Recuperating After Delivery

Delivering a baby is tiring to say the least. The mother's body is weary and needs to recuperate. As long as the bleeding and discomfort continues, you need to rest and keep yourself clean. If you undergo a C-section or any other surgical procedure, you need to take care of the stitches.

For the first two days, the mother needs to be kept under medical observation. If you continue to experience pain six hours after delivery, inform your doctors immediately.

Routine Check-up

Along with regular hygiene, do a check-up for piles (bleeding while passing stools), eclampsia (changes in blood pressure post-delivery) or mastitis (pain and swelling in the breasts along with flu-like symptoms). All of these conditions are common post delivery. They are completely treatable, so there is no need to panic.

Urinary tract infections and vaginal infections are also common during this period. Maintain vaginal hygiene and tell your doctor about any vaginal-related pain, irritation, swelling, inflammation or foul smell.

If bleeding continues for more than a day after delivery, there is a possibility for haemorrhage. In such cases it is best to inform and consult with a gynaecologist.

Postnatal Depression

Most women experience postnatal depression in varying degrees. Only hours after the delivery, it is natural for the mother to feel confused and nervous about taking care of the baby. The pain and medications also add to the irritation and even make the mother nauseous.

Due to sudden hormonal changes during delivery, some women experience severe post-partum depression. Frequent crying bouts and irritability, no desire to see or touch the child, extended nausea and anger are signs of this. This period could last from a few days to a few months. This is the time for strong family support and understanding. In extreme cases, clinical treatment may be recommended.

Care While Breastfeeding

It is healthy to breastfeed your baby within hours of delivery as your breasts start producing milk immediately. Remember to keep your breasts, especially nipples clean so that the baby doesn't catch any infections.