Your Body After the Birth of Your Baby
What will happen at my postnatal checkup? q2whn78ivz
Around six weeks after the birth of your baby, you will need to see your doctor for your postnatal checkup. During this appointment, the doctor will ensure that your body is returning to normal after the pregnancy and birth.
How long do I have to wait after my Caesarean before I can drive again?
It is generally thought best to wait for around four to six weeks before driving again following a Caesarean section. although there are no specific guidelines based on research on the subject. We would suggest that you wait until you feel that you have totally recovered from the operation and that you would be able to perform driving manoeuvres such as reversing and parking, as well as an emergency stop, without experiencing pain or discomfort. You would also need to feel comfortable with the car seat belt around you, as this will be directly over the area of your wound.
You should contact your insurance company as well to check their criteria, as some do not insure women to drive within a certain period following a major operation such as a Caesarean.
Postnatal exercise
You can exercise as soon as you warm to after your baby’s birth. The amount you do and how strenuous the exercise will depend on the type of birth you had and how much you exercised before you had your baby. Other considerations are whether you are breastfeeding and the amount of discomfort you feel. Always listen to your body as you will become uncomfortable if you do too much. Your body has just undergone an enormous change throughout the course of pregnancy and childbirth, particularly if you had a Caesarean section. There are also high levels of hormones still in your body, which can make you more supple and prone to injury If you are breastfeeding, you may just want to do gentle exercising until feeding is established. It’s a good idea to wear a supportive bra while exercising, and exercise following a feed rather than before one, which may make it more comfortable for you.
Exercises for 0-6 weeks
Always yarn up, wear” dthe correct footwear, and drink plenty of fluids while you are exercising. Stop and seek medical advice if you feel unwell or experience any severe pain or your bleeding increases. Although getting back to your pre-pregnancy shape is important for your wellbeing, do be patient with yourself as it will take time.
Which exercises can I do? Pelvic floor exercises can be commenced straight after the birth (see p.57). These important exercises help prevent you from leaking urine when you laugh, cough, or sneeze. The exercises involve drawing up and holding the pelvic floor muscles, tightening around the back and front passages, and then letting go. Make sure that you are tightening the pelvic floor (not your buttocks, thighs, or tummy muscles). Keep breathing and relax your other muscles.
Pelvicexercises can also be done lying on your side or ack with the knees bent and slightly apart.
Othe gentle exercises. like lying on your back with your kn.~es bent and doing pelvic tilts (pulling your belly-b !ton in and upwards towards your spine), are reco ended in the first few days after the birth (not if you h. d a Caesarean).Your abdominal muscles may have separated in pregnancy, so doing these gentle exercises will help them to reunite. The exercises
below will help strengthen abdominal muscles (avoid after a Caesarean and follow the exercise advice given by the hospital). Buildup exercises gradually, starting with one cycle and then repeating this as many times as you feel comfortable. Always breathe normally. Walking and swimming are excellent ways to build up your fitness levels once you have stopped bleeding.
What should I avoid in the first six weeks? Full impact and resistance exercising should only be done about six weeks after the birth, to prevent any strain on the pelvic floor area. Ask your fitness instructor for advice and gradually increase your exercise. Always let your instructor know that you have just had a baby, so exercises can be tailored to your needs. If you had
a Caesarean, your hospital will have given you a leaflet describing the sort of exercises you can do safely, and before you carry out abdominal exercises, such as situps, check with your doctor first: these are usually safe to do around 6-8 weeks after the birth.You can gently introduce single leg-raises while lying on your back once you feel ready probably after about a month.
I developed piles at the end of my pregnancy - will they go now the baby has been born?
haemorrhoids, are swollen veins in or around the anus. They are fairly common in pregnancy and after childbirth due to the weight and pressure of the baby s head pressing down. Most women find that haemorrhoids disappear within a month of giving birth, although a very small minority of women are not so fortunate and will need to discuss treatment optio-is with their doctor. In the meantime, if you are finding the haemorrhoids uncomfortable or itchy, there area few things you can try Applying a mate-nity cool pad to the area can be soothing (you can make your own by freezing a folded wet flannel), or you- doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a cream that can ease the discomfort. You should also try to avoid becoming constipated as straining to go to the toilet will make the piles
After an episiotomy
How to ease the discomfort of stitches
If you had an episiotomy, you may find that your perineum is quite uncomfortable after the birth, as the surrounding skin can swell, causing the stitches to become tighter, and sitting down becomes increasingly difficult. Here are some ways to relieve this discomfort. * Sit on a rubber ring to take the pressure off your sti hes and enable you to relax.
pply a cooling gel pack to the area, or ask your midwife or doctor to recommend an anaesthetic worse. so drink plenty of water and eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as wholegrains.
I had an episiotomy and am terrified of going to the loo. Do you have any advice?
Many women who have had a cut or tear to the perineal area experience discomfort for a while after the birth. There may also be some pain or “stinging” when passing urine or opening the bowels, but this should last only for a few days. You may find it helpful to tip a jug of warm water over the area when you pass urine, as this helps to dilute the urine and reduce the stinging sensation acidic urine can cause. If your loo is near the shower, you may be able to use the shower head over the toilet. A bidet, of course, is ideal, though not many people have these. Drinking plenty of fluids will also help to dilute your urine.
It is normal not to open your bowels for a day or two after the birth. Many women feel anxious the first time they pass a bowel motion, but it is very unlikely that this will damage your stitches. However, if you become constipated, this could cause discomfort. Make sure you drink plenty of water, and eat fresh fruit and vegetables to help prevent this. If you find that you are still feeling constipated, your midwife can give you a mild stool softener if necessary.
I had a long delivery and I’m
worried that my vagina has
stretched. Will it get back to normal?
‘I!ry not to worry. Although at first you may notice changes to your body as a result of the pregnancy and birth, a woman’s body is designed to give birth and return to normal afterwards. To help the muscles around your vagina to tighten after the birth, do some pelvic floor exercises as you did in pregnancy (see p.57). These involve identifying which muscles you need to exercise by tightening the muscles around your vagina and back passage and lifting up just as if you were trying to stop yourself passing urine and wind at the same time. You should practise 5-6 at a time, ideally several times a day If at first you are not able to hold the muscles tight for 5 seconds.