APPY HORMONES After a straightforward birth most women
feel fairly good in the first few days because pregnancy hormones remain high to help you cope.
BRUISING & BLEEDING You may feel a bit bruised and you may have stitches. You will bleed quite heavily for a few days and less so for a few weeks.
TIREDNESS You will feel increasingly tired as you take on the responsibilities of caring for a newborn. When the hormones go at about 3-5 days you may feel a real low and feel more achey and tired. If you rest and eat well this will pass.
& WHAT ISN'T NORMAL
If you feel unwell or have a temperature.
Pain in your perineum that increases and intensifies.
Unusually heavy bleeding or passing many clots.
Severe abdominal pain.
Red lumps or generalized pain in the breasts.
If in doubt call your midwife or GP for advice.
AT, SLEEP, REST Try to spend the
first week in your bedroom resting and being looked after. You will still be active and move around but will rest and sleep when baby does. Eat really well, 3 meals a day, lots of fluids and fresh fruit, veg and fibre to avoid constipation.
If you have stitches use a jug of water when you pass urine to avoid any stinging.
INVEST IN YOUR CHEST Your breasts will increase in size and feel heavy when your milk comes in but if you feed your baby regularly this will settle. A good, well fitting bra is important.
AQUAINT YOURSELF WITH YOUR PELVIC FLOOR Your muscles at the front of the abdomen will separate in pregnancy and you will need to do gentle exercises to help close this. You should get a leaflet on these and pelvic floor exercises when you leave hospital.
Recovery from a complex birth of a caesarean will of course take a little longer but the same principles apply.
Most women start to feel more like themselves after 2-3 weeks and feel really well by 4-6 weeks.
Ask the Expert
BY Tina Perridge, Director of Neighbourhood Midwives Ltd
What happens to your body post delivery?
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WHAT TO EXPECT
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
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