Postpartum Challenges That Every New Mother May Face

Are You Feeling A Little Blue As A New Mother?

Are you feeling overwhelmed as a new mother? You are adapting to this new rollercoaster ride of lots of physical and emotional changes. To come to your pre-pregnant state you will take around 6 to 8 weeks. During this period, you along with your partner adjust to your new responsibility of raising a newborn.

Lack Of Awareness

A lack of knowledge or understanding is common after giving birth, which can lead to confusion between normal recovery and potential health complications. If you give birth in a hospital, your medical team may not identify risk factors for serious postpartum issues before you are sent home. Additionally, many mothers do not see a healthcare provider until weeks after giving birth, and a significant number do not attend any postpartum appointments due to limited resources, resulting in little guidance for their recovery.

What Changes Occur In Your Body After Delivery?

The following changes can happen in the body after delivery:

1. Vaginal Discharge (Lochia)

After vaginal discharge, you will observe a stale, musty discharge from the vagina. It is known as lochia. For the first three days after delivery, it is dark red. After that till the tenth day after delivery, the consistency of the lochia is watery. Furthermore, from the seventh or tenth to the fourteenth day after delivery, the lochia will be yellowish with a creamy consistency.

Generally, the lochia is different for women who had a vaginal and caesarean delivery. For mothers who had caesarean, the lochia may reduce after 24 hours of delivery. this bleeding will usually stop by 4 to 6 weeks after delivery. Using tampons, and pads can keep the vaginal area hygienic.

2. Breast Discharge

When you start breastfeeding, you will observe leaking from the breast initially. Breast discharge is usually stopped one to two weeks after delivery. Wearing breast pads can help you to keep yourself dry.

3. Breast Engorgement

On initial days, milk is produced quite more rapidly than your baby can take. This situation might lead to breast engorgement. You may feel your breast hard, heavy, and warm. To avoid the condition, you need to feed your baby frequently along with the extraction of remaining milk by expressing. To soothe the pain, you can have warm showers. You can also apply ice packs, take anti-inflammatory, express the remaining milk after each feeding session, and wear a supportive bra.

4. Incision Drainage

Incisional drainage is observed in mothers with c-sections. This discharge is usually pink and watery incision. You must keep the incision dry and clean. To keep it clean, you can wash the incision with soap and warm water.

5. Perineum Discomfort

The area between the vagina and rectum is known as the perineum. In vaginal birth the perineum gets stretched and tears. Additionally, it gets tender or sore. By doing Kegel exercise, cold compression, and a warm bath, you can subside perineum discomfort.2 Perform this perineal care or treatment for one week after delivery.

6. Uterine Contractions

The uterus starts to take its original shape after you gave birth. At first, the upper portion of the uterus, the fundus, is at the level of your naval within a few hours after birth. After staying for a day at the naval level, it starts to descend as days pass by. Breastfeeding is kind of accelerates uterine contractions. It will take around six weeks for the uterus to return to its original shape. During this process, uterine contractions can lead to cramps and pain.

7. Urination Contractions and Incontinence

After delivery, you may experience discomfort while passing urine which will subside as the days progress. Additionally, you may also feel leakage of urine after delivery. you may experience this while coughing, laughing, etc. To improve the situation, you can practice Kegel exercises.

8. Constipation

After delivery, you may pass your first stool after 3 to 4 days. To get relief from constipation, you may consume whole grains, vegetables, and fruits to improve bowel movements. Along with this, you must drink 10 to 12 glasses of water.

9. Increased Sweating

You will observe increased sweating, especially at night, during the first few weeks after delivery. this occurs due to changes in hormones. To avoid this situation, you can increase the intake of water during the day.1 As most of these complications will take 4 to 6 weeks to subside, the only key to tackling them is to get proper rest, consume healthy food, and have plenty of water. However, you must seek medical advice if you observe the following things:

• Vaginal discharge with a foul smell
• Fever above 100.4 degrees with severe chills
• Pain or discomfort while urinating
• Passing large blood clots
• Bright red blood discharge even beyond the third day of delivery
• Severe cramping
• Severe headache
• Pain at the operated site
• Heavy bleeding
• Warm or sore breast
• Signs of postpartum depression

Risk Factors Related To Postpartum Complications

While the likelihood of pregnancy-related death is generally low, women who have pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, obesity, or hypertension are at a higher risk of experiencing severe complications during or after childbirth that could be life-threatening. Therefore, if you have any of these risk factors, it is especially important to closely monitor your health during the postpartum period.

Giving birth is an overwhelming experience for both men and women. Further, it is a life-changing experience for women. Their body changes drastically. They put up with lots of changes both physically and emotionally. Knowing what days are holding ahead after delivery, can be quite helpful. You, as a new mother, must get as much as help you required and ease out the afterbirth journey.

Prevention Tips

To prepare for pregnancy, maintain a healthy diet, weight, and mental well-being, avoid tobacco, and limit alcohol intake. Seeking preconception health care can also assist in optimal health before conceiving.

During pregnancy, begin prenatal care promptly and inform your healthcare provider of any past or present health conditions. Discuss any medications you are taking and consider adjustments if necessary.

Follow up with postpartum care after pregnancy, reporting physical and emotional symptoms to your provider. You may need to consult with multiple healthcare providers for comprehensive postpartum care.

Conclusion

Adjusting to life after childbirth can be overwhelming due to the myriad of changes and potential complications. It is crucial for new mothers to understand the normal recovery process, recognize signs of complications, and engage in preventive care before, during, and after pregnancy. With the right knowledge and support, mothers can navigate the postpartum period more confidently and ensure a healthier recovery for both themselves and their newborns.