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Overview of Postpartum Care

(Care After Pregnancy and Childbirth)

By

Julie S. Moldenhauer

, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Reviewed/Revised Feb 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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The 6 weeks after pregnancy and delivery of a baby is called the postpartum period, when the mother’s body returns to its prepregnancy state.

After childbirth, a mother can expect to have some physical changes and symptoms, but they are usually mild and temporary. Severe health issues are rare. Nonetheless, the doctor, hospital staff members, or health care plan usually sets up a program of follow-up office or home visits.

The most common complications after childbirth are the following:

Postpartum hemorrhage may occur soon after delivery but may occur up to 6 weeks later.

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Hospital (What to Expect)

Immediately after delivery of a baby, the mother is monitored for at least 1 hour. If an anesthetic was used during delivery or if there were any problems during delivery, she may be monitored for several hours after delivery, usually in a well-equipped recovery room with access to oxygen, fluids given by vein (intravenously), and resuscitation equipment.

Staff members check the mother’s pulse rate and temperature. Normally, within the first 24 hours, the mother’s pulse rate (which increased during pregnancy) begins to decline toward normal and her temperature may increase slightly, usually returning to normal during the first few days. After the first 24 hours, recovery is rapid.

Hospital staff members make every effort to minimize the new mother’s pain and the risk of bleeding and infection.

Bleeding

Minimizing bleeding is the first priority. After delivery of the placenta (afterbirth), a nurse may periodically massage the mother’s abdomen to help the uterus contract and remain contracted, thus preventing excessive bleeding Excessive Uterine Bleeding at Delivery Excessive bleeding from the uterus refers to loss of more than 2 pints of blood or symptoms of significant blood loss that occur within 24 hours after childbirth. After the baby is delivered... read more .

If needed, oxytocin is given to stimulate contraction of the uterus. The drug is injected into a muscle or given intravenously as a continuous infusion until the uterus is contracted.

If women lose a lot of blood during and after delivery, a complete blood count is done to check for anemia before they are discharged.

Urination

Urine production often increases greatly, but temporarily, after delivery. Because bladder sensation may be decreased after delivery, hospital staff members encourage a new mother to try to urinate regularly, at least every 4 hours. Doing so avoids overfilling the bladder and helps prevent bladder infections. Staff members may gently press on the mother’s abdomen to check the bladder and determine whether it is being emptied.

Occasionally, if the new mother cannot urinate on her own, a catheter must be inserted temporarily into the bladder to empty the urine. Infrequently, an indwelling catheter (a catheter that is left in the bladder for a period of time) is needed.

Bowel movements

The new mother is also encouraged to have a bowel movement before leaving the hospital. But because hospital stays are so short, this expectation may not be practical. Doctors may recommend that if she has not had a bowel movement within 3 days, she take stool softeners or laxatives to avoid constipation, which can cause or worsen hemorrhoids. If the rectum or muscles around the anus were torn during delivery, stool softeners are important to avoid pressure on that area.

Opioids, which are occasionally given after cesarean delivery to relieve severe pain, can worsen constipation. So if an opioid is needed, the lowest effective dose of such drugs is used.

Diet and exercise

A new mother can have a regular diet as soon as she wants it, sometimes shortly after delivery. She should get up and walk as soon as possible.

A new mother can start exercises to strengthen abdominal muscles, often after 1 day if delivery was vaginal. Cesarean delivery is major surgery, and women should not begin exercising until they have had time to fully recover and allow healing, which typically takes about 6 weeks.

Women can resume their prepregnancy exercise routine after approval from their doctor at their postdelivery visit.

Vaccines and immune globulin

Ideally, the tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) vaccine Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects against these three diseases: Diphtheria usually causes inflammation of the throat and mucous membranes... read more is given during each pregnancy, preferably between weeks 27 and 36. If a mother has never been given the Tdap vaccine during this or a previous pregnancy nor as an adolescent or adult, it should be given to her before she is discharged whether she is breastfeeding or not. If family members who will have contact with the newborn have never been given the Tdap vaccine, they should be given Tdap at least 2 weeks before they have contact with the newborn. The Tdap vaccine immunizes them against pertussis Pertussis Pertussis is a highly contagious infection caused by the gram-negative bacteria Bordetella pertussis, which results in fits of coughing that usually end in a prolonged, high-pitched,... read more (whooping cough) and thus reduces the risk of spreading pertussis to unprotected newborns.

Doctors may recommend other vaccines, depending on the woman's vaccination and health history.

If a new mother has Rh-negative blood and the baby has Rh-positive blood (called Rh incompatibility Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Rh incompatibility occurs when a pregnant woman has Rh-negative blood and the fetus has Rh-positive blood. Rh incompatibility can result in destruction of the fetus’s red blood cells, sometimes... read more ), she is given Rho(D) immune globulin by injection into a muscle within 3 days of delivery. This drug masks any of the baby’s red blood cells that may have passed to the mother so that they do not trigger the production of antibodies by the mother. Such antibodies may endanger subsequent pregnancies.

Before discharge

Before a new mother leaves the hospital, she is examined. If mother and baby are healthy, they commonly leave the hospital within 24 to 48 hours after vaginal delivery and within 96 hours after a cesarean delivery. Sometimes discharge is as early as 6 hours if no general anesthetic was used and no problems occurred.

The mother is given information about changes to expect in her body and measures to take as her body recovers from having a baby. Regular follow-up visits are scheduled, usually starting at 3 to 8 weeks after delivery. If delivery was cesarean or if problems occurred, the first visit may be scheduled sooner.

Continuing From Hospital to Home

Coping with some changes begins in the hospital, depending on how soon hospital discharge occurs, and continues at home.

Discharge from the vagina

New mothers have a discharge from the vagina. Staff members give them pads to absorb it. Staff members also check the amount and color of the discharge. Usually, it appears bloody for 3 or 4 days. Then it becomes pale brown, and after about 2 weeks, it becomes yellowish white. The discharge may continue for up to about 6 weeks after delivery.

About a week or two after delivery, the scab over the site where the placenta was attached in the uterus comes off, causing vaginal bleeding of up to about a cup. Sanitary pads, changed frequently, may be used to absorb this discharge. Tampons should not be used until the woman's practitioner approves their use. If women are concerned about heavy bleeding, they should contact their doctor.

Drugs

Mothers who are not breastfeeding may safely take drugs to relieve pain.

For women who are breastfeeding, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are relatively safe pain relievers. Many other drugs appear in breast milk. Women who need to take drugs while breastfeeding Medication and Substance Use During Breastfeeding When women who are breastfeeding have to take a medication, they wonder whether they should stop breastfeeding. The answer depends on the following: How much of the medication passes into the... read more should talk to their doctor about it.

Genital area

The area around the vaginal opening is usually sore, and the area may sting during urination. Tears in the perineum or episiotomy repairs can contribute to the soreness and cause swelling.

Immediately after delivery and for the first 24 hours, ice or cold packs may be used to relieve the pain and swelling. Anesthetic creams or sprays can be applied to the skin.

Later, washing the area around the vagina with warm water 2 or 3 times a day may help reduce tenderness. Warm sitz baths can help relieve pain. Sitz baths are taken in a sitting position with water covering only the perineum and buttocks.

Women should be careful when sitting down and, if sitting is painful, use a doughnut-shaped pillow.

Hemorrhoids

Pushing during delivery can cause or worsen hemorrhoids. Pain caused by hemorrhoids can be relieved by warm sitz baths and applying a gel containing a local anesthetic.

Breast engorgement

The breasts may be enlarged, tight, and sore because they are engorged with milk. Engorgement occurs during the early stages of milk production (lactation).

For mothers who are not going to breastfeed, the following can help:

  • Wearing a snug-fitting bra to elevate the breasts and thus help suppress milk production

  • Applying ice packs and taking analgesics (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to help relieve discomfort until milk production stops on its own

  • Refraining from manually expressing milk, which can increase milk production because expressing milk tells the body more milk is needed.

For mothers who are breastfeeding, the following can help until milk production adjusts to the baby’s needs:

  • Feeding the baby regularly

  • Wearing a comfortable nursing bra 24 hours a day

  • If the breasts are swollen and very uncomfortable, expressing milk by hand in a warm shower or using a breast pump between feedings (however, this measure tends to stimulate milk production and prolong engorgement)

If the breasts are very swollen, the mother may have to express her milk just before breastfeeding to enable the baby’s mouth to fit around the areola (the pigmented area of skin around the nipple).

Did You Know...

  • When breasts are engorged with milk, expressing milk between feedings temporarily relieves the pressure but overall tends to make engorgement worse because it tells the body more milk is needed.

Mood

Sadness (baby blues) is common during the days after delivery. Women may also feel irritable, moody, or anxious and may have difficulty concentrating or sleep problems (too much or too little). These symptoms usually disappear after 7 to 10 days. However, if these symptoms continue for longer than 2 weeks or interfere with taking care of the baby or doing daily activities, new mothers should talk to their doctor. In such cases, postpartum depression Postpartum Depression Postpartum depression is a feeling of extreme sadness and loss of interest in usual activities during the first few weeks or months after delivery. Women who have had depression previously are... read more or another mental health disorder may be present.

Home (What to Expect)

A new mother may resume normal daily activities when she feels ready. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help a new mother recover and feel healthy.

She may resume sexual activity as soon as she desires it and it is comfortable. Sexual activity should be delayed until the affected area heals if

A new mother may take showers, even if the delivery was cesarean. Baths should not be taken until healing is complete. The genital area should be washed from front to back. If the area is sore, using a spray bottle of water or taking sitz baths may be more soothing. Women should not douche until they ask their doctor about it at their first postdelivery visit.

After a vaginal or cesarean delivery, nothing, including tampons and douches, should be put in the vagina for at least 2 weeks. Strenuous activity and heavy lifting should be avoided for about 6 weeks. Sexual activity should also be avoided for 6 weeks. The incision site should be cared for in the same way as other surgical incisions. Showering can typically be resumed 24 hours after surgery. Care should be taken not to scrub the incision site. Baths should be avoided until the wound is completely closed and any staples or sutures have been removed. The incision site should be kept clean and dry. Any evidence of increasing redness or drainage from the incision should be brought to the doctor’s attention. Pain around the incision site can last for a few months, and numbness can last even longer.

Abdomen

The uterus, still enlarged, continues to contract for some time, becoming progressively smaller during the next 2 weeks. These contractions are irregular and often painful. Contractions are intensified by breastfeeding. Breastfeeding triggers the production of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin stimulates the flow of milk (called the let-down reflex) and uterine contractions.

Normally, after 5 to 7 days, the uterus is firm and no longer tender but is still somewhat enlarged, extending to halfway between the pubic bone and the navel. By 2 weeks after delivery, the uterus returns to close to its normal size, and after 4 weeks, it usually returns to its normal size. However, the new mother’s abdomen does not become as flat as it was before the pregnancy for several months, even if she exercises.

Stretch marks do not go away, but they may fade, but sometimes not for a year.

Breastfeeding

Doctors recommend that women breastfeed Breastfeeding Breast milk is the ideal food for newborns and infants. Although babies may be fed breast milk or formula, the World Health Organization (WHO) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend... read more Breastfeeding without supplementing with other foods for at least 6 months. Then women should continue to breastfeed for another 6 months while introducing other foods. After that, women are encouraged to continue breastfeeding until they or the baby is no longer interested.

Mothers who are breastfeeding need to learn how to position the baby during feeding. If the baby is not positioned well, the mother’s nipples may become sore and cracked. Sometimes the baby draws in its lower lip and sucks it, irritating the nipple. In such cases, the mother can ease the baby’s lip out of its mouth with her thumb. To remove her nipple from the baby's mouth, the mother should first slide her finger into the baby's mouth to break the suction caused by sucking. This maneuver can prevent the breast from being damaged and becoming sore.

After a feeding, the mother may let the milk dry naturally on the nipples or gently pat them dry. If she wishes, she can dry her nipples with a hair dryer set on low. After breastfeeding, women can apply 100% lanolin to the nipples. Doing so can relieve soreness and help protect the nipples.

When a mother breastfeeds, the breasts may leak milk. Cotton pads can be worn to absorb the milk, but plastic bra liners can irritate the nipples and should be not be used.

While breastfeeding, mothers need to increase their caloric intake by about 300 to 500 calories per day. They should also increase their intake of most vitamins and minerals, such as calcium. Usually, eating a well-balanced diet (including enough dairy products and green, leafy vegetables) and continuing to take a prenatal vitamin with folate once a day are all mothers need to do. Prenatal vitamins should contain at least 400 micrograms of folate. They should drink enough fluids to ensure an adequate milk supply. Mothers on special diets should consult their doctor about the need for other vitamin and mineral supplements, such as vitamin B12 for vegetarians.

Breastfeeding
VIDEO

Did You Know...

  • Women can become pregnant as early as 2 weeks after having a baby.

Family planning (birth control, or contraception)

Use of birth control is recommended when sexual activity resumes because pregnancy is possible as soon as the mother begins to release an egg from the ovary (ovulate) again.

Mothers who are not breastfeeding usually begin to ovulate again about 4 to 6 weeks after delivery, before their first period. However, ovulation can occur earlier.

Mothers who are solely breastfeeding tend to start ovulating and menstruating somewhat later, closer to 6 months after delivery. However, sometimes a mother who is breastfeeding ovulates, menstruates, and becomes pregnant as quickly as a mother who is not breastfeeding. Mothers who are breastfeeding should talk to their doctors about when to start using contraception.

Full recovery after pregnancy takes time. So doctors usually advise a new mother to wait at least 6 months and optimally 18 months before becoming pregnant again (although she may choose not to follow that advice). At her first doctor’s appointment after delivery, a new mother can discuss birth control options Overview of Contraception Contraception is prevention of ovulation (stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs) or prevention of fertilization of an egg by a sperm (conception) or prevention of attachment of a fertilized... read more with her doctor and choose one that suits her situation.

A woman can start asking her doctor about birth control during pregnancy. Some forms of birth control can be started within a few days after giving birth. These forms include tubal ligation Tubal Sterilization Permanent contraception involves making a person incapable of reproduction. Disrupting the tubes that carry sperm or the egg ends the ability to reproduce. This form of contraception should... read more (permanent contraception) or placement of an intrauterine device Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small, flexible, T-shaped plastic devices that are inserted into the uterus. In the United States, 12% of women who use contraception use IUDs. IUDs are popular... read more Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) (IUD). Whether a mother is breastfeeding affects the choice of contraception used. Birth control pills or contraceptive patches or vaginal rings that contain estrogen and progesterone can interfere with milk production and should not be used until milk production is well-established. Progesterone-only contraceptives, medroxyprogesterone acetate injections Contraceptive Injections Contraceptive hormones can be Taken by mouth (oral contraceptives) Inserted into the vagina (vaginal rings) Applied to the skin (patch) Implanted under the skin read more Contraceptive Injections , progestin implants Contraceptive Implants Contraceptive hormones can be Taken by mouth (oral contraceptives) Inserted into the vagina (vaginal rings) Applied to the skin (patch) Implanted under the skin read more Contraceptive Implants , or IUDs can be used, but methods that do not use drugs, such as condoms, a diaphragm, or some IUDs, do not interfere with breastfeeding. A diaphragm can be fitted only after the uterus has returned to normal, usually after about 6 to 8 weeks. Before that, foams, jellies, and condoms can be used.

Women who have completed their family may choose permanent contraception Tubal Sterilization Permanent contraception involves making a person incapable of reproduction. Disrupting the tubes that carry sperm or the egg ends the ability to reproduce. This form of contraception should... read more . These surgical procedures involve cutting or blocking the fallopian tubes to prevent sperm from reaching the egg and fertilizing it.. These procedures can be done after the baby is delivered, when a cesarean delivery is done, or after the postpartum period (the 6 weeks after the baby is delivered). These procedures are considered permanent and irreversible.

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Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Pitocin
7T Gummy ES, Acephen, Aceta, Actamin, Adult Pain Relief, Anacin Aspirin Free, Aphen, Apra, Children's Acetaminophen, Children's Pain & Fever , Children's Pain Relief, Comtrex Sore Throat Relief, ED-APAP, ElixSure Fever/Pain, Feverall, Genapap, Genebs, Goody's Back & Body Pain, Infantaire, Infants' Acetaminophen, LIQUID PAIN RELIEF, Little Fevers, Little Remedies Infant Fever + Pain Reliever, Mapap, Mapap Arthritis Pain, Mapap Infants, Mapap Junior, M-PAP, Nortemp, Ofirmev, Pain & Fever , Pain and Fever , PAIN RELIEF , PAIN RELIEF Extra Strength, Panadol, PediaCare Children's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Children's Smooth Metls Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Infant's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, Pediaphen, PHARBETOL, Plus PHARMA, Q-Pap, Q-Pap Extra Strength, Silapap, Triaminic Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Triaminic Infant Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Tylenol, Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol 8 Hour Arthritis Pain, Tylenol 8 Hour Muscle Aches & Pain, Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol Children's, Tylenol Children's Pain+Fever, Tylenol CrushableTablet, Tylenol Extra Strength, Tylenol Infants', Tylenol Infants Pain + Fever, Tylenol Junior Strength, Tylenol Pain + Fever, Tylenol Regular Strength, Tylenol Sore Throat, XS No Aspirin, XS Pain Reliever
Advil, Advil Children's, Advil Children's Fever, Advil Infants', Advil Junior Strength, Advil Migraine, Caldolor, Children's Ibuprofen, ElixSure IB, Genpril , Ibren , IBU, Midol, Midol Cramps and Body Aches, Motrin, Motrin Children's, Motrin IB, Motrin Infants', Motrin Junior Strength, Motrin Migraine Pain, PediaCare Children's Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer IB, PediaCare Infants' Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer IB, Samson-8
LanaShield, Soothe & Cool
Amen, Depo-Provera, Depo-subQ Provera 104, Provera
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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