Pregnancy And Baby Care Postpartum Depression Postpartum Body

• Tweet
• 

...the amniotic fluid, placenta and the baby.

After that, you can lose weight slowly and steadily over the next few months. Doctors often say that women take another nine months to come back to their original weight.

Postpartum Uterus

The uterus expands when you are carrying the baby inside you and still remains swollen after you deliver. About the size of a football, the uterus takes some time to shrink. It generally takes six weeks for this to happen, for the uterus to shrink to the size of a pear. But while it shrinks, you will feel cramps and more so, while breastfeeding because the hormone oxytocin is released when the baby is being breastfed and this triggers cramps. You'll also get a discharge for a few weeks or few months after the delivery. This is the 'lochia' which consists of tissue, mucus and blood.

Postpartum Breasts

In the last leg of pregnancy and a couple of days after the baby is born, colostrums is produced by the breasts. A pre-milk fluid, it is rich in nutrients and protein that is good for the baby's immune system. It takes a few days for the milk to come and during this time your breasts might swell up and become hard and painful. Your breasts will be heavy when you're breastfeeding.

Postpartum Sore Perineum

This is the area between the rectum and the vagina. If you've had a natural delivery and had an episiotomy or had a perineal tear, then you'll feel sore for a few days or more. It takes time for the incision to heal. You can use an ice pack or a sitz bath to get relief.

Caesarean Recovery

After the anaesthesia wears off, you may feel sore around the incision. You can take pain relief medicines or over-the-counter medicines to get relief.

Postpartum Stretch Marks

These are new mother's battle scars. You might get stretch marks on your breasts, abdomen and hips.

Postpartum Sweating, incontinence, haemorrhoids, constipation, and hair loss are some of the other things to look out for after delivery.