Postnatal discomforts

BLOOD LOSS

During the first 24 hours after the birth you usually still have heavy blood loss. You may also lose clots, which are sometimes as big as an orange. If your sanitary pad is full within a quarter of an hour every time, there is heavy blood loss. If in doubt about the amount, you must contact us. During the postnatal week, the blood loss will become less and less and start to resemble a period. The blood loss can last four to six weeks in total. It is then no longer bright red blood loss, but somewhat browner. At the end of the postnatal period it will be more brown, white or yellow discharge. Sometimes, if you have done a bit more, you may have bright red blood loss again.

AFTERPAINS

Not every new mother suffers from afterpains. Women who gave birth quickly or women who gave birth to their 2nd or subsequent child are most likely to have them. Afterpains occur during the first days after the birth and will slowly decrease. During afterpains the womb contracts, which limits the blood loss. They can feel painful, especially when the baby is drinking at the breast.

Tips:

• When the bladder is empty, the womb can contract well. Even if you may not feel the urge, it is still sensible to empty your bladder every 3 hours.
• You can take a paracetamol tablet (without caffeine or codeine), maximum 8 tablets of 500 mg per 24 hours. You can also use paracetamol if you are breastfeeding. The amount the baby gets through breast milk is not harmful.

STITCHES

Whether or not you have stitches, good care of your pelvic floor is always important. The first days after the birth, urinating is often sensitive. This is because urine is acidic and may sting the wound a little. You can dilute your urine by drinking enough. You can also rinse with water while urinating, using a jug or by urinating in the shower. Even if urinating is sensitive, try not to put it off! Rinsing well and regularly with water is not only pleasant while urinating, it also keeps the wound clean. For good hygiene, change your sanitary pad regularly. The maternity care assistant checks your wound and calls us in if there is anything unusual. We will also check your wound regularly. Most stitches dissolve by themselves. In consultation with you, we will remove the remaining or painful stitches around the sixth day. These no longer have a function, but can still pull or itch painfully.

BABY BLUES

A lot happens in the postnatal period, and you usually sleep badly because of the night feeds. Most women have a dip on the 4th day after the birth: your breasts hurt from engorgement, the stitches pull, the hormones are racing through your body and there come the tears! Often it is a relief to have a good cry; sometimes they are also tears of happiness. If you continue to have depressive feelings, it is always important that you talk to someone about it, for example your midwife.

ENGORGEMENT

Engorgement is the enlargement of the breasts due to a large increase in milk (gland) production; the breasts feel painful and tight. Engorgement usually develops on the 3rd or 4th day after the birth of your child. If you suffer from engorgement, it is sensible to let your child drink often; sometimes that doesn’t work well or is too painful and it is better to express some milk. Wearing a firm bra or a breast binder can also give relief, especially if you are bottle feeding.