Introduction
Getting ready for postpartum recovery after delivery is perhaps the most crucial step before your due date. The postpartum recovery time for women who go through vaginal delivery can take up to six weeks. Contrarily, women who deliver via C-section require more time to heal, which can take up to 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the person.
After this, you will officially begin your new role in your life as a mother. And the first few weeks after giving birth might be particularly difficult because you’ll be caring for your newborn as you heal from your postpartum wounds. Let’s take a look at some typical postpartum symptoms and how to speed up the process so that you are better prepared.
What are the typical postpartum symptoms?
Water Retention and Weight Gain
It could take several months for you to shed the weight you put on during pregnancy (which could have ranged from 5 to 18kg depending on your BMI and your doctor’s advice). Not to mention that postpartum water retention in the arms, legs, thighs and abdomen can also contribute to postpartum weight gain. You might anticipate losing 2 to 5kg after labor, depending on the size of your newborn.
Contractions and Postpartum Pain
Your uterus shrinks after delivery and continues to contract for a few days. It can go from weighing about 11kg to just a few grams in six weeks.
Pain and Swelling in the Vagina
The vagina will also experience a huge increase in blood flow and fluid as one of the typical postpartum symptoms. This is due to the strain delivery causes on the vaginal tissue. On the other hand, many women experience urine incontinence when recovering from childbirth. As breastfeeding releases chemicals into your body and compresses your uterus, you can experience painful contractions a few days after giving birth if you are breastfeeding your baby.
Difficult Bowel Movement
A few days after giving birth, bowel movements can be challenging and you might experience postpartum constipation as a result of restricted movements, a change in routine or soreness after surgery.
Postpartum Depression and Baby Blues
You are not alone as there are countless women who experience sadness or moodiness after giving birth. The baby blues, a typical postpartum symptom, often subside two weeks following delivery. However, if you continue to experience sadness or despair beyond two weeks, consult a doctor as persistent baby blues can develop into postpartum depression.
Tips to Speed Up Your Postpartum Recovery
Get Sufficient Rest
For the first 24 to 72 hours after giving birth, it is advised that you spend as much time as you can in bed with your newborn, especially if you are still learning how to breastfeed your baby. It’s best if you can make sleeping one of your priorities after you leave the hospital. It’s important to take enough rest to hasten your recuperation, so attempt to balance your workload so that resting takes up more time than other activities. A few weeks of uninterrupted rest at home would be beneficial for your postpartum recuperation, if at all possible.
Seek Advice from Your Doctor
It is advisable to stay vigilant when you are recovering from childbirth if you sense that something is wrong with you or the baby. For instance, intense postpartum pain that persisted or worsened despite treatment or heavy bleeding after delivery. Be aware that while experiencing some discomfort during the healing process is acceptable, you shouldn’t start to feel worse. Call your healthcare provider or doctor for guidance if you’re concerned about how you feel or if you experience pain or discomforts that don’t seem right. Your doctor may recommend medicine to help you feel better depending on your condition.
Stay Active
Just a short reminder that postpartum mothers should wait until six weeks after giving birth to begin exercising, and always get permission from your doctor before doing any exercise. The greatest strategy for a healthy, speedy recovery during the first few weeks is to relax and limit exercise as much as you can, especially if you have a new baby. So, in order to spend time with your baby and rest, ask for help from your husband, friends or family if you can. If you feel up for it, you may begin moderate exercise after the sixth week, unless you underwent a cesarean delivery, had a difficult birth or experienced pregnancy problems. But bear in mind to go slowly and pay more attention to long –term health than to immediate outcomes. In this situation, you should talk to your doctor before starting any workout, and cease right away if you have any pain.
Conclusion
In addition to the aforementioned advice, there are ton of other suggestions and practices that might help with postpartum care. In order to get ready for childbirth and postpartum recovery, you can also read baby books and obtain advice from friends and family who have already given birth.
Take a deep breath, relax and stay positive. Remember that any emotional and physical changes you go through after birth will gradually improve. If you need assistance with your feelings, your child or the healing process, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends and family.
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