The body after birth
Your body needs time to recover. Be patient—it’s normal. It will take several weeks to get to a good level of energy.
Back home, if you see signs that worry you, don’t hesitate to contact the CLSC nurse or Info-Santé (8-1-1). You can also consult your prenatal care team.
The following pages provide information about the body after childbirth and about post-delivery care for both vaginal and caesarean deliveries.
After you return home, see a doctor or your midwife right away or go to the emergency room if
- You show signs of hemorrhaging
- You soak one regular sanitary pad an hour for two consecutive hours or
- You lose large blood clots (e.g., more than one egg-sized clot)
- You have a fever—temperature of 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher
- You have severe abdominal pain not relieved by analgesics
- You have difficulty breathing
- You have a new pain in your leg with swelling
- You have severe headaches, upper abdominal pain, or a sudden change in vision
Call 9-1-1 if you show signs of shock: agitation, weakness, paleness, cold and damp skin, sweating, confusion, palpitations.
Stitches
Don’t worry if you have stitches in your perineum: they will not tear when you have a bowel movement. After showering or bathing, gently dry the stitches before you get dressed.
If you had a caesarean delivery, it is important to dry the stitches on your belly thoroughly with a clean towel after taking a shower or bath. After seven days, you can remove any adhesive strips that have not come off by themselves. If you see any signs of possible infection (e.g., redness, discharge), see your prenatal care team or health professional.
Contractions
You may feel uterine contractions, especially while you are breastfeeding. If this isn’t your first pregnancy, you may experience more contractions than during previous pregnancies. If you need relief from the pain, contact your health professional.
Blood loss
After giving birth vaginally or by caesarean section, you will experience blood loss, known as lochia. For the first day or two, your blood loss will be heavier than during menstruation and will then diminish. If your bleeding increases instead of diminishing, consult your your prenatal care team or health professional.
Occasionally you may pass a blood clot. This happens generally in the morning after urinating or breastfeeding. So long as the bleeding lessens after passage of the clot there is no need to worry. Be aware that unusual physical effort may cause redder and more abundant lochia. See the attention box above to know when to see a health professional.
As the days go by, the colour and texture of the lost blood will change. It may be mixed with mucus (a whitish substance). The colour will gradually change from pink to brown, becoming paler, and it could turn yellow.
Lochia discharge usually last three to six weeks. During this time, use sanitary pads. Do not use tampons or a menstrual cup.
Bowel movements
It is normal not to have a bowel movement in the first two to three days after vaginal delivery and three to five days after a caesarean.
However, if you still haven’t had a bowel movement after this period, you may be constipated. Constipation is common after both vaginal and caesarean deliveries.
These tips can help:
- Gradually increase your intake of high fibre foods:
- Whole grain foods
- Vegetables and fruits (fresh, dried, frozen, or canned)
- Legumes and nuts
- Increase your daily water intake.
- Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the need.
- Gradually resume low-intensity physical activity when you feel able to do so (see Resuming physical activity).
If these measures aren’t enough, ask a health professional whether a laxative might help.
Urine
After the delivery, you may feel a burning sensation when urinating. If you do, try spraying your vulva with warm water while you urinate.
For information on urine leakage, see Perineum and pelvic floor below.
Hygiene
Hygiene is very important after giving birth. Here are a few helpful tips:
- Change your sanitary pad at least every 4 hours.
- Always wipe from front to back.
- Wash your hands after using the toilet.
- Wash yourself once a day or more, but do not use a vaginal douche.
If you had a vaginal birth, you can shower or take a bath in a clean tub at any time, but don’t use oil or bubble bath.
If you had a caesarean delivery, you can shower at any time. You can have a bath starting around five days after the procedure, as long as the incision is healing well.
The perineum and pelvic floor
Seen from the exterior, the perineum is the part of the body located between the vulva and the anus (see Female anatomy). Inside, the muscles of the perineum form a “hammock”—the pelvic floor. The muscles of the pelvic floor support your internal organs, including the uterus, bladder, and rectum. Among other things, the perineum helps prevent leakage of urine and feces.
During pregnancy and childbirth, the perineum adapts to facilitate the birth. After the baby is born, the pelvic floor muscles are stretched. It is also normal that the vulva looks different, e.g., the labia are more open.
After a vaginal birth, the perineum may remain sensitive for a while. In some cases, it may also be sensitive after a caesarean.
It can take several weeks or months before the pelvic floor muscles regain adequate muscle tone. Exercises for the pelvic floor muscles and the deep abdominal muscles can help restore proper muscle tone. It’s advisable to talk to your prenatal care team or your health professional to find out when to start doing these exercises and how to do them properly.
A third of all people who give birth experience urine leakage in the first few months after delivery. This is especially the case for those who have perineal tears or who delivered a large baby.
If you have urine leakage, pain during sexual relations, or any other concerns, don’t hesitate to talk to your health professional. If necessary, he or she can give you advice about specialized resources in perineal and pelvic floor rehabilitation (e.g., physiotherapy, sexology).
Weight
Some of the weight gained during pregnancy is lost with the delivery of the baby and placenta and the release of amniotic fluid. In the six weeks that follow, the uterus returns to its normal size. Blood volume and swelling also decrease, leading to further loss of weight.
After that, your body will gradually use up the fat reserves it accumulated during pregnancy. The pace of weight loss can differ from one woman and one pregnancy to the next. Be patient! It takes time to shed the weight you gained over nine months.
Going on a weight-loss diet is not recommended, especially if you breastfeed. A low-calorie diet can diminish your milk production and energy level. It is recommended that you eat a balanced diet (see Eating well) and maintain an active lifestyle (see Resuming physical activity).
Pregnancy transforms your body. Even if the weight gained can be lost within a few months, you may not get your pre-pregnancy silhouette back.
Give yourself time to accept these changes and don’t hesitate to talk about them with people you trust.
Fatigue
It’s normal to be tired after a vaginal or caesarean delivery. It takes a few weeks to get to a good level of energy. Be patient—your body needs time to recover.
Recovery speed and energy levels vary from day to day and from one person to another. It depends on things like the baby’s demands, your quality of sleep, and the help she has available. Despite your newborn’s needs, try to take care of yourself. If possible, try to sleep when your baby does.
If you’re concerned about your fatigue, don’t hesitate to contact Info-Santé (8-1-1) or your health professional. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.
All new mothers need rest and a helping hand to recover from the demands of childbirth.