What to Do Six Weeks After Giving Birth While Recovering From Delivery

Childbirth is painful, especially the labor pain that's why mothers need to have some recovery time from delivery.

Countless things are happening in the body and it will change a lot during pregnancy and after giving birth. Some of the changes after the delivery are physical, emotional, excessive stress, and breasts getting full of milk.

Bear in mind that discomforts and changes in the body are normal but sometimes they can be signs or symptoms of a health problem that requires treatment. Seek professional health as you will have medical checkups that will determine if you're recovering well from labor and birth.

Health care providers can identify and treat health conditions. The usual condition most new moms experience is Postpartum Depression, thus, postpartum and medical checkups are important as they can have life-threatening health complications days or weeks after giving birth, March of Dimes .

What to Expect After Giving Birth?

If the delivery is normal, you will experience perineum soreness as it stretches and may tear during labor and vaginal birth. It is a cut made at the opening of the vagina to let your baby out. The perineum is located between the vagina and rectum.

Afterbirth pains occur as the uterus shrinks back to its normal size after thepregnancy and those are belly cramps. It should vanish in a few days.

The uterus is circular and hard and weighs approximately 2½ pounds after you give birth. Six weeks after birth, it will weigh 2 ounces.

C-Section or Cesarean Birth may take a while for you to recover as it is a surgery whereas, your baby is born through a cut in your belly and uterus. You may feel exhausted for the first few days or weeks after a C-section as it is major surgery and you lost blood during the surgery.

The cut on your belly may be sore, thus, follow the instructions your doctor has given you and do not try to carry heavy things as your cut may open.

Breasts may be painful for a couple of days as the milk comes in and the nipples may be sore, per Kids Health .

Eventually Getting Back to Normal

Stitches need to be clean as much as possible to prevent any infection. Have a bath with warm water and carefully pat yourself dry. If stitches are sore, tell your doctor or midwife. Stitches dissolve by the time the cut has healed but sometimes they need to be taken out.

Always consult your pharmacists or midwife before buying over-the-counter painkillers, especially for those who breastfeed.
Peeing can be a bit terrifying due to the soreness. Drinking a lot of water dilutes the urines which makes them sting less.

Eat vegetables, wholegrain cereals, wholemeal bread, and fruits, and drink plenty of water.

Bleeding from the vagina after birth can be quite difficult at first and will require you to wear absorbent sanitary towels. Change the towels regularly and wash your hands before and afterward.

Using a tampon is not advisable until after a 6-week postnatal check as such could increase the chance of getting an infection, per NHS .

Make sure to consult your doctor about your health as they are knowledgeable enough about your situation.