As you welcome the newest member of the family, it is a time for jubilation for both the parents especially the mother. While the arrival of the baby, mothers too face a lot of after-birth problems. If you have gone under the knife or a c-section, then your stitches might be aching for a few weeks. If however, you have gone through vaginal delivery then you may not require any medications. But giving birth vaginally does not mean that you are completely back to normal. In both cases, in order to heal your body, you as a mother will require everything extra: extra sleep, extra nutrition, and extra rest.
Here are some of the problems mothers face after childbirth and how they can fix it.
Vaginal Bleeding and Soreness
While giving birth vaginally or natural birth, the area between your vagina and rectum may stretch and tear leading to hurt and discomfort. In case you have an episiotomy, (where the doctor makes a small cut to widen the vagina to help your baby come out)the postpartum pain may be a lot worse. If you are going through a lot of discomforts here are a few ways you can relieve the soreness:
Try placing an ice pack or cold pack on the area to ease the pain and swelling.
You can try sitting on a soft cushion or a soft pillow instead of any hard surface.
Use a squirt bottle with warm water to keep the area clean while you pee. When you have to poop, press a clean pad or washcloth against the sore area, and wipe from front to back. That will ease pain and help you avoid infection.
Vaginal discharge
Post-childbirth it is common to have vaginal discharge for several weeks. This happens because your body is getting rid of the extra tissue and blood inside of your uterus that nourished your baby during pregnancy. During the first few days, you will notice bright red blood which will gradually lessen. You will then notice over time that it will turn pinkish to brownish, to then yellow or creamy before disappearing totally.
Constipation
This is another problem that moms face after childbirth. This is one of the side effects of all the pain medications that you got during delivery. If you had a C-section then you may find a little discomfort while pooping. Your stitches may become sore while you put pressure leading to pain. In case you have an episiotomy, you may have a problem pooping as you might think that you will damage your stitches.
To tackle the problem of constipation, it is best if you drink a lot of water and eat foods with a lot of fiber content. In case you are eating a lot of fiber and still, you are having problems pooping then ask your doctor if he can recommend any stool softeners.
In some cases, you might have the opposite problem. The muscle and tissue in your rectum get stretched and torn during childbirth. This may lead to leakage of gas and poop. Hemorrhoids that come out of your anal opening also make it easier for your poop to escape. If you are going through these problems then worry not as it will get better within a few months after delivery. Eating a healthy diet with lots of fiber can help. However, if you have diarrhea and have trouble pooping then it is best to consult your doctor to prescribe some medicines.
Trouble Peeing
This happens mostly with vaginal deliveries and not C-section deliveries. Vaginal delivery stretches out your bladder and can cause muscle damage for a brief period of time. This can make your time peeing a little bit problematic even when you feel the urge.
In order to relieve this, you can try pouring water over your genitals while you pee to reduce the stinging feeling you feel while peeing. You may also notice that you leak a little every time you cough or laugh. Do not worry as this will subside on its own.
Breast Engorgement and Sore Nipples
As soon as you deliver your child, your body produces a nutrient-rich substance called Colostrum which is helpful in boosting your baby’s immune system. Colostrums continue for 3 to 4 days post delivery and after that, your body starts producing milk. It is during this time that your breasts will start swelling up and will become rock hard as they will be filling up with milk. This is when you will have breast engorgement.
Ways to reduce Breast engorgement and sore nipples
If you are breastfeeding your child then the swelling will subside provided you properly latch your baby onto the breast. If the latching process is incorrect and your baby is not able to suck the milk properly, it will lead to more swelling. In case you are having difficulty latching, then try to pump or express out your milk through breast pumping machines and feed the baby through a spoon. Do not feed the baby with a feeding bottle as your baby will get used to it and will not suck on your breast anymore.
In case you have problems nursing and are bottle feeding your baby then avoid rubbing your breasts as this will cause them to make more milk. You may also experience that your milk is leaking for several weeks even if you are not breastfeeding.
You can try putting a warm washcloth on your beast to ease the swelling and engorgement.
Your baby will keep sucking on your breast over and over again during the first few days of his life. This continuous friction may cause sore nipples which can be quite painful. To ease sore nipples try putting a little bit of your breast milk on the nipples after your baby finishes sucking. Allow your nipples to get some air in between feedings and let them open while putting on the bra. If you still find that it’s not helping then consult your doctor to prescribe any nipple soreness cream or medicines.
Severe Cramps during Breastfeeding
I remember getting severe menstrual-like cramps when I would breastfeed my baby. Though not everyone has these cramps yet many women get them after delivery. It is said that for first-time moms these after-birth cramps are usually mild, and it is only after your second or third baby that you may experience more intense menstrual-like cramps while breastfeeding.
During delivery, your uterus muscles stretch and with each pregnancy, the muscles stretch more and more. When you are breastfeeding, your nipple gets stimulated which causes a hormone known as oxytocin to be released into your bloodstream. It is this hormone that causes the contraction of all the smooth muscles and helps your uterus contract back to its pre-pregnancy shape and size. These contractions are also responsible for reducing postpartum blood loss. So even though you may be in pain and uncomfortable you must realize that these cramps are actually helping your body to heal.
For me, the pain was too much to bear so I had to ask for pain medications while I was in the hospital. Do not be afraid to ask for pain medication as these are safe for you and your baby. You can try putting some warm compress in your stomach area to relieve the pain. Do not worry these pains generally goes away within the first few days. But in case you have these pains for a longer period of time or if they become more intense then it is better to consult the doctor.
Back Pain after delivery
Another problem you may face after childbirth is the one with your back. During pregnancy, your abdomen muscles get stretched. After childbirth, it will take some time for your stretched abdomen muscles to become strong again while your body is putting extra weight on the muscles of your back. This may lead to backache till the time your abdominal muscles tighten up again.
However, this is not the only cause of backache after delivery. A new mom may have backache problems due to poor posture during pregnancy. This continues even after the birth of your baby if you are not maintaining a proper posture for breastfeeding your little one. You may be so engrossed with how to breastfeed your baby, that you completely neglect your position, putting a strain on your neck and upper back muscles as you look down. Add to this the overall exhaustion and stress of taking care of the new being can also make it hard to recover from all aches and pains including back pain after delivery.
How to reduce Backpain after delivery:
Back pains after delivery usually get better after a few weeks or months though some complaint of having it even after it has been a year. If you are overweight then you may want to shed some weight as this also leads to chronic back pain.
Always remember to sit up straight. While nursing the baby, pay attention to your body position. Choose a place where you are comfortable be it a chair or your bed. Use a lot of pillows to give extra support to your back and arms. You can also try using a footstool to keep your feet slightly raised off the floor. If you feel that feeding while sitting makes your shoulders tense and you have upper back pain then try lying sideways to reduce discomfort.
Do not try to lift heavy objects especially if you had a C-section. Do not bend directly to pick up objects or things from the floor. This will cause more harm to your back. Try to bend from your knees and pick up things or children from a crouching position to lessen the stress on your back.
If you are having unrelenting back pain after delivery then you may consult your doctor. You can even try out some basic exercises (ask your doctor’s nod before doing any exercises) like walking or pelvic tilts. You can also do some exercises which strengthen the back and abdominal muscles or can try out yoga. But make sure you do not over-exert yourselves. Listen to your body. If something causes discomfort then it is best to avoid it.
Post-Partum Depression
Being a new mom is not an easy job. You have so much on your platter from sleep deprivation to back pain to breast engorgement and pain of your incision. You also tend to develop a milder version of baby blues which comes after childbirth. But this type of baby blues generally goes away within a few weeks. However, there is a slightly severe kind of clinical depression that comes with pregnancy and childbirth and it is known as Post Partum depression. Studies have found out that 1 in 7 women get postpartum depression and in very severe cases they need to get medical help.
What is postpartum depression:
Postpartum depression is a kind of depression that mothers get after having their babies. There is no fixed time to get it. Generally, mothers get it during the first three weeks of their baby’s birth or within the first year of having their baby. If you feel that you have postpartum depression then you may feel sad, guilty, and hopeless and you may not feel like bonding with your baby or care for him/her. This type of depression does not just affect first-time moms, but mothers can get it with the birth of other children too.
Why do you get postpartum depression?
Well, a lot of reasons may be associated with postpartum depression.
Firstly you may get it because your hormone levels drop suddenly after childbirth. This sudden drop in hormones may trigger depression in some women.
Secondly, if you or any member of your family has a history of depression then you are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression.
Thirdly, if you are stressed out and your husband or your family members are not helping you care for the baby then you are most likely to get depressed as a new mom. If your pregnancy was unplanned or you are having financial issues or you have problems with drugs or alcohol or any other stressful situations then also you are susceptible to get postpartum depression.
Symptoms of postpartum depression
Every mother’s condition is different and as such the symptoms associated with postpartum depression also differ. However, look for these common things if you feel you have postpartum depression.
You will tend to fell
-
- a sense of hopelessness, sadness, and despair.
- like you are unable to care for your baby
- weepy and without any reason
- You will have problems feeling close or bonding with your little one.
- tend to eat more or less, have a low sex drive and will have less interest in taking care of yourself.
- You will have a tendency to sleep more or all the time
- You may develop trouble focusing, with learning or memory.
If you notice any of these above-mentioned symptoms then consult your doctor. If your doctor feels like you have postpartum depression or symptoms of postpartum depression then he/ she will prescribe antidepressants which will help. You may be asked to consult a psychologist or a therapist in case you have a severe form of depression.
You can also try meditation or light forms of exercise like brisk walking. Try to stay happy and include fun things in your daily activity. Try to keep yourself stress-free and surround yourself with positive people, people who care so that negative thoughts do not enter your mind. Last but not least, relax and try to enjoy the new phase of your life.
Hair Loss after Delivery
Did you suddenly notice that you are losing a ton of hair while in the shower? Welcome to postpartum hair loss.
A few months following the birth of your baby you will notice that your hair starts to fall out in clumps. During pregnancy because of all the soaring hormones estrogen and progesterone in your body, you tend to lose less amount of hair. This is what made your hair look fuller during this time. But after childbirth after a few months when all the hormones are leaving from your body you suddenly discover that you are shedding more than normal. This happens because now that the pregnancy is over, your body needs to compensate and so the extra shedding.
Post-delivery everything is always in extra’s…you need extra sleep, extra nutrients, extra rest but one thing you don’t need extra is hair loss. But it does.
How long will it take hair loss after delivery to return to normal:
By six months, however, your hair loss after delivery should slowly lessen to the pre-pregnancy amount. While few lucky mothers don’t lose so much hair, there are others who feel as though they would turn bald.
If your hair doesn’t return back to normal till your baby’s first birthday, chances are that there are other health issues at play. Pregnancy may make your thyroid out of place or change your ferritin levels (a blood cell protein that helps your body store iron). Consult your doctor and tell him/her about your postpartum hair loss so that he can check for problems.
If you are among the many who is distressed with the amount of hair loss then worry not. Hair loss after delivery is not permanent and it will heal in no time. Make sure that your body is not deprived of any vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, ferritin, and vitamin D. The next most important thing that you need to check is your stress levels. I know having a baby can put in a lot of stress and exhaustion and it’s easier said than done but try to check on your stress levels. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of proteins. This will help in the hair growth process. But no matter what you do the hair which is meant to fall will fall out. So relax and let things take their own course as there is nothing more you can do.
Skin Discoloration
Another common change that you will notice after the birth of your child is the change in your skin. Stress, fatigue, and hormonal changes can take a toll on your skin. If you had clear skin during pregnancy you may notice that you have breakouts after the birth of your child.
You will also notice that your skin has become much drier. Use mild cleansers to wash your face and do not scrub too often.
Some areas which have darkened during pregnancy should gradually fade in the months after childbirth. Changes in the pigmentation of your face are called melasma or chloasma. The dark line (linea nigra) that ran in your belly during pregnancy will also fade over time. Your stretch marks will also begin to blend in with your skin but will not totally disappear.
Dark patches which occur during pregnancy are caused by the high level of pregnancy hormones in your body. These will become lighter over time though some may not fade altogether. If you are worried about all these changes or you have other symptoms that concern you then consult your doctor.
Swollen Legs
The swelling and puffiness that you may have experienced during pregnancy will begin to reduce after childbirth. After your childbirth, you may feel a certain kind of twitchiness in your legs. If you experience leg pain after delivery, then try walking as it will provide you with some relief. If you have problems with spider veins or varicose veins then losing weight will help improve the condition. But they will never go away entirely.
Energy Levels
Though this is not a problem, it nonetheless affects many new mothers. After the birth of your baby, some mothers say that they feel more energetic than ever. However, this is not the case with all women. Most mothers say that the whole process of childbirth and caring for the newborn and excess body weight makes them feel lethargic and temperamental. It is completely normal to feel tired. Just take it slow and rest as much as possible. For those who have excess energy, it is up to you to do what you feel like doing apart from taking care of your newborn.
When you are pregnant your body goes through a lot of changes. Post-delivery too your body encounters a number of problems. But these problems go unnoticed or are barely given any heed too as you are busy caring for your baby. It is overwhelming sometimes with all the things happening around your little one that your problems take a backseat. When you care for your body you remain healthy and as such, you can better take care of your baby.
If any of you have gone through post-pregnancy problems then comment below. Let us know what problems you faced and what you did to make it better. For new moms who are still recuperating from these problems remember that these problems can get severe and they should not be taken lightly.
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