A Guide To Your New Family's First Weeks - Meriter Health Services

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Vaginal Flow Your vaginal flow (lochia) will be bright red following birth. Your flow may seem like a moderate to heavy period. Because of the hormones you release while breastfeeding, you may have cramping and a change in vaginal flow. We can provide medications that may help relieve cramping discomfort. (See page 13-15 for more information about these medications.) Your nurse will check your flow often after delivery, and then about every eight hours until you go home. The nurse will also press on your lower abdomen to check to see if the top of your uterus (fundus) is firm. Your vaginal flow will slowly fade from pink to brown to clear, and last about 4-6 weeks after birth. If the bright red color returns or the quantity of flow increases, you are doing too much and should rest more. Call your health care provider if: • The bright red color or flow continues after resting, saturating a pad in 1 hour • You pass blood clots golf ball sized or larger • The flow has a foul smell • You are concerned about your flow and want to talk to someone Urination It is important to empty your bladder at least every six hours. When your bladder is empty, your uterus stays in its normal position more easily. Urinating often also prevents bladder infections. If you are unable to urinate the first six to eight hours after birth, we may need to insert a catheter to drain your bladder. In the first week after birth, you will urinate more often because you will be getting rid of fluids you may have retained during pregnancy. (You also get rid of extra fluids by sweating more.) Women are prone to urinary tract and bladder infections after birth because of the swelling, stretching and possible tearing to the pelvic area. Call your health care provider if you experience signs of an infection, which include: • Burning, itching or painful urination • Difficulty starting to urinate • A feeling of having to go “right away” • Cloudy or foul-smelling urine • If you are having urinary or stool incontinence after six weeks, tell your health care provider. Physical therapy may be helpful for you. Perineal Comfort You may have stitches from an episiotomy (an incision from the vaginal opening toward the rectum used to assist or speed delivery), or a small tear that did not need stitches. You may want to examine the area and stitches with a mirror, as the stitches are often smaller than you may imagine. These stitches will dissolve on their own. Your nurse will check this area for swelling and ask about discomfort. Again, nurses do these checks often at first and then about every eight hours or less if you have no concerns. To speed healing: • Use ice packs to help reduce swelling within the first 24 hours. • Use the peri bottle your nurse gives you to rinse every time you urinate or change pads. Doing so helps soothe swollen tissue and keeps the area clean. Until you have stopped bleeding, continue to use your peri bottle prior to using toilet tissue. • Your nurse will also give you an ointment to use to reduce discomfort. • Do not use tampons, douche or have intercourse until instructed by your provider. • After 24 hours, take a whirlpool or tub bath (a few inches of warm water in a clean tub) several times a day. Avoid using bath oils. • Change your position every 20 minutes. Sitting with your legs crossed under you or on a donut cushion may reduce pressure on the area. Do not over inflate the donut cushion; it should feel soft and flexible when you sit on it. • Your nurse will tell you about medications your health care provider has prescribed. Tell your nurses how the medications are working. • Stitches may feel uncomfortable for about seven to 10 days and heal in three to four weeks. 16
Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids are varicose veins (swollen blood vessels) in the rectum. You will be able to feel the hemorrhoids and may notice itching, bleeding or pain while having a bowel movement. Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy because the uterus increases pressure on the pelvic vessels, which causes the vessels to swell. The strain of pushing during your baby’s birth may cause more swelling. Hemorrhoids are usually most painful the first few days following your baby’s birth. Here are several things you can do to make yourself more comfortable: • Sit on a donut-shaped pillow. • Take warm tub baths after 24 hours. (Use the donut cushion in the tub for comfort, if necessary.) • Use Tucks ® Medicated Witch Hazel pads or other medications your doctor has prescribed for this area. • Avoid constipating foods such as cheese, bananas, etc. Eat high-fiber foods such as whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink extra fluids. Take a stool softener as needed. See medications on page 15. • Try not to put off a bowel movement or be concerned about your stitches. (During a bowel movement, press a clean peri pad to your vaginal area to support your stitches.) • If you have not had a bowel movement by three days after delivery, contact your health care provider. Swelling (Edema) During and After Pregnancy Swelling during and after your pregnancy is quite common. It is caused by the extra blood and fluids circulating through your body during your pregnancy. The swelling will gradually disappear within a week as your body gets rid of the extra fluid you retained during your pregnancy. Your kidneys will do most of this, which means you’ll be urinating more than usual. Your skin pores will also work to shed the extra water, so you’ll sweat more, too. Is it ever serious Postpartum swelling is rarely serious and will go away on its own. However, if the swelling does not resolve within a week or if you have bad headaches or pain in your legs, call your health care provider. Also, call immediately if the swelling is in only one leg or ankle and is accompanied by severe pain; it could be a sign of deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot). What To Do For Swelling During and After Pregnancy The best thing you can do to minimize swelling is drink plenty of fluids and eat foods low in sodium and high in potassium. Here are some other things to help lessen swelling: • Keep moving throughout the day. If you have to stand for long periods, shift your weight between your legs and stretch your legs periodically. • Wear support hose to help promote circulation in your legs. • When sitting or resting, raise your feet and legs. • Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight or uncomfortable. • Drink plenty of water throughout the day. • Exercise regularly if possible. Breasts • Non-nursing mothers may feel engorged. Cold compresses, a supportive bra or acetaminophen may help with breast discomfort. Your milk production will naturally stop in seven to 10 days. • For information about breast infections, see page 28. Breast Self-Exam Whether or not you are breastfeeding your baby, continue to do monthly breast self-examination. Pregnant and lactating women should follow the recommended guidelines for breast cancer screening: • Monthly breast self examination • Clinical breast exam by a trained health professional every three years • Baseline mammogram done at the age of 40 • Women between the ages of 40-49 should have a mammogram every one to two years Note: these recommendations are for women who are low risk and have no symptoms of breast cancer. Ask your provider for specific guidelines if you have risk factors. 17
Page 1 and 2: A Guide To Your New Family’s Firs
Page 3 and 4: If You’re Expecting.... We look f
Page 5 and 6: Nutrition and Feeding: Formula Feed
Page 7 and 8: Postpartum Medication Log and Infor
Page 9 and 10: Turn to this book and your doctor,
Page 11 and 12: • Your nurse will check on you ro
Page 13 and 14: Head The bones of your baby’s hea
Page 15 and 16: Mother Care The first weeks after g
Page 17: Postpartum Medication Information B
Page 21 and 22: Recovery From Cesarean Birth Becaus
Page 23 and 24: Nutrition and Feeding: Breastfeedin
Page 25 and 26: Helping Your Baby Latch to the Brea
Page 27 and 28: How Your Milk Changes Your body mak
Page 29 and 30: latching correctly, the easier and
Page 31 and 32: Expressing and Storing Breast Milk
Page 33 and 34: Lifestyle Issues Nutrition for Moth
Page 35 and 36: Nutrition and Feeding: Formula Feed
Page 37 and 38: During the first days of life, a ba
Page 39 and 40: Common Skin Conditions and Cord Car
Page 41 and 42: Caring for the Foreskin and Decidin
Page 43 and 44: the first few days of life, but can
Page 45 and 46: Tub Bath When the cord has fallen o
Page 47 and 48: Recognizing Illness Illness in a ne
Page 49 and 50: Why And When Do Babies Cry Crying i
Page 51 and 52: What Do I Do If I Feel Like I Am Lo
Page 53 and 54: Finding Childcare (The City of Madi
Page 55 and 56: To prevent flat head molding due to
Page 57 and 58: Sibling Relationships Most families
Page 59 and 60: Baby Blues The most common, least s
Page 61 and 62: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scal
Page 63 and 64: • Car seats should only be carrie
Page 65 and 66: Postpartum Medication Log To assist
Page 72 and 73:
How Is Breastfeeding Going Answer t
Page 74 and 75:
First Weeks Index 2010 Activity....
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Rooming In.........................
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Notes Use this section to take note
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The Birthing Center 202 S. Park Str
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