Your Body After the Birth
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Your body will take time to adjust following your pregnancy and its important you remember to look after yourself. Any worries or concerns you may have you can discuss with your midwife.
If you have had stitches, bathing the area often will help healing. Ensure you dry the area carefully. Pelvic floor exercises will help healing. If the area is sore and uncomfortable please inform your midwife or doctor who can check the area and advise as required. You may be nervous passing water and opening your bowels fear of it being painful. Drink plenty of water so your urine is more dilute and won't sting. Also eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and brown bread as this will prevent you from becoming constipated and enable you to open your bowels more easily.
Piles are very common after delivery but disappear after a few days. Try not to push or strain on the toilet as this will make your piles worse. If they are very uncomfortable please inform your midwife who can give you some cream to treat your piles. After the birth you will lose blood and discharge from the vagina. The loss will probably be quite heavy at first and you are advised to use sanitary pads and not tampons. Bleeding often becomes heavier 7 to 10 days after delivery but if you find you are losing blood in large clots you should save your towels and show them to your midwife. Gradually the loss will become brownish in colour and may continue for some weeks getting less and less. If you are breast feeding your period may not come for some weeks after you have stopped feeding. If you are not breast feeding your period may come as soon as a month after the delivery, but it could be much later.
You can become pregnant before your period so it is important you and your partner discuss contraception before you make love again. There are no rules about when to start making love again, if you haven't had stitches you may be eager to share the extra love you feel with your partner. On the other hand, if you are tired and sore , sex may be the last thing on your mind. Don't rush into it, if it painful. You may want to use lubricating jelly initially because hormonal changes may make your vagina dry.
Your body shape will change. If you are breast feeding your breast will be remain larger and you will need to wear a supporting bra. If you are not your breasts will reduce in size in a week or two. Your tummy will be quite baggy after delivery. Doing pelvic floor exercises will help tone your muscles again. It is quite common after having a baby to find it difficult to control your bladder if you laugh, or move suddenly, and to leak some water. Pelvic floor exercises will help with this. If the problem persists after 3 months see your doctor.
Try to get into a pattern that suits you, your baby and your family ensuring you eat regularly and get plenty of rest. Your partner plays an important role in the care of your baby and family or close friends often wish to help too.
