 After pains
These cramps occur as the uterus shrinks back down. Massage your belly, use a hot-water bottle and empty your bladder often.
 Breast tenderness
If your breasts become painful, hard, and tight when your milk comes in, nurse often and use cold compresses between feedings. If you aren’t nursing, apply ice packs and don’t express any milk. In either case, the condition should improve in 24 to 48 hours.
 Constipation
Your bowels may be sluggish at first. Drink lots of fluids, eat a fiber-rich diet, and get some gentle exercise.
 Fatigue
Sleep whenever you can and eat foods rich in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins C and B-complex to fight fatigue.
 Hair loss
The drop in estrogen levels after delivery may cause your hair to shed. After six months or so, when hormone levels are steady, so will your hair growth.
 Hemorrhoids
These inflamed rectal veins can result from the strain of pushing during delivery. They’ll improve in a few weeks and are soothed by cold witch hazel compresses.
 Lochia
This discharge lasts for three to six weeks after delivery as your uterus sheds its lining. At first it will be heavy and bright red, then lighten in amount and colour. Absorb it with sanitary pads. |
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 Perineal pain
The skin and muscles between your vagina and rectum may be tender from an episiotomy, tearing, or stretching. Reduce the initial swelling with ice packs, then try sitz baths, or warm compresses. To prevent infection, dry the area well after bathing and using the toilet.
 Urinary problems
If urinating is difficult, drink lots of liquids and run the bathroom tap to help get a flow started. If incontinence is a problem, empty your bladder often and do Kegel exercises (repeatedly tightening the muscles that control urine flow).
 C-Section Considerations
After a c-section, you’re recovering not only from birth but from major surgery too. You’ll need extra help for a few weeks, and it may take months to regain your strength and stamina. Having a cesarean brings its own problems after birth:
 Abdominal pain
Most women find pain medication helpful. Also try an elastic abdominal binder or hold a pillow against the incision when coughing or sneezing.
 Incision care
Keep the incision clean and dry, and expose it to air often. Limit stair climbing, and don’t lift heavy objects.
 Bladder sensitivity
Your bladder was manually separated from the uterus during surgery. As a result, you may experience pressure and uncomfortable urination for a week or so afterward.
 Gas
The shock of abdominal surgery causes normal intestinal activity to stop. Many women experience uncomfortable gas pains till the third day after a c-section, when the intestinal tract starts working again. Taking short walks, and rocking in a chair with your baby will get your system moving again and help disperse trapped gas. |
