Life After Delivering Your Baby

You're still in for some big changes, as your body recovers from the pregnancy and labor and adjusts to its new demands. Here's a guide on what to expect.

Swelling

What: Edema
When: Immediately after delivery
Why: Pushing during labor also pushes those extra fluids that you've been carrying to your face and extremities.

Women who have c-sections are also likely to find themselves swollen, thanks to the IV fluids they received. Fortunately, within five days of delivery, your kidneys will kick into overdrive, and you'll start peeing and sweating out this water. If your legs, ankles, or feet resemble those of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man, elevate them above your heart with a pillow while lying down.

Vaginal Soreness

What: Soreness in your vaginal region
When: From delivery to 6 weeks
Why: Really, wouldn't it be more surprising if you weren't sore? When you give birth vaginally, your perineum (the area between your vagina and anus) will swell and may even tear, or you might have an episiotomy.

Recovery time varies, but nearly all new moms see the soreness dissipate within six weeks. Until then, you can sit on doughnut pillows, which provide cushioning but also don't apply direct contact to the vaginal region; sink into a sitz bath, a shallow basin that allows you to soak only your bottom; or relax for a spell in a regular bath. And use the ice packs and witch hazel pads offered in the hospital. They'll help ease the swelling and relieve pain temporarily.

BLEEDING, BREAST ENGORGEMENT & BLADDER ISSUES

Vaginal Bleeding

What: Lochia
When: From delivery to 6 weeks
Why: After labor, whether you've delivered vaginally or by c-section, your uterus will slough off tissue from its lining, which results in what might seem like a monthlong period. In most women, it changes from bright or dark red blood to a pink blood, then to a clear or yellowish discharge over the first few weeks. Some women will stop bleeding for a day or so, but the bleeding can start up again as you engage in more activity. As long as there is no fever or abdominal or uterine pain, discharge and mild bleeding in the first six weeks is normal.

Swollen Breasts

What: Breast engorgement
When: 2 to 5 days after delivery
Why: Until your system determines how much milk you need to produce and when, your breasts might swell and feel rock-hard. To prevent pain, try wearing a supportive bra, both during the day and at night, nursing your child on demand, applying cold cabbage leaves (their shape can conform to your breasts), and when necessary, pumping out excess milk. For moms who opt not to breastfeed, avoiding any nipple or breast stimulation, applying cold compresses to help stunt milk production, and wearing a sports bra to help compress your breasts.

Bladder Battles

What: Bladder dysfunction and incontinence
When: From delivery to 8 weeks
Why: A few days after delivery, you may let out a sneeze or a cough...and yep, a trickle of pee. Slight incontinence is a very common side effect of giving birth. Before you got pregnant, your pelvic muscles and ligaments worked together to prevent urinary leakage, but now they've softened and stretched and lack their previous strength. Additionally, your bladder has shifted position, sinking close to the space where the baby came out. All of which means that with each ah-choo, you're involuntarily peeing. Kegel exercises, in which you tense and release your vaginal muscles, can strengthen those internal muscles and push the bladder back up.

CRAMPING AND CONSTIPATION

Cramping

What: After-pains
When: The first few days after delivery
Why: In the days that follow delivery, you'll experience cramps that can range from mild to almost contraction-like, as your uterus shrinks back to pre-pregnancy size (a process that may take up to six months). These cramps can be exacerbated by breastfeeding, which stimulates the release of oxytocin, the hormone that causes contractions. Ibuprofen, massage, or a heating pad can help ease the pain.

Bowel Movement Issues

What: Constipation
When: The first few days after delivery
Why: The narcotics used in some epidurals and those that are given during a c-section slow digestion. And don't forget that your rectum is swollen from the pressure exerted on it during delivery; this swelling needs to subside before you can have a bowel movement. To help get things moving, stay hydrated, eat high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, and take the stool softener they give you in the hospital. And even though you fear it may hurt, try to go to the bathroom or you'll get further backed up.

HAIR LOSS AND SKIN LIGHTENING

Thinning Hair

What: Hair loss
When: 1 to 5 months after delivery
Why: Although the amount of hair loss can be shocking, rarely do women experience extensive hair thinning. Within several months to a year, you should be back to normal.

Loss of Pigmentation

What: Skin lightening
When: Up to or longer than a year
Why: During pregnancy, most women experience some form of hyperpigmentation, such as a linea nigra (the line that runs down your belly) or melasma (darker pigmentation on your face), both of which are believed to be caused by an increase in estrogen. After you've given birth, these lines will fade, but they do so very slowly and they may never disappear entirely.

IS IT POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?

Many moms endure the baby blues, but how do you know if you're among the 10 to 20 percent of women who suffer from the more serious postpartum depression (PPD)? While the baby blues last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks and include symptoms such as crying spells, anxiety, inability to sleep, and quick fluctuations in mood, PPD lingers for much longer and rarely seems to lift. The risk factors and signs of postpartum depression include:

• You suffered PPD after a previous pregnancy.
• You expreienced depression during your pregnancy. (Nearly 50 percent of women who suffer from PPD do.)
• You experience loss of appetite, inability to sleep, and are overly tearful. However, unlike the baby blues, these conditions last for more than two or three weeks.
• You feel little connection to your child.
• You have fears of harming yourself or your child.

If you suspect you're suffering from PPD, ask for help, both from your family and your doctor. Lifestyle changes, such as sleeping when the baby sleeps and getting more omega-3 fats, can help, and there are also medications to ease the depression.

It is normal to experience these body changes, but if you find yourself having questions or need further information, you should talk to your physician. You can also talk to other moms that have experienced these things. Almost every mother has gone through at least one of these things. Just remember, that these things are normal. So relax, and enjoy your new addition!