Caring For Yourself After Pregnancy

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to eat extra food for breastfeeding?
Can I drink alcohol while I am breastfeeding?
How soon after the baby is born can I start physical activity?
How soon after the baby is born can we have sex?
I am feeling sad, exhausted, and moody a lot. Is that normal?

Do I need to eat extra food for breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding women, who started their pregnancy at a normal weight, need 2 to 3 more Food Guide servings servings from Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. To find out how, click here.

Can I drink alcohol while I am breastfeeding?

It is best not to drink alcohol at all while breastfeeding. Alcohol may affect your baby’s sleep or decrease the amount of milk your baby takes at feeding time. Since breast milk is so good for your baby, you do not need to stop breastfeeding if you have a drink. Alcohol is not trapped in breast milk.

If you choose to drink alcohol, try to feed your baby before you have a drink. You can also wait for 2‑3 hours after a drink before you breastfeed. This allows the alcohol level in the breast milk to drop.

How soon after the baby is born can I start physical activity?

After a vaginal birth, most physical activities can be started again as soon as you are comfortable. Start slowly, then gradually build up the length of physical activity. If you have heavier and brighter bleeding after an activity, you need to slow down. After a caesarean birth, physical activities can be started when you are comfortable and have discussed your activity plans with a physiotherapist or health care provider.

How soon after the baby is born can we have sex?

You may have sex again when you feel ready, usually when vaginal bleeding has decreased and any tears or stitches have healed. It is normal for women to need time to “get in the mood.” Feeling well rested and lots of foreplay will help. Vaginal dryness can make intercourse uncomfortable, but using a sterile, water‑soluble lubricant in the vagina and/or on the penis can help. Before you start having sex again, ensure you have effective birth control. For more information on birth control, click here.

I am feeling sad, exhausted, and moody a lot. Is that normal?

In the first few days after birth, up to 80% of mothers feel distress. This is commonly called the baby blues. You may feel restless, irritable, tearful, tired, discouraged, sad, or helpless. You may swing between a feeling of sadness and a sense of happiness. You may suddenly feel full of energy and want to talk a lot. These mood changes can be due to many things, such as the quick drop of your hormone levels after birth or the pain and tiredness from your labour and birth. They can also be the result of looking after your baby for 24 hours a day and not getting enough sleep. Most of the time these baby blues do not last very long. They will go away on their own in one or two weeks.

A small number of women will go on to have what is called postpartum depression. As many as one in five women in British Columbia will experience a major depression during pregnancy or in the first year after childbirth. Postpartum depression can happen to women of all ages, cultures and levels of education. For more information about postpartum depression, click here.