Postpartum Recovery: What Every Mother Needs to Know

Everything changes after you give birth: your routine, your sleep cycle and your body! At the same time, many new mothers describe an overwhelming sense of completeness after meeting their baby. But as you begin learning to care for a newborn, one important aspect you may overlook is your own recovery. 

Postpartum recovery, as most people call it, is a period where healing is of utmost importance. While people quote it as a period to bounce back, it's more than just going back to normal. The postpartum period is more about giving your body time, care and support that it needs after one of the most physically and emotionally draining experiences of your life. From physical recovery to emotional well-being, understanding what your body needs to recover can make a big difference in how you feel in the months ahead. 

Read along the blog as we explore all about postpartum recovery and what you can do to make your postpartum journey easier! 

Key Takeaways

• Postpartum recovery is not just about bouncing back. It is about healing, rest and giving your body the care it needs after childbirth. 
• The first 6-8 weeks after childbirth are essential for complete recovery and healing. 
• Recovery looks different for every mother, depending on the delivery type. 
• Your body goes through multiple changes, including uterine shrinking, bleeding, breast changes, fatigue and hormone fluctuations. 
• Postpartum occurs in 3 stages: acute (first 6-12 hours), subacute (24 hours to 6 weeks), and delayed (6 weeks to 6 months+) 
• Emotional changes are just as important as the physical symptoms. 
• You must know when to seek medical help. Symptoms like heavy bleeding, fever, chest pain or severe headaches need immediate medical attention. 

Postpartum Recovery

The first 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth are known as the postpartum period. While some recovery milestones during this period can differ from person to person based on whether you had a vaginal or a cesarean delivery, during this time, your body starts to experience big changes. These changes include physical healing after childbirth and hormonal changes. It's very common for the first few months to feel like a whirlwind. Most women experience the following recovery milestones in the first few months. 

• The uterus starts to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size, which can trigger cramping and vaginal bleeding 
• Hormonal fluctuations resulting in mood changes, headaches, and hot flushes become a normal 
• You start producing breast milk 
• If you had a vaginal delivery, you may experience perineal pain (the area between the vagina and anus) 
• If you had a C-section delivery, you may be sore around the incision site for a few days 
• Pregnancy swelling, if you had any, will start to go down 
• Labour, followed by taking care of a newborn will make you feel exhausted

Postpartum complications are not that common. However, you must reach out to your doctor in case you experience: 

• Chest pain 
• Heavy bleeding
• Severe headache 
• Fever 
• Signs of infection 

Three Stages of Postpartum

There are three main stages of postpartum that are divided as the acute phase, the subacute phase and the delayed phase.

1) Stage 1: The Acute Postpartum Period 
(First 6-12 Hours after delivery)

This is the immediate phase after the birth of your baby. It is a time of rapid physiological change where the focus must be on you. New mothers will experience a mix of physical and emotional symptoms that are the aftermath of delivery. During this acute phase, your medical practitioner will closely monitor vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate, along with checking for signs of excessive bleeding or swelling. While complications are uncommon, conditions such as postpartum haemorrhage can occur and require prompt medical attention.

2) Stage 2: The Subacute Postpartum Period 
(24 Hours to 6 Weeks after childbirth)

This phase is the time for physical healing. It also includes an overwhelming adjustment to the presence of a newborn in your life. This is the phase where your initial adrenaline wears off, and the reality of being on your toes sets in. Your body is still healing, but the risk of complications may still be there. The doctor will still schedule visits to monitor and rule out conditions like postpartum depression and urinary incontinence. This is also the time when you must maximize rest, nourish your healing body and start strengthening your pelvic floor muscles.  

3) Stage 3: The Delayed Postpartum Period 
(6 Weeks to 6 Months and sometimes longer)

After the subacute phase comes the phase that focuses on long-term recovery for new mothers. The body’s muscles and tissues gradually start to return to a state similar to before the pregnancy. New moms can develop pelvic floor dysfunction, they may encounter painful intercourse, and may also experience uterine prolapse. Your physician, however, will be able to advise you about how to recover from the problems.

Physical Symptoms in the Postpartum Period

Most women experience the following physical symptoms during their postpartum journey. 

• Soreness and Pain (Perineum): Since the perineum stretches and sometimes ruptures, it may feel tender and inflamed after delivering the baby into the world. The best way to find comfort is to sit on a pillow, using warm water as a compress and using a cold sanitary pad. 
• Vaginal Discharge: Whether women have a vaginal birth or a C-section, they experience vaginal bleeding. The blood starts as a bright red colored discharge, which later turns to brown discharge for a duration of up to 6 weeks. Women are required to use sanitary pads during their postnatal period. Tampons are not allowed as they may cause an infection. 
• Uterine Involution: This phenomenon usually means the uterus shrinking back to its pre-pregnancy size, which takes around 6 weeks. Women may experience cramps, especially during this period and when they are nursing. 
• Breast Fullness: For the first several days, your breasts may feel swollen and painful as they prepare to feed the newborn. In case you have some trouble breastfeeding, you can seek your doctor's advice.
• Nipple Discomfort: Some women also experience cracked nipples and engorgement, which are part and parcel of breastfeeding. However, if breastfeeding becomes very painful, you must consult your doctor.
• Constipation: Women may have difficulties passing stool after childbirth. That is why doctors usually prescribe laxatives to relieve constipation for new mothers. 
• C- Section Recovery: C-section stitches take around 10 days to heal, and the deeper tissues can take around 12 weeks. Women are asked to watch out for any signs of infection from the incision or a fever. 
• Hair Loss: Hormone fluctuations can cause hair loss in the postpartum journey.

Emotional Symptoms

Some of the most common emotional symptoms experienced by women in their postpartum period include: 

• Baby blues, or the feeling where they would just want to feel like crying.
• Some women also go through postnatal depression. It can be defined by the sudden feeling of sadness or hopelessness. 
• Women also experience weight loss and will go through weight fluctuations as their weight has changed significantly during pregnancy. You may easily lose around 4-7 kg after the birth of your baby. 

Self-Care and Recovery in the Post-Partum Period

To get the most out of the time you get to recover and bond with your baby, before you go back to your normal routine. You must follow the listed steps to ensure complete healing and recovery. 

• Allow your body time to heal 
• Ask for help if something feels difficult 
• Limit visitors as you and the baby need a good amount of rest and time together 
• Hydrate well and consume nutritious food like lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• If you had a vaginal delivery, ensure you take care of your perineal area 
• You can slowly start exercising only when the doctor advises you to 

Conclusion:

The postpartum period is a journey to transition that demands a lot of adjustments from the new mother. Remember, you are not alone and that postpartum recovery is essential. You must also remember to be kind to yourself, nourish your health and reach out to your family and friends for help!