Complications
following Childbirth: Signs and Treatments
As you spend hours caring
for your child, days and nights may start to blur together when you have a
newborn (and wonder if you'll ever get a full night of sleep again). It might
be simple to forget to take care of oneself because a baby requires almost continual
feeding, changing, rocking, and comforting.
It's very natural to feel
some pain and discomfort in the weeks following childbirth, but it's also
crucial to understand when "normal" stops. Unaddressed postpartum
difficulties might impede healing and result in long-term issues.
Keep in mind that while
your infant requires several things, you are one of the most crucial. Give your
body the attention it needs, look after yourself and consult your doctor if any
concerns.
Learn about some of the
most typical postpartum issues in the list below, as well as what to watch out
for and when to seek medical attention.
Ø A
lot of bleeding
While bleeding after
childbirth is common and often lasts for two to six weeks, some women may
experience severe bleeding.
Whether a woman gives
birth vaginally or via caesarean surgery, normal postpartum bleeding often
starts right away. It's typical to bleed profusely and pass large amounts of
crimson blood and clots right after giving delivery. (It can seem like you're
suddenly making up for those nine months’ hiatus!)
However, bleeding should
start to lessen in the days following delivery, and you should eventually start
to observe a diminished flow of darker blood that may linger for weeks. Each
day should bring a lighter flow, though there may be brief spikes with
increased physical activity or after breastfeeding.
When
to consult a physician?
·
If after three to four days your blood
flow hasn't decreased and you're still passing big clots or bleeding red blood
·
If your blood flow has slowed and then all
of a sudden start to get heavier or goes bright red again
·
If you're feeling a lot of pain or cramps
and the flow of blood is increasing
Excessive bleeding can be
caused by a variety of problems. In actuality, excessive exertion may result in
a brief rise. The most common solution for this is to sit down and relax. (We
are aware of how difficult it might be, but make time to sit and hold your
adorable new baby. However, more serious causes, including a retained placenta
or uterine insufficiency, can necessitate medical or surgical intervention.
Discuss your worries with your doctor if you have any questions.
Infection
It's no joke to give
birth. For a variety of causes, it might leave you with open wounds or sutures.
Even though it's unpleasant
to consider, many first-time mothers—and even those who give birth for the
second, third, and fourth time—experience vaginal ripping during childbirth.
This frequently needs stitches and usually happens while the infant is passing
through the vaginal opening.
You will receive stitches
or staples at the location of the incision if you give birth by caesarean
section.
After using the restroom,
you can use a squirt bottle to rinse the region with warm water if you have
sutures in the vaginal or perineal area. Always wipe from front to back (be
sure to remember this). To ease discomfort while sitting, use a doughnut-shaped
pillow.
While some discomfort is
common as the stitching or tear heals, an abrupt rise in pain is not indicative
of a healthy healing process. One indication that the area might be affected is
this.
After giving birth, some
women can develop other infections such vaginal, kidney, or urine infections.
Ø When
to consult a physician
·
Increased discomfort
·
Fever
·
Redness
·
warmth to the touch
·
Discharge pain
·
Pain when peeing is all indication of
infection.
The usual course of
therapy for infections is a straightforward course of antibiotics when they are
discovered early.
However, if an infection
worsens, you might need more intensive care or a stay in the hospital.
Therefore, it's imperative to call your doctor right away if you think you
could have an infection.
Constipation
or incontinence
It's not fun for anyone —
but it's also completely natural — to sneeze and pee your pants in the baby
section of Target. Contrary to popular belief, urinary incontinence is more
frequent right after childbirth. Although it's not harmful, this difficulty can
nonetheless be uncomfortable, embarrassing, and inconvenient.
Sometimes a straightforward
home exercise programme, like Kegels, can solve the problem. If your condition
is more severe, you could require medical attention to obtain relief.
Additionally, you can
have faecal incontinence, possibly as a result of birth trauma or weak muscles.
Rest assured that over time, this will also probably get better. Wearing pads
or menstruation underwear in the interim may be beneficial.
While being unable to
control one's urge to urinate may be a problem, being unable to do so is
another. You may get constipation and haemorrhoids starting with the first
stool after delivery.
Maintaining hydration and
making dietary changes may be helpful. Haemorrhoids can also be treated with
lotions or pads. Before using any laxatives or other drugs, see your doctor.
When
to consult a physician
·
In the days and weeks following
childbirth, many women will notice that urine or faecal incontinence
drastically lessens. If not, your doctor could have some recommendations for
pelvic floor strengthening activities.
·
You could require additional medical or
surgical care in specific circumstances.
·
The same is true for haemorrhoids or
constipation. Your doctor might be able to recommend additional therapies to
alleviate the issue if they persist as a problem in the weeks following
delivery or if your symptoms worsen.
Breast
ache
Breast soreness and
discomfort are typical postpartum consequences, whether you decide to
breastfeed or not. Approximately 3 to 5 days after giving birth, when your milk
starts to come in, you could have severe breast enlargement and discomfort.
It could be difficult for
you to obtain relief from engorgement pain if you aren't breastfeeding. Pains
may be reduced by applying hot or cold compresses, taking over-the-counter
painkillers, and taking warm showers.
As you and your baby
learn how to latch and nurse, you can also suffer nipple pain and discomfort if
you decide to breastfeed.
But it shouldn't be
painful to breastfeed anymore. Visit a lactation consultant for advice on how
to help your baby latch in a pain-free manner if your nipples start to break
and leak.
In the early stages of
milk production, whether you decide to breastfeed or not, you may be at risk
for mastitis – and later on, if you do. Mastitis is a painful breast infection
that is typically simple to treat with medications.
Ø When
to consult a physician
Symptoms of mastitis
include:
·
the colour of one's breasts
·
the touch fever and flu-like symptoms to
the breast feeling warm or hot
·
It's vital to continue breastfeeding while
simultaneously contacting your doctor if you have these symptoms. Antibiotics
may be necessary to treat mastitis.
v Postpartum
depression
In the weeks following
delivery, it's natural to experience some ups and downs or feel more emotional
than usual. Most women suffer the "baby blues" in some way.
However, if these
feelings persist for more than a few weeks or make it difficult for you to care
for your infant, it could be a sign of postpartum depression.
Even though postpartum
depression might feel incredibly difficult, it is manageable and doesn't have
to make you feel guilty or ashamed. Many women who seek treatment feel better
quite soon after they start.
When
to consult a physician
·
Visit your doctor as soon as possible if
you or your spouse are concerned that you may be suffering from postpartum
depression. To receive the support you need, be open and truthful about your
emotions.
Ø Other
problems
·
Other dangerous, less frequent
consequences after childbirth must be attended to right away for your health
and safety.
·
Following childbirth, some difficulties
that may affect women include:
o
occurrences related to sepsis in the heart
o
stroke from deep vein thrombosis embolism
When
to consult a physician
·
Always call your doctor if you experience:
chest pain difficulty breathing seizures thoughts about killing yourself or
your child
·
Fever, a headache that won't go away,
especially with blurred vision a red or swollen leg that is warm to the touch
bleeding through a pad in an hour or less or huge, egg-sized clots
You'll probably
experience some pain and weariness while caring for your newborn. It's crucial
to contact your doctor if you notice any symptoms or telltale signals that
anything may be wrong with your health. The majority of postpartum check-ups
take place up to 6 weeks after birth. But before that appointment, you
shouldn't delay to address any problems you're having. Most postpartum issues
can be resolved. By taking care of the problems, you can concentrate once more
on your child and feel assured that you are doing everything in your power to
ensure both their and your wellbeing.