Congratulations on the arrival of your new baby! You may find the following information helpful as you recover from your delivery. Please read this information carefully. If you have any questions, call the office Monday-Friday 9:00a.m. - 4:45p.m. Any questions concerning your baby should be directed to your Pediatrician.
Call the office where you received your prenatal care immediately upon discharge from the hospital to schedule your six-week check up.
Activities: For the first two weeks, activities should be light. Avoid heavy lifting and prolonged walking or standing. These activities may increase your vaginal bleeding. Gradually increase your activities each week. No strenuous exercise until you come in for your follow up exam. You cannot drive the first week after your delivery. The second and third week you may drive, but have someone in the car with you just in case you become faint while driving. After the third week you may drive alone.
Bathing: You may shower, take a bath and wash your hair at any time.
Episiotomy: The incision or tears made in your vagina during delivery will heal in approximately two-four weeks. During this time your stitches may itch or burn. To relieve vaginal irritation, rinse this area off with warm water after you urinate or have a bowel movement. Sitz baths, taken two or three times a day, may also relieve your discomfort as well as the spray that you were given in the hospital.
Incision: The incision from a caesarean section or tubal ligation does not need to be covered after the first week. You may shower or bathe any time if you have a clear plastic bandage covering your incision. If you do not have this bandage, or had it removed before the end of the first week, you may shower or bathe after the first week.
Pain: You may take Extra Strength Tylenol or two Advil to relieve pain (even if you are breastfeeding).
Vagina: You may have a bloody discharge for up to three-four weeks.
Breasts: Nursing Mothers: Wear a good nursing bra and nursing pads. Your nipples should be cleansed before and after each feeding with warm water. Allow your nipples to dry before covering them. Use Lanolin cream to prevent or relieve cracking. If your breast become hard and heavy (engorged), place hot wet cloths on them for 10 minutes. Express your milk with your hand or breast pump. When your breast are softer, nurse your baby, or pump your milk and store it for later feeding. Try to breast feed exclusively for two weeks. If you are having difficulty nursing, pump your breast, and feed your baby the breast milk with a small medicine dropper. After two weeks, you can introduce your baby to a bottle nipple.
Non-Nursing Mothers: Cover your breast with cabbage leaves and change the cabbage leaves every two hours for the first day and a half. This should begin immediately after your breast milk comes in. You may also wear a tight sports bra day and night for two weeks, beginning immediately after your delivery.
Call the office if you develop red streaks in your breast or if you notice any bleeding from the nipples.
Bowels: Avoid constipation by drinking six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. If you develop constipation try warm prune juice. You may take Milk of Magnesia if the prune juice does not help. For hemorrhoids use Anusol-HC (available over the counter) and Tucks pads. Take a stool softener (Metamucil, Citrucel, Surfax or Colace) daily as directed.
Exercise: You may take a 30-minute walk, two-three times a week after your second week.
Sex: Avoid intercourse until after your follow-up exam. If you have intercourse, use a condom and vaginal spermicide (foam, gel, or suppository). PREGNANCY may occur if you do not use a contraceptive method (even if you are breastfeeding).
Call the office immediately if:
- You have a fever higher than 100 degrees F.
- You have heavy bleeding.
- You notice drainage, redness or swelling from your incision.
- You have severe pain that is not relieved by Tylenol or Advil.
- You have severe headaches.
- You have vision loss or blurring.
- You have chest pains or shortness of breath.
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