How to Care for Your Body After Childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth both take tolls on your body. While your baby is likely the main focus of your attention after you give birth, you shouldn’t neglect your own body's needs in the weeks and months following the birth of your baby. 

Here at Women’s Health Services in Arlington, Texas, our dedicated team of OBGYNs provides you with detailed postpartum instructions. They assist you as you recover and can answer your questions about postpartum self-care as they come up. 

Our team guides you through the weeks and months after childbirth and makes sure you know the basics for making a complete recovery. 

Rest up

Rest is an essential part of recovery and should be one of your first priorities after you leave the hospital. It helps to have in place a support system of friends and family who can take care of your baby while you sleep or relax. 

In the same vein, you should avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting while you recover. This is true for any type of birth, but avoiding heavy lifting is particularly essential after a C-section. If you’re not careful, you could reopen the incision.

Although everyone in your life probably wants to meet your new baby and offer you an in-person congratulations, it’s important not to overdo it on visitors during the first few weeks after you give birth. This allows you plenty of time to get the rest you need and to conserve your energy.

Care for your physical health

Your body undergoes clear changes during pregnancy and childbirth. While it may not return to its exact prepregnancy state, the aftercare you give your body while you recover from giving birth helps you heal smoothly.

The uterus must shrink back to its original size during the weeks after childbirth. As this happens, cramping in the lower abdomen is common. You can safely manage your discomfort with ibuprofen.

Additionally, you’ll need to manage the sites of any incisions made as you gave birth. This includes episiotomy incisions as well as C-section incisions. It’s safe to shower or bathe despite having stitches in these areas, and a soothing bath or shower might alleviate some discomfort too. 

Know when to ask for help

The team at Women’s Health Services emphasizes the importance of familiarizing yourself with the signs of possible complications with your recovery after childbirth. Don’t hesitate to give our office a call rather than trying to handle possible complications all on your own. 

You should contact us if you experience:

• Fevers and chills
• Increased urinary frequency or burning
• Excessive or prolonged bleeding
• A persistent depressed mood
• Swelling, tenderness, or redness in your breast

Beyond the physical complications that can happen after you give birth, postpartum depression is prevalent among new mothers and can involve complex mental and behavioral changes, some of which can be dangerous to you and your new baby. Our team can discuss this condition with you further and tell you how to recognize the signs. 

Call us today or schedule an appointment online for more information on postpartum self-care and recovery.