Postpartum issues start after when you are in the pregnancy, your body changes a lot. You have a new title – mom. You feel happy about having a child. Many women are learning to be mothers for the first time but for others this can be overwhelming. Your body will have significant changes in the weeks and months that are following after you gave a birth to baby. The postpartum period begins immediately after delivery. In this period, your body will heal from the childbirth and it will rebuild its strength and it begins to regain its pre – pregnancy shape.
Postpartum issues
There are many different postpartum problems which women can feel after giving a birth to their child. Here are some of the most common postpartum problems:
Swollen breasts: The milk comes about two to four days after delivery. When your milk comes in, then your breast can become very large, hard and sore. This engorgement will ease once you establish a breast – feeding pattern or if you are not breast – feeding mother, then it will stop when your body will stop to produce milk. You can wear a well – fitting support bra and apply ice packs to your breasts because it can help to ease the discomfort of the engorgement.
Vaginal discharge: For the first several weeks after delivery is very common to have bloody and heavy discharge from the vagina. This discharge is called lochia. It consists of blood and the remains of the placenta. In the first few days after childbirth, this discharge is bright red and it can include blood clots. Then, the flow will lighten and the color will gradually turn pink, then white or yellow before stopping altogether. The bright red discharge can return at some times, such as after too – vigorous exercise or after breast – feeding, but the volume will generally slow considerably in about 10 – 14 days.
Stretch marks: These are striations which appear on many women’s breasts, thighs, hips and abdomen during pregnancy. They are caused by hormonal changes and stretching skin and they become noticeable after delivery.
Perineal pain: For women who had vaginal birth, the pain in the perineum is very common. Perineum is the area between the rectum and vagina. These tender tissues may have torn or stretched during delivery and this is causing swollen and bruised sore. Also, this discomfort can be aggravated by an episiotomy which is an incision that is sometimes made in the perineum during deliver to keep the vagina from ripping.
Kidney infections: The kidney infection happens when the bacteria spread from the bladder. It includes symptoms, like painful urination, constipation, pain in the lower back or side, a generally sick feeling, high fever, a strong urge to urinate and urinary frequency. Usually, doctors are prescribing antibiotics when they discover the kidney infection. It is recommended for patients to drink a lot of fluids.
Infection of C – section incision: You should follow the instructions of your doctor about carrying for your C – section incision. You should talk with your doctor if you see signs of infections, such as red or swollen skin or draining pus. You should resist the urge to scratch. You should try lotion to ease itching.
Uterine infections: During the delivery, the placenta separates from the uterine wall and it is expelled from the vagina within twenty minutes after giving birth. If pieces of placenta remain in the uterus, then it can lead to infection. The infection of the amniotic sac during the labor can lead to a postpartum infection of the uterus.
There are flu – like symptoms which can indicate uterine infection, such as foul – smelling discharge; swollen and tender uterus; abnormally high white blood cell count; rapid heart rate and a high fever. When the tissues surrounding the uterus are infected, then the fever and pain can be severe. Usually, doctors are giving intravenous antibiotics which are used to prevent the potentially dangerous complications, such as toxic shock.
Clogged ducts: The clogged milk ducts can cause redness, pain, swelling or a lump in the breast. Clogged pores are not accompanied by flu – like symptoms like breast infection.
