After Pregnancy

Your Body after Pregnancy

After birth, your uterus continues to contract. Cramps are most noticeable in the first few days. They may be more painful if you have had other children. Cramps are often felt most strongly while you breastfeed. Breastfeeding helps your uterus contract and get smaller. They usually disappear after the first week. If they are severe, ask your health care provider about using something for pain.

Vaginal Discomfort and Care

The area between your legs (perineum) may be sore, bruised, and swollen. If you have stitches, you may feel more pain. To ease discomfort:

• Cool the area with crushed ice or tap water for short‑term relief. Do not put ice directly on your skin. Place a towel or pad between the ice and the skin.
• Clean your perineum by pouring warm water over your vaginal area or sitting in a warm bath.
• Use pain relievers as needed.
• Sit on a soft cushion to relieve pressure on your bottom.
• Continue to do Kegel exercises.

Vaginal Bleeding (Lochia or Flow)

Following the baby’s birth there will be bleeding and discharge from the vagina. This flow will usually last from two to six weeks. In the first two to three days, this flow is dark red with small clots about the size of a loonie. It should soak less than one maxi‑pad in two hours and not smell bad. Flow then lessens and becomes brownish to pinkish in colour, similar to bleeding during the last days of a menstrual period. After the tenth day, the discharge is yellowish white or brown. If your flow does not become less or smells bad, call your health care provider. Caution: use pads, not tampons, until any incision or vaginal tears are healed.

Menstruation (Period)

Your period may not start as long as your baby’s only source of food is breastfeeding. If you do not breastfeed, your period will usually return four to nine weeks after the birth. You can become pregnant again before your period returns. If you do not want another pregnancy, use some form of birth control. For information about birth control, click here.

Urination (Peeing)

At first, it may be difficult to pee or tell when your bladder is full. It is helpful to pee at regular times to prevent the bladder from becoming too full. You may also find it hard to start peeing, or it may sting. To help, you can pour warm water over your perineum or pee in the shower or bath.

You may have some leakage of urine for up to three months and sometimes longer after your baby is born. This is called urinary incontinence. A cough, sneeze, laugh, or physical activity can make this happen. Doing Kegel exercises can help to control urine leakage. For most women, this gradually goes away.

Bowel Movements

After birth, your bowels are often sluggish. This is due to stretched muscles, a sore perineum, and some pain medications. Most mothers have a bowel movement within two to three days after birth. To make bowel movements easier:

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
• Eat foods such as whole grains, bran, dried fruits (especially prunes and figs), fresh fruits, vegetables, and 100% fruit or vegetable juices.
• If the first suggestions do not work, try using stool softeners that can be bought at drug stores. Use them for a short time only.
• If you have stitches, you may find that supporting the area with a cool, clean, wet pad is comforting when you have your first bowel movement.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are painful, itchy and sometimes bleeding veins that bulge out around your anus. Hemorrhoids can develop in pregnancy or from the pushing and straining of birth. They often go away in a few weeks after birth. To help hemorrhoids:

• Try not to stand for long periods.
• Lie down to take pressure off your bottom.
• Keep bowel movements soft to avoid straining when going to the bathroom.
• Sit or soak in a warm bath to bring relief.

Strengthening Your Pelvis (Kegel Exercises)

Kegel exercises help to strengthen the vaginal and perineal area – the area between the vagina and anus. These muscles support the weight of your growing baby, and they also help you control passing urine and stool. Doing Kegel exercises during pregnancy and after the birth will help you strengthen these muscles. This will prevent you from leaking urine when coughing or laughing.

Kegel exercises can be done anywhere. Here’s how:

• Tighten the muscles around your vagina and anus, as if you were stopping the flow of urine. Do not do Kegel exercises by actually stopping your flow of urine when on the toilet. This can cause some urine to stay in your bladder.
• Hold the muscles tight for a count of 5 and work up to a count of 10. Repeat 5 to 10 times.
• Do this exercise often throughout the day.
• Do not hold your breath while tightening your muscles.

To prevent leaking urine, try tightening your pelvic floor muscles before you cough, sneeze, or lift.