Patient education: Watching for problems after giving birth (The Basics)

How do I take care of myself after giving birth? — Your doctor or nurse will give you instructions for how to care for yourself. Some of your care depends on whether you had a vaginal birth or a cesarean birth.

In general:

●Wear a pad or panty liner for vaginal bleeding. Do not use tampons.

●If you had a vaginal birth, take care of your vulva and perineum. If you have pain or swelling, it can help to soak the area or use cold packs.

●If you had a cesarean birth, follow your doctor's instructions about caring for your incision.

●Drink plenty of water, and eat foods with fiber. This can help prevent constipation. Your doctor might suggest taking a stool softener.

●Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain if needed, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). If your doctor prescribed other medicines, follow all instructions for taking them.

●Increase your activity slowly:

•Avoid things that make you very tired or cause pain. If you had a cesarean birth, you need to avoid lifting and heavy activity for longer.

•Avoid sex for 2 weeks. After that, you can have sex when you feel ready. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions about birth control. It is possible to get pregnant again soon after giving birth.

●Wear a supportive bra, especially if you are breastfeeding or pumping.

●Get help from your partner, family members, or friends when possible. Rest when you can.

What problems should I watch for? — It's normal to have some pain and discomfort as you recover. This should improve as your body heals.

Your doctor, nurse, or midwife will talk to you again after giving birth. They might do this over the phone during the first few weeks. You should also have an in-person visit before 12 weeks. At this visit, they will do a physical exam and check for any problems. But it's important to know what to watch for, so you can get help sooner if needed.

Doctors call problems that can happen after giving birth "postpartum complications." Some of these can be serious or even life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of serious problems include:

●High blood pressure

●Seizures

●Very heavy vaginal bleeding

●The uterus turning inside out

●Shortness of breath or chest pain due to blood clots in the lungs

●Diarrhea, belly pain, or fever from an infection in the intestines

●Severe swelling of the vulva

●Feeling very sad, irritable, or anxious due to postpartum depression ("PPD")

Other problems that can happen include:

●Problems urinating

●Rectal bleeding, itching, or pain from hemorrhoids

●Abnormal vaginal discharge (for example, a bad odor)

●Leaking urine, gas, or bowel movements

●Constipation

●Leg pain and swelling from varicose veins

●Headache

●Weakness or numbness from damage to the nerves in or around the pelvis

●Redness, discharge, or pain from a wound infection

●Fever and belly pain from an infection in the uterus

●Frequent and painful urination from a urinary tract infection

●Breast pain and swelling from being too full ("engorgement")

●Breast pain and redness from infection

●Vaginal dryness

●Pelvic cramps

●Back, pelvic, or leg pain from problems in the pelvic joints

Most people do not have serious problems after giving birth. But it's important to know what to watch for just in case. This way, if you do have a problem, you can get treatment.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for emergency help (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:

●You have a headache that is severe, unusual, or comes with confusion, stiff neck, fever, or vision changes.

●You have a seizure.

●You have trouble breathing or chest pain, or are coughing up blood.

●Your uterus bulges out from your vagina.

●You have thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby.

Call your doctor, nurse, or midwife for advice if:

●You have any of the other problems listed in the previous section. (See 'What problems should I watch for?' above.)

●You have other new symptoms that worry you.

More on this topic

Patient education: Labor and childbirth (The Basics)
Patient education: Cesarean birth (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaginal birth after a cesarean (The Basics)
Patient education: Depression during and after pregnancy (The Basics)
Patient education: Postpartum hemorrhage (The Basics)
Patient education: Common breastfeeding problems (The Basics)

Patient education: C-section (cesarean delivery) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Common breastfeeding problems (Beyond the Basics)