

When your milk first comes in, it may cause engorgement when the breasts fill with milk and feel full and tender. Frequent feedings, breast massage, and warm showers can help. See your healthcare provider if you develop a fever or chills while breastfeeding. Mastitis is a common infection in breastfeeding people and can be treated with antibiotics.

Going Back to Work

Going back to work is an emotional experience after having a baby. If possible, start planning your return to work while pregnant. Talk with your employer about any accommodations you may need, like a flexible schedule or breaks to pump breast milk.

It is also important to develop a childcare plan ahead of time. Decide if you will need to hire a babysitter or nanny or take your baby to a daycare in a home or facility.

As your return to work gets closer, practice for the big day. It may help to have a morning in which you get ready as if for work and think through any possible issues that could come up. If you are planning to continue breastfeeding after going back to work, practice with the breast pump ahead of time.

When you return to work, remember it’s normal to feel different. You have undergone changes. Try to be patient with yourself and those around you. This is a big transition, and it will take time. 

Postpartum Follow-Up

It is important to continue seeing your healthcare provider after giving birth. Healthcare providers recommend checking in within three weeks of giving birth and seeing them for a visit within 12 weeks. Most people see their providers about six weeks after giving birth. About 40% of people do not attend their postpartum visit.

During your follow-up visit, your provider will ask about your physical and emotional health. They will talk with you about your mood and any symptoms you are experiencing. Your provider will likely examine your incisions if you have them and will perform a pelvic exam to determine if you have healed from birth. Talk with your provider about any concerns you have.

Resources and Support

Everyone needs support during the postpartum period. If you have friends and family members offering to help, take them up on it. If you do not have people in your life to help you, there are still resources available. These resources include:

• Postpartum: The Birth Injury Center, Centering Pregnancy/Parenting

• Breastfeeding: La Leche League, American Academy of Family Physicians

• Mental health: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (phone or text 988), National Domestic Violence Hotline, Live Another Day

• Healthy food: Women Infant Children, Cooking Matters

• Affordable housing: Volunteers of America, Catholic Charities 
  

Explainer

If a loved one recently gave birth, you may wonder how best to support them. Ways to show support include:

• Listening to their concerns

• Learning the signs of postpartum depression

• Providing rides to medical appointments

• Offering to help care for the baby

• Assisting with daily chores

Summary

The postpartum period is an intense time of life. You will likely experience several changes, both physical and emotional. It is important to focus on your health and well-being in addition to your newborn.

It is normal and expected to experience several physical symptoms like swelling, cramping, breast tenderness, constipation, and leaking milk. Emotional changes like feeling sad and overwhelmed are common, too. There are resources available to help you during the postpartum period.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.