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Your postnatal body and wellbeing

postnatal wellbeing
Sophie Martin
Medically reviewed by
28th Mar 2022
 

Just as you had to adjust to all the physical and mental changes in pregnancy it’s exactly the same after the birth – except you've got to do it a lot more quickly and cope with the demands of a newborn at the same time!

Your breasts after giving birth

Immediately after the birth, your breasts will start to produce colostrum – a thick, yellowish liquid, rich in nutrients and antibodies, which is perfect for your baby’s first food. Your proper milk supply will start to come in, around day three or four– you won’t miss it, as you’ll notice your breasts getting swollen and tender.

Baby blues

You’re likely to feel a real mix of emotions in the days after the birth – joy at seeing your baby, relief you’re no longer pregnant and fear about how you’ll cope with motherhood. To add to the fun, your hormone levels, which were at an all-time high in pregnancy, suddenly crash. Nicknamed the 'baby blues', this feeling usually arrives at the same time as your breast milk and can make you feel miserable, anxious and tearful.

Most people usually find that they feel better within a short period of time, but if your low mood persists or worsens, make sure you talk to your midwife, GP or health visitor who will be able to assess whether you have postnatal depression by questioning you about how you are feeling.

Diet and exercise after giving birth

You’ll need to continue to eat healthily. This is especially important if you are breastfeeding. Try to eat a varied, well-balanced diet as this will also help to avoid constipation. If you are breastfeeding it is advisable to continue to take a 10mcg supplement of vitamin D daily.

You should be doing your pelvic floor exercises every day and can start to take gentle exercise, such as walking, soon after the birth, but wait until you’ve had your postnatal check before doing a more serious workout.

If you struggle with your weight, especially if your BMI is 30 or above, do ask for advice.  Local weight management classes may be available along with walking groups for new mums - your health visitor should know what’s available in your local area.

Your postnatal check

A check up six to eight weeks after the birth, is a great opportunity to discuss your physical and mental health and make sure your body is returning to normal after the birth.  Write down any concerns you may have so you can discuss them at your appointment. This is also a good time to talk about any problems you had during your pregnancy, labour and afterwards.   It is especially important that you are reviewed if you had pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes.

If you’re due a smear test, one will be arranged for you.

Ready for sex?

In general terms it’s usually safe to start having sex when you feel ready. However, a combination of breastfeeding, sleepless nights and feeling sore can make sex an extremely unattractive prospect for a while, so don’t worry if you feel that way – you’re perfectly normal.

Your sex drive should return in a few months, so in the meantime tell your partner how you are feeling so you don’t feel under pressure. When you do feel ready to have sex – take it easy at first, as hormone changes and breastfeeding can lead to vaginal dryness so you may find you need the help of a lubricant gel. 

Unless you want to become pregnant again you will need to think about which method of contraception you are going to use. Your midwife, GP or Family Planning Clinic will be able to give you advice about all types of contraception.

If you had a Caesarean section

Be prepared for your recovery time to be slower, after all, you've had major surgery. You are likely to stay in hospital for one or two days. The first few days after a C-section can be tough and you will be given medication to help relieve the pain.

You may be asked to wear compression stockings and be offered injections to prevent blood clots for 10 days after the birth. The urinary catheter placed in the bladder at the time of your section will be removed once you are able to be up and walking- usually between 12 and 18 hours after the surgery.

Make sure you take it easy when you get home and do things gradually, and try to get friends and family or your partner to help you. Seek medical advice before you start driving again and also check with your insurance company to make sure you are covered.

 

Approved by healthcare team

 

 

 

 

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