After the excitement of the baby's birth the postpartum period can seem a bit anti-climactic. You are tired, sore and anxious about the changes that are to come. Just when it seems too much you will gaze at your beautiful new baby and your heart will burst with joy!

Caring for Yourself

Perineal Pain-
Even though our bodies are designed to stretch and open up to allow the baby to emerge there will probably be some swelling and maybe even a tear or incision that needs to heal. Right after the delivery your nurse will most likely apply an ice pack to your perineum to increase your comfort and decrease swelling. Ice is helpful for about the first 12 hours and then a warm sitz bath will provide more comfort. This is essentially sitting in warm water and soaking your bottom.

Use the peri-bottle filled with warm water after you go to the bathroom to help prevent infection and aid healing. Your hospital may have another method for cleansing yourself after using the bathroom like the Hygienique. Your nurse will explain this to you. If it stings when you urinate, running the warm water over the area while you go may help.

Tighten your perineal muscles before sitting to increase comfort. Side-lying may be most comfortable in bed.

If you have had stitches watch for signs of infection. These would be-more pain than you are having now, increased swelling, foul smelling discharge. Call your doctor if you experience these. Itching and pulling are often experienced as stitches absorb. Tucks pads and sitz baths may help.

Vaginal Flow-
The menstrual-like flow that you will experience after your baby is born is called lochia. It will e like a heavy period at first but should slow down over the next week or so. It usually lasts 2-6 weeks becoming pinkish and then brownish like the end of a period
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Once you are home and the bleeding has become pinkish be aware that overdoing it in terms of physical activity may cause the bleeding to become bright red again. Get some rest and if the bleeding doesn't slow down, call your doctor. You should also call your doctor if you are passing large clots followed by heavy bleeding or are soaking a pad in an hour
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Eat foods that are high in iron. Take iron supplements as prescribed. Taking them with Vitamin C increases absorption and with milk products decreases absorption.