The postpartum period is defined as the 6-12 weeks after delivery. It is an important time for the new mother and her family. Your delivery may have been easy or complicated. Your body has experienced trauma and you need time to recover. That is the postpartum period. For some women recovery takes just 6-8 weeks, while for others it can take months. Importantly, it takes time to adjust to motherhood, whether this is your first child, or you have other children to care for as well as your newborn.

What happens in the postpartum period?

Your hormones are fluctuating, you are more emotional, you are tired and sore, you are sleep deprived, your hair is falling out and you may not be thinking clearly! Your job is to take care of the baby, but you also need to take care of yourself. Give yourself a break! Rest, eat well, and sleep when you can.

What to expect in the postpartum period?

• Abdominal pain (after pains) is commonly the result of the uterus shrinking back to size. If you breastfeed you may experience more pain because breastfeeding stimulates the release of a chemical that causes uterine contractions. This is entirely normal.
• The Baby Blues is the name for feeling sad, having crying spells, and anxiety after the new baby is born. The baby blues should last just a few weeks. If your sadness lasts longer or the feelings become more severe it may be postpartum depression.
• Postpartum depression is a real medical condition that affects as many as 1 in 7 women. It can happen any time during the first year after childbirth, but it most often begins within the first few weeks postpartum. Postpartum depression can make it challenging for you to care for your baby and the demands of motherhood. It is treatable. Reach out to Dr. Patel. NO need to be ashamed.
• Constipation from pain medications, and stitches.
• Hemorrhoids from the strain of delivery.
• The perineum, the tissue between your vagina and anus, may be sore and swollen from delivery, you may have torn this tissue, or it may have been cut to widen the vagina for childbirth, and you might have stitches. This can take a week or so to heal.
• If you are beginning breastfeeding you may have sore nipples. You breasts may hurt as they become engorged with milk.
• After birth you are likely to have vaginal bleeding and discharge (lochia) for several weeks. This is normal. It is the way your uterus cleans itself. Lochia happens even if you have had a C-section.
• Swelling in your hands and feet is normal too. It is caused by the hormone progesterone. It should only last a week or so as your hormones return to normal.
• Gestational diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t make enough insulin during your pregnancy. It affects 2%-10% of pregnancies in the US. About 50% of women who develop gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes. It usually goes away after delivery, but it is important to test your blood sugar for 6-12 weeks after birth and take measures to reduce your risk by exercising and eating a healthy diet.
• Skin to skin contact happens immediately after delivery for a good reason. It is time to begin bonding with the baby. It also stimulates milk production.
• Breastfeeding is one of the biggest challenges that generates worry. Will you be able to breast feed? Will you have enough milk? Human breast milk provides the best nutrition for your baby, and it contributes to bonding and the infant’s immunity and cognitive development. Breastfeeding helps protect the baby from illnesses and diseases. It is also beneficial to the mother, lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancer among other things. A lactation specialist can help.
• There are all sorts of common conditions like mastitis, and engorgement that can be frustrating. Breastfeeding doesn’t always work out and can be create frustration and can be a great disappointment. Importantly, babies fed with formula do thrive.
• If you feel like having sex, it is important to use contraception to prevent an unintended pregnancy. What if you are breastfeeding? Usually, when you breastfeed exclusively, your body naturally stops ovulating. There is no guarantee, however, that ovulation cannot occur on occasion. For this reason, it is recommended to use at least barrier contraception to prevent pregnancy.  Contraception is especially recommended if you pump breast milk or also feed the baby formula.

Dr. Dwaita Patel is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist at City OB+GYN in New York City, and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FACOG). She specializes in women’s health and provides all deliveries and major surgeries at Tisch Hospital/NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan.

Dr. Patel is smart and kind and finds great joy and fulfillment in her work. She offers the full scope of obstetrics including pre-pregnancy, prenatal, labor and delivery and postpartum care for low and high-risk patients. She also offers medical treatments and minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic conditions. Contact her to schedule a consultation today.