Care after normal delivery
When you conceived, you learned what will happen week by week and how the birth will take place. So what will happen after your baby is born? Let’s see what awaits you from now on.
If you have had a tear during normal labor or an episiotomy and stitches have been removed, your wound will be uncomfortable for about a week, especially when sitting and walking. If your tear is deep, your tenderness may last up to two to three weeks.
Here are some things you can do while your wound is healing;
You can reduce your pain with a cold compress. You can prevent your wound from touching the bed by buying a bagel-shaped seat used by hemorrhoids patients.
➢ Be careful to keep your wound clean. Clean with antiseptic liquid, especially after using the toilet.
➢ Cover the wound with a clean gauze pad.
➢ Be careful when sitting. The pain will be less if you keep your hips together. Also try to create support with pillows around you.
➢ Try to do the Kegel exercise. This exercise will help to strengthen the muscles. You can start one day after giving birth. When you urinate, you squeeze your muscles as if you were holding them and count to five. Repeat this four or five times in a row and do it as many times as you can during the day.
➢ Watch out for signs of infection. Tell your doctor immediately if your pain increases and the wound becomes swollen, red, hot and pus flows out of it.
How Does Vaginal Discharge Occur?
Up to eight weeks after birth, there is a vaginal discharge called leucorrhea. In the first few days, it is an intense, red discharge. If you stand up from a sitting or lying position, there may be discharge as if you suddenly ejaculate. As the days progress, the color of your discharge will gradually change from red to pink or brown and then to yellow-white. To prevent infection, prefer pads and do not use vaginal tampons. Do not be alarmed if you see blood clots in the discharge, this is normal.
Situations that require you to inform your doctor are as follows;
➢ If you need to change a pad every hour
➢ If you feel dizzy
➢ If there is a foul-smelling discharge
➢ If your abdomen is very sensitive
➢ Blood clots larger than a ping-pong ball
➢ If your fever is higher than 37.5C degrees
Do uterine contractions continue?
Postpartum contractions occur up to a few days after the birth. This is to prevent excessive bleeding by putting pressure on the blood vessels in the uterus. They are especially pronounced when you are breastfeeding your baby and you will feel them more with your second or third baby. Medicines used to reduce bleeding can increase these contractions. These contractions are just like the contractions felt during menstrual pain. If necessary, your doctor will give you medicine to reduce the pain. There are safe medicines you can use while breastfeeding.
If your abdomen hurts even to the touch and you have a high fever, you should consult your doctor for a uterine infection.
Difficulty Urinating
Difficulty urinating due to swelling and damage to the tissues around the bladder and urine outlet. Some relief can be achieved with hot or cold compresses on this area. Gradually, this problem will disappear. However, if you have an urgent urge to urinate, pain when urinating or frequent urination, you should inform your doctor about a urinary tract infection.
Urinary Incontinence
Pregnancy and childbirth cause loosening of the connective tissue. This can lead to incontinence when intra-abdominal pressure increases, such as when coughing or laughing. Fortunately, this usually resolves within three months. In the meantime, do not forget to do Kegel exercises.
Hemorrhoids
If you have pain when you defecate and swelling around the anus and in your hand, you probably have hemorrhoids. These are swollen and loose veins. Your doctor will prescribe medicines to treat them.
Also try to consume fiber-rich foods to avoid constipation. Eat vegetables, fruits and cereals. Drink plenty of water. Try to be active.
Breast tenderness
A few days after giving birth, your breasts will be swollen, tender and heavy. This is because your milk has started to fill up. This uncomfortable feeling will go away within three days as you breastfeed your baby. If you cannot breastfeed, you will need to empty your breasts. If your breasts are full even though the baby is breastfeeding, you can empty your breasts with a milking machine or pump and store the breast milk in special bags at room temperature for 3 hours, in the refrigerator door for 3 days and in the freezer for 3 months. This way, you have a reserve of milk to help you when you are away from home or when your baby’s milk needs increase. You will also benefit from a warm shower and bath with warm or cold application.
Milk Flowing from the Breasts
Milk spontaneously flows from the breasts of new mothers. There is nothing you can do about this. Pads in your bra prevent you from getting wet. You should change these pads after each breastfeeding or when they get wet. If it is more of a problem at night, put a towel under your breasts.
Hair Loss
Hair loss may occur due to increased hormones during pregnancy. After that, the hair loss will return and your hair will be as it was before within six months. Also, try to avoid chemical treatments such as coloring that will damage your hair.
Changes at Cit
You may have small red spots on your face. These are bleeding from small blood vessels caused by strain during labor. They are expected to disappear in about a week. Stretch marks on the abdomen do not disappear after birth, but they change from red to white. Areas that darken during pregnancy may also gradually begin to lighten.
Weight Loss
After giving birth, you feel as if your body is disfigured. You may even look like you haven’t given birth yet. Don’t worry. This is very common. Most women weigh five kilograms less after giving birth. This is the weight from the loss of the baby, placenta and fluids. After a week, as the edema resolves, your weight will drop a little more. After that, it is up to you. With a balanced diet and exercise, you can gradually return to your previous weight.
Changes in Your Mental State
Bringing a baby into the world will make changes in your mental state as well as changes in your body. Problems such as being more sensitive, easily upset, distressed and fluctuating emotional states are common. Many new mothers may develop a mild depression, also called the postpartum blues. It should usually go away within ten days. If it lasts longer and gets worse, you should talk to your doctor because it is important to treat it.
Postpartum Control
About six weeks after the birth, your doctor will check your uterus and vagina. In addition to a breast examination, your weight and blood pressure will also be checked. It is also useful to ask any questions you may have about contraception and breastfeeding. Remember that you can discuss any concerns about your physical and mental health with your doctor.