Postpartuma Care Postpartum Instructions
for Mothers This information is to be used as
a guideline for mothers and families, to assist
in caring for themselves and their newborns. Follow
these instructions unless otherwise instructed by
your primary care provider:
Now is the ideal time to really sit back and
concentrate on taking care of yourself and bonding
with your baby. We strongly encourage you to stay
home for the first two weeks and to keep your
baby home and away from crowds for a good 30 days.
The exception to this limitation for both of you
is the trip to the pediatrician’s office.
During the postpartum period, you should sleep
when your baby sleeps, avoid entertaining and
set housework aside as much as possible. The purpose
of this is to allow your body to heal and your
baby’s immune system to develop before increasing
stresses on both of you.
In order to speed and aid your recovery,
do the following:
• Continue to drink 8 – 10 glasses
of water per day
• Take your prenatal vitamin for at least
six weeks and continue for the duration of breastfeeding
(whichever is longer)
• Use a heating pad, rice sock, ibuprofen
(Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve
cramping
• Soothe swollen perineum or aid healing
stitches by using warm sitz
baths as often as possible
• Avoid lifting items less than 10 pounds
or roughly the weight of your baby without the
car seat
• Use abstinence for birth control and pads
instead of tampons (nothing in the vagina)
* We will see you
in the office six weeks after your baby’s
birth (two weeks if you had a c-section). Call
us if you experience any of the following:
• You soak two pads/ hour with blood. Clots
are normal and may even be as large as a lemon
• Your vaginal discharge (or from abdominal
incision if you had c-section) becomes foul-smelling
• You develop a temperature greater or equal
to 100.4°F or generally feel like you have
“the flu”
You may notice an increase in your general swelling.
As alarming as it can sometimes be, you really
will not explode! The cure is time, increased
fluid, soaks in the bath and lying on your left
side whenever possible. Your breasts will become
engorged when your milk comes in 2-3 days after
the baby is born and some women are quite uncomfortable
until the body adjusts the milk supply. If this
is the case, you may use cabbage
leaves to temporarily ease your discomfort
or dry up your milk if you plan to exclusively
use formula. Please see our Breastfeeding
page for more information.
The Baby Blues, Depression and Psychosis
“I have this
healthy baby and things are going well –
why can’t I stop crying?” You’re happy one
moment, tearful the next, occasionally anxious
or snappy because you have the postpartum or baby
blues! You may feel better just knowing that the
majority of women go through this adjustment period.
These feelings become most intense in the first
week and usually are completely resolved by the
second week. As your body is making this rapid
adjustment from term pregnancy to postpartum Mom,
your mood swings will not affect bonding with
or caring for your child.
“I
don’t even want to get out of bed, I’m
crying all of the time and I don’t want
to take care of that baby.”
Here you may be crossing the line from the blues
to postpartum depression. If these feelings are
not getting better at all after two weeks, you
may need to give us a call.
Take a moment and fill out the postpartum depression
scale below. You may find it useful to repeat
it in a week to see if your score is getting lower,
signaling your blues may be lifting. But, if you
have thoughts of harming the baby or yourself,
we want you to call
right away. Women who have a family or personal
history of depression/ postpartum depression or
are experiencing financial, relational or situational
stresses are at increased risk for developing
postpartum depression. We routinely screen for
this at your six-week check and help you through
this transition period.
“I hear voices
telling me to harm myself or my baby. There is
something wrong with that baby.”
A very small minority of women experience postpartum
psychosis which requires immediate treatment.
It is more common in women who have had postpartum
psychosis before or who have been diagnosed with
a bipolar disorder. This condition usually presents
in an abrupt onset within 2-3 days after the birth
of the baby. It interferes with your ability to
function normally, care for the baby and you may
feel you and/or the baby are in danger from yourself
or something else. This is an emergency situation
in which you should call
us for help right away.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Please mark the answer that comes closest
to how you have felt overall during the past seven
days, not just how you feel today.
IN THE PAST SEVEN
DAYS:
1. I have
been able to laugh and see the funny side
of things:
a. As much as I ever did.
b. Not quite so much now.
c. Definitely not so much now.
d. Not at all.
2. I have looked
forward with enjoyment to things:
a. As much as I ever did.
b. Rather less than I used to.
c. Definitely less than I used to.
d. Hardly at all.
3. I have blamed
myself unnecessarily when things went wrong:
a. No, never.
b. Not very often.
c. Yes, some of the time.
d. Yes, most of the time.
4. I have felt
worried and anxious without a very good reason:
a. No, not at all.
b. Hardly ever.
c. Yes, sometimes.
d. Yes, very often.
5. I have felt
scared or panicky without a very good reason:
a. No, not at all.
b. No, not much.
c. Yes, sometimes.
d. Yes, quite a lot.
6. I have been
feeling overwhelmed:
a. No; I have been coping as well as ever.
b. No; usually I have coped quite well.
c. Yes; sometimes I haven't been coping as
well as usual.
d. Yes; most of the time I haven't been able
to cope at all.
7. I have had
difficulty sleeping even when the baby is
asleep:
a. No, not at all.
b. Not very often.
c. Yes, sometimes.
d. Yes, most of the time.
8. I have felt
sad or miserable:
a. No, not at all.
b. Not very often.
c. Yes, quite often.
d. Yes, most of the time.
9. I have been
so unhappy that I have been crying, or fighting
to keep from crying:
a. No, never.
b. Only occasionally.
c. Yes, quite often.
d. Yes, most of the time.
10. The thought
of harming either myself or my baby has occurred
to me:
a. Never.
b. Hardly ever.
c. Sometimes.
d. Yes, quite often.
most likely
just dealing with life with a new baby
or a case of baby blues
13-14 points:
signs leading
to the possibility of postpartum depression;
take preventive measures
15+ points:
high probability
of experiencing clinical postpartum
depression
Women's Forum Do you have questions or concerns regarding pregnancy,
breastfeeding, female issues, parenting or other specific OB/GYN concerns?
Post your question here or offer words of wisdom as women help women find
the answers.
Share Your Birth Story We think childbirth is an amazing experience, no
matter how your newborn arrives into the world. One of the best ways for
moms-to-be to prepare for their own births is to hear positive stories from the real
experts: other moms.
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