Baby Postpartum Period
And then the time has come: Your baby is born! Finally, you can touch your baby and look into their eyes. New emotions and hormones are surging through the body. A time is beginning in which many things will happen. Parents often feel that they are not fully prepared.
Therefore, read more information about the first week after birth in advance.
Maternity Days
The maternity days are meant for getting used to your newborn baby and recovering from childbirth. The postpartum period often brings many challenges: breastfeeding/bottle feeding, interrupted nights, changing diapers, taking the baby’s temperature, bathing the baby, receiving visitors, resting from delivery, etc. Of course, you’re not alone in this.
From the moment you give birth until the eighth day after delivery, a maternity nurse will visit you at home. This maternity nurse will initially help you with feeding and caring for the baby, ensuring that by the end of the maternity week, you have the skills and confidence to independently take care of your child.
We offer complete postpartum care through our own maternity care agency, called Kraamzorg Margriet Robin. Because our maternity care agency is within our practice, we can respond quickly to developments. We remain primarily responsible for your care during the postpartum period. Our maternity nurses keep us continuously informed of the latest developments.
If you’re using our maternity care services, you will have already received information about the first week and the postpartum period during intake. You can also read this information here:
- Maternity Week Instructions
- Instructions for Concluding the Maternity Week
Administrative Matters
The most important thing this week is, of course, recovering and enjoying your baby. However, there are some things you need to arrange:
- Contact maternity care.
- Register the birth at the municipality
- Add your child to one of your health insurance policies.
Heel Prick
When the baby is older than 72 hours, we can perform the heel prick. For the heel prick, we need a few drops of blood which we collect on a specially designated form. The blood is tested for diseases that are treatable if detected early. More information can be found in the brochures you receive when registering your baby.
Physical Recovery
Physical recovery after childbirth varies greatly from woman to woman. Don’t compare yourself with others, but experience how it will be for you. It’s important not to force anything and to gradually resume physical activity. Read through the topics below for important tips.
Pelvic Floor
Breasts
Your breasts change during pregnancy and even more after delivery. Even if you’re not breastfeeding, you may experience engorgement. If you are breastfeeding, common issues include: sore nipples, cracked nipples, engorgement, hard spots, mastitis. In addition to our care in the first week, you can receive extra support from a lactation consultant for feeding problems.
Stitches
Many women need stitches after delivery due to a tear or episiotomy. We always use dissolvable stitches that typically dissolve on their own. The wound may be painful and swollen for the first few days. The best treatment is taking paracetamol, keeping the wound clean with tap water/chamomile tea, and letting the wound air-dry by occasionally lying in bed without underwear. Sometimes cold compresses can provide relief. After the first 2-4 days when swelling decreases, it’s good to start moving again and try sitting on a hard chair. Don’t use a donut cushion! Movement stimulates blood flow which promotes wound healing. After 6-7 days, the wound might feel ‘tight’ – this is a sign that the wound edges are properly aligned and healing! If you still have ‘tight’ complaints from the stitches a week after delivery, we can remove them for you.
After a cesarean section, you’ll have stitches in your abdomen that usually dissolve on their own. An abdominal wound remains painful longer, making movement difficult in the first days. However, it’s still important to gradually start moving as much as you can handle. Walking to the bathroom or going from the bed to the living room is already quite an achievement!
Complete wound healing takes at least 6 weeks, so continue to build up your activity gradually during the first weeks and don’t force anything if you experience pain.
Psychological Issues
Becoming a mother is no small matter – adjusting to a new rhythm, processing the birth experience, and dealing with physical discomfort. Additionally, you may experience hormonal imbalances after delivery. For many women, this imbalance peaks on the 4th day after delivery. You might feel emotional, somewhat down, or sad. Usually, don’t panic! Let all emotions come and discuss them with your partner, loved ones, maternity nurse, and/or with us. Often you’ll notice improvement over the following days. If you or those around you notice that you’re unable to regain emotional balance, let us know! Persistent gloomy thoughts or behavior unusual for you are signals that you might need some help. Postpartum depression occurs in 10-15% of all new mothers and is certainly not rare. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help, either from us or your general practitioner.
Cesarean Section
You may have delivered by cesarean section. Perhaps you knew this in advance, or this decision was made during delivery. As a result, you might have many questions about recovery after a cesarean section. You can find good and reliable information about this in the links below. Generally, recovery after a cesarean section is more challenging and takes longer than after a vaginal delivery. Therefore, take it very easy for at least 6 weeks, don’t push your limits, and make sure to lie down regularly. For more information, check out I had a cesarean section
Postnatal Check-up
If you wish, you can come back to us for a postnatal check-up. During this appointment, you’ll have time to ask questions about your pregnancy or delivery, and we’ll perform some checks. If desired, this appointment will take place around six weeks after your delivery.
Contraception
Although you may not have menstruation again after four weeks, you can be fertile after delivery. Therefore, think carefully about the contraception you want to use. If you’re not breastfeeding, you can choose from all forms of contraception: condom, IUD, pill, NuvaRing, etc. Are you breastfeeding? There are still plenty of options, namely condoms, the pill, implant, or IUD. The IUD is only inserted 12 weeks after delivery. At Verloskundigen praktijk Margriet, we are certified to insert IUDs and implants ourselves. We will discuss this with you during the postpartum period.
