Enjoying Your Pregnancy Guide to Understanding - Brigham and ...

Your Prenatal Guide 39
YOUR OWN CHANGES DON’T STOP NOW
Now that your months of great expectations have taken the form of a baby boy or girl, you can expect more physical
and mental changes in yourself in the weeks right after birth.
You’ll be sore from delivery and quite tired. Your hormone levels will return to normal
and, in the process, your moods may swing much the same as in the beginning of
pregnancy. You may experience some mild depression commonly referred to as “baby
blues.” These feelings shouldn’t last very long. Postpartum depression is a serious
condition that is different from “baby blues.” Any questions or concerns should be
discussed with your obstetric care provider.
You’ll have a bloody vaginal discharge for a while, as the lining of the uterus sheds
completely. Your normal periods may not start again for several months if you are
breastfeeding.
Your uterus will continue contracting which enables it to return to original size.
Expect abdominal cramps for a few days, especially if this is your second or third
baby. These may happen more during breastfeeding since breastfeeding causes the
uterus to contract more noticeably.
You might have problems with constipation again, but your routine of eating lots
of raw fruits, vegetables, bran and drinking lots of water should take care of this.
If not, we can recommend a stool softener.
If you have problems urinating right after delivery, let us know. This can be
caused by the type of anesthetic, the size of the baby, or just general discomfort,
especially with stitches. But you need to completely empty your bladder. If you have
too much trouble in the hospital, we might empty your bladder with a catheter. This is
painless. But once you leave the hospital, you shouldn’t have any problems with this.
You can resume sexual intercourse after your six week checkup. Some methods of
birth control may be started before leaving the hospital. Please be sure to discuss postpregnancy
birth control options with us during your last month of pregnancy. To foster
intimacy between you, your partner and your new baby, try feeding your baby in bed,
cradled between the two of you.
Your stomach isn’t instantly going to be flat. Don’t expect to leave the hospital and be back
to your pre-pregnant size. Your stomach won’t get back to normal right away, but with
exercise, your abdomen should flatten out again in very little time. Depending upon your
condition, we may recommend that you start exercising just a few days after birth, or we may
ask you to wait a while longer if you had a cesarean birth or tubal ligation.
NOW YOU’RE A MOTHER!
IT’S A NEW EXPERIENCE...EVEN IF YOU HAVE OTHER
CHILDREN
Whether this is your first baby or your seventh, the thrill of seeing your
own infant for the first time is still there - tiny feet, tiny hands. A wonderful fresh chance for the world. All those
months of expectation have come to life in one tiny child, and we are happy to have been a part of it.
Before leaving Brigham and Women’s Hospital, your nurse will give you a booklet containing important information
about caring for yourself and your new baby at home. If you have any questions at any point during your pregnancy
or after you give birth, please ask us, as we are here to help you during this exciting time in your life.
Congratulations!