Postpartum care for you

It is very important that you take good care of yourself over the next few weeks. Rest is very important. Caring for your baby places extra demands on you both emotionally and physically. In early postpartum, you may experience:

  • Pain or discomfort following the birth of your baby. We offer a postpartum self-administration medication program. You will be given a package with acetaminophen, ibuprofen and stool softeners with instructions on how to take them.
    • IMPORTANT: Please review any medications you are currently taking with your healthcare team. This includes any vitamins, natural supplements, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications. We want to make sure you are prescribed the right medication.
  • Vaginal bleeding (lochia) that may continue for up to 6 weeks. This happens after vaginal and Caesarean births. Do not use tampons as they can increase your risk of infection. Use sanitary napkins (pads) instead.
  • After pains are a feeling of abdominal cramping or pains in your uterus as your baby breastfeeds.
  • In the first few days after birth, it may be difficult to empty your bladder completely due to bruising and discomfort. Ice packs for the first 24 hours, then heat (e.g. warm bath) may help.
  • It may take up to 3 days after the birth of your baby to have a normal bowel movement. Avoiding constipation by drinking plenty of fluids and eating healthy, high-fibre foods can help.
  • Hemorrhoids are swollen veins around your bottom (rectum). Hemorrhoids may happen during or after your pregnancy.
  • After a Caesarean birth, it is common to have gas pain after surgery.

Talk to your care provider (doctor or midwife) about any of these postpartum symptoms. They can recommend treatment and/or recovery options.

Activity and Exercise

A healthy active lifestyle is important. However, when you are recovering from giving birth, it is also important to give your body time to rest and recover. You may want to gradually become more active.

Talk to your healthcare provider (doctor or midwife) about getting active again, and when you can resume normal activities. You should also talk to your healthcare provider (doctor or midwife) if you have pain with activity.

Notes:

  • Avoid swimming until your vaginal bleeding (lochia) has stopped – to reduce the risk of an infection and water contamination.
  • It is safe to have intercourse (sex) when your vaginal bleeding (lochia) has stopped and any stitches have healed. Some people choose to wait until after the 6 week postpartum follow up appointment with their healthcare provider (doctor of midwife).
  • It is possible to become pregnant again with intercourse after you have given birth. You can talk to your healthcare provider about birth control options.

Postpartum Emotions - Baby Blues and Postpartum Mood Disorders

During and after pregnancy, there are physical and emotional changes. It is important to learn about what you might experience and when you might need help.

The emotional changes are usually temporary. Initially, when emotions shift quickly (happy to sad, elated to irritated) and it may be difficult to sleep and easy to cry – you may have “baby blues”. This is very common. Baby blues do not last long – about 7 to 10 days. Sometimes though, these feelings do not go away and become more severe. This is called postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression can happen to any parent. If you have questions or concerns about postpartum depression for yourself or someone you know, or you are experiencing a lot of stress or other mental health concerns, reach out for help from:

  • Your health care provider (family doctor, obstetrician, midwife, nurse)
  • Health Connect Ontario: 811 or TTY 1-866-797-0007
  • Here 24/7 Crisis Line: 1-844-437-3247 or TTY 1-877-688-5501
  • Your local hospital emergency department
  • Call 911 if you ever have thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby

Postpartum Depression Resources: