Your baby is here, but your body is still vulnerable. It is important to be on the lookout for postpartum complications.
Moms need to remain aware of our own bodies in the days and weeks after you give birth. Many postpartum signs are completely normal after delivery but some are not. It is normal to feel tired and have some overall soreness if you had a long or difficult labor and delivery. Some bleeding and/or small dark clots, incisional discomfort or perineal pain can be common as well. You may notice little contractions as your uterus is going back to normal. Depending on how breastfeeding is going, some nipple tenderness is common but if pain persists, cracks, bleeding or blisters appear, seek out additional help. Sleep deprivation and hormone level changes may also leave you feeling more emotional than usual, this is normal. If you can’t seem to shake these feelings, please reach out to your health care provider, OB, Midwife or Mental Health Provider (www.https://psychiatrytucson.com/)
If you had ANY complications during your pregnancy (pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes), your hospital stay (postpartum hemorrhage or deep vein thrombosis) or have a family history of (diabetes, heart, respiratory or genetic conditions) your OB or Midwife should have given you discharge instructions to be on alert for. PLEASE pay close attention to them.
Pay close attention to these postpartum complications discussed by Dr Jennifer Howell, D.O., FACOOG, Board Certified OB/GYN at Ironwood OBGYN (https://www.genesisobgyn.net/) and Colleen Laszakovits, RN-BSN, CPD, CLE, owner of Your Family’s Journey (http://www.yourfamilysjourney.com/)
Some symptoms can be signs of a more serious postpartum complication and you should contact your provider right away:
- heavy bleeding, soaking more than one pad an hour or bright red bleeding AFTER it has stopped
- large blood clots larger than an orange
- bad headache that doesn’t go away after taking medications
- blurred vision
- red or swollen leg/calf that feels warm or painful to touch
- fever over 101
- opening up of, severe pain or redness and discharge from a cesarean section incision
- sustained rapid heart rate
- weakness
- dizziness/feeling of fainting
- any severe pain
- redness/streaks/warmth/severe pain on breast(s)
- Persistent anxiety, depression, OCD
- If you can’t sleep, have no appetite or feel that you are not bonding with your baby
Call 911 if you are experiencing:
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- seizures
- having thoughts of harming yourself or your child
Some of these symptoms might not be as serious but your health care provider would rather see you and make sure nothing dangerous is happening, plus you will be reassured. Protect your health and don’t be afraid to speak up, share your medical history, be proactive and KEEP all scheduled postpartum check-ups.
