As soon as you deliver the baby, all your attention shifts to her, and the chances are high that you might ignore your health. However, you should not do that. Never neglect yourself because in pregnancy your body goes through various changes and it needs utmost care after that too. Not taking care of yourself in the appropriate way can result in injury to the uterus or infections. You can have various complaints postpartum.
One can have various symptoms ranging from vaginal dryness to discharge and soreness. Make sure you attend the visits with your healthcare providers even after delivery. You must consult them as soon as possible. Please do not take your health lightly because sometimes you might have serious infections. To get an expert opinion, you can visit a gynecologist doctor in Lahore.
Pregnancy affects not only your body when the baby is there in your uterus but after that too. In this article, we will tell you some common complaints that occur after pregnancy and how to cope with them.
Vaginal Tear
You can have a vaginal tear during delivery if your baby’s size is too big to deliver. Or your healthcare providers may make an incision in your vagina for easy passage of the child through the birth canal. It can cause soreness or discomfort in the vagina. To ease that you can:
- Use a pillow or a padded ring to sit on.
- Place a cube of ice in the area where you have soreness. You can also insert the ice pack in your napkins and cool the sore area.
- Use a squeeze bottle to pour warm water when you are passing urine at the perineum.
- Sit in a warm bath for five to ten minutes. However, you can also sit in cold water if you find it soothing. You should choose things that make you feel comfortable and relieve soreness.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to relieve pain at the incision site.
- Ask the doctor to prescribe numbing spray that you can apply to the area so that you do not feel the pain.
- Tell your healthcare provider to prescribe you a stool softener or laxative for an easy bowel movement so that you do not have to strain while passing stool.
However, if you have severe and persistent pain, inform your healthcare provider about it as it can be due to infection.
Contractions
After the baby’s birth, you might have uterus contractions called afterpains. They are common when you breastfeed the child. After pains occur prevent excessive bleeding from your uterus which occurs because your uterus compresses blood vessels. They resemble menstrual cramps. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever for them.
Vaginal Discharge
When the baby is inside the uterus, there are many layers surrounding her. After delivery, those linings shed in the form of vaginal blood and discharge. In the initial days, there will be heavy blood discharge. With the passage of days, it will become pinkish brown to light yellow and more watery.
If you have heavy vaginal bleeding, accompanied by fever, you should consult the healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Urinary Incontinence
During a normal delivery, you might injure your pelvic floor muscles that support your uterus, rectum, and urinary bladder. When they become weak, you might leak a drop of urine or a few while coughing, laughing, or sneezing. The problem might subside in some days but sometimes it might take longer. Make sure to perform Kegel exercises that can help regain muscle tone. In the meantime, you can wear sanitary pads to prevent leakage.
Tender Breasts
Post-pregnancy, your breasts might feel tender and sensitive to the touch. It can happen due to breast engorgement. To relieve it, you can use a warm compress and take over-the-counter pain relievers. Along with that, make sure you wear a supporting bra. If you are not breastfeeding, you can choose a sports bra.
Hair Loss
When you are pregnant, the hormone level is up which causes your hair to grow faster than they fall. And after delivery, you have to pay back. Your hair falls more than usual.
The Bottom Line
After pregnancy, you might have various complaints. If you have some serious complaints, make sure to visit the healthcare provider. To get an expert opinion, consult Hashmanis Hospital.
