19 body changes after giving birth

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally approved by Master, Doctor Le Nhat Nguyen- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec International General Hospital Da Nang

During pregnancy, your body changes a lot to match the development of the fetus. And after giving birth, your body will change again such as discharge, back pain and constipation. The following article will give you 19 signs of body changes after giving birth that you may experience.

1. Body aches

According to experts, due to the pushing and contractions of labor, it is natural to feel tired and sore. As your uterus shrinks back to its original size, many women experience abdominal pain (somewhat similar to menstrual cramps) that is more pronounced during breastfeeding. However, this discomfort will only last a few days and can be treated with prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers.

2. Products

You may have heard of vaginal discharge called discharge, but you didn't expect it to be blood. The discharge is made up of blood, mucus, and benign tissue left over from your uterus. Regardless of how you gave birth (natural birth or cesarean section), your period may be heavier during your period. You should not use Tampons after giving birth, if using tampons can put you at risk of infection or cause pain or irritation, so use adult diapers or tampons instead.
Learn more about Postpartum discharge (obstruction): Causes, symptoms

3. Edema after giving birth

During pregnancy, your body produces about 50% more blood and other fluids than usual to meet the needs of your growing baby. Fluctuations in hormones can also contribute to edema or swelling of the hands, face, ankles, neck, and extremities. In fact, it's normal for your legs to increase one and a half times.
It may take several weeks for all the extra fluid to leave your body. However, to speed up this process, choose foods rich in potassium to help counteract the water-retaining effects of sodium, such as fruits and vegetables. Besides, you should also drink more than eight glasses of water a day, especially if you are breastfeeding.

4. Changes of the body after giving birth in the breast

Your breasts may be red, swollen, painful, and produce milk for a day or two after giving birth. When these symptoms subside in about three to four days (or until you stop breastfeeding), your breasts may begin to sag as the skin stretches. You can also leak milk for several weeks, even if you're not breastfeeding. Nipples can also become displaced.

5. Changes in the abdomen

Your belly goes through more changes during pregnancy than any other body part. Depending on your age, genetics and the amount of weight you gain, it can lead to stretch marks and excess skin, or "pumps" after giving birth. It can take up to six weeks for the uterus to return to its former size, which will reduce the size of your belly. But because the belly skin has been stretched, it may never return to the way it was before.

6. Stretch marks

Thin scars that appear on the abdomen, hips, chest or buttocks usually start out red and then fade within a year. Whether you have stretch marks or not depends a lot on genetic factors and how quickly you gain weight during pregnancy. Prescription ointments like tretinoin cream can reduce stretch marks, but they're not safe to use while you're breastfeeding and they're most effective when used right after childbirth.

7. Varicose veins

Up to 40% of pregnant women develop dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin, usually in the calves and thighs. Factors such as genetics, hormones and the pressure placed on the veins due to weight gain during pregnancy all play a role in this condition. Varicose veins may improve after giving birth, but they won't go away completely after giving birth.

8. Back pain

During pregnancy, your body is putting extra weight on your back muscles and this can lead to back pain. In addition, the cause of back pain can be due to poor posture during pregnancy. Symptoms of back pain will become apparent in the first six weeks after giving birth.

9. Damage to the perineum

Women who give birth vaginally usually have an episiotomy (the area between the vaginal opening and anus) or an episiotomy (incision through the perineum), both of which require at least six weeks to heal.

10. Problems urinating

Towards the end of pregnancy, the baby's weight will press on the pelvic floor muscles that support bladder control. Weakened muscles can cause you to leak some urine when you cough, sneeze, or lift something heavy. Kegel exercises, which strengthen the pelvic muscles, are the best method to prevent leakage.

11. Wrist pain, shoulder pain and arm fatigue

Many mothers do not exercise their upper body regularly during pregnancy, resulting in a flabby and weak body. In addition, your body produces the hormone relaxin in greater amounts during pregnancy and this can weaken joints afterward. Wrist pain, shoulder pain and arm fatigue are all common symptoms of a mother's body after giving birth.
Toning and strengthening the muscles in your arms, back and shoulders can help reduce stress on your upper body. After giving birth, wait six weeks before you start exercising again.

12. Weight gain

During pregnancy, a woman's increased nutrient availability and decreased activity are contributing factors to weight gain. The excess fat is then distributed to the places where women most commonly gain weight: the back, hips, and thighs. "
According to experts, it can take up to a year to lose weight gained during pregnancy. For gradual weight loss, experts recommend a combination of exercise and a balanced diet. Food Low-calorie, high-fiber, such as vegetables, promotes satiety, helps you eat less.

13. Night sweats Night sweats ` of the inconveniences that take place during the first few days due to the body's natural hormonal regulator. After giving birth, your body still has a lot of fluid left over from pregnancy, and sweating is one way to help your body get rid of excess fluid. The sweat will dry out after a few days, but during perspiration, wear loose, sweat-wicking clothing, adjust the temperature accordingly, and place a towel over the mattress and pillow to keep the mattress and pillow dry.
14. Problems with defecation After giving birth, it can take 2-3 days for you to be able to have a bowel movement. Weak abdominal muscles, bowel trauma after childbirth, or the use of narcotic pain relievers can all contribute to delayed bowel movements. Many mothers are also worried that getting up to go to the toilet can tear the stitches, so mothers often limit their movements, however, doing so will make constipation more likely and worse.
To make bowel movements easier, drink at least eight glasses of water a day along with plenty of fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Try not to worry about those stitches, as the incision is rarely torn and resisting the urge to have a bowel movement makes you constipated. Walking around the house will also help. Just limit any strenuous activity, especially if you had a cesarean section.
15. Postpartum Hair Loss Up to 10% of women experience hair loss after pregnancy and this is caused by a decrease in hormone levels in the body. In fact, hair usually thickens during pregnancy, and in the months after giving birth, women just lose excess hair, everything will return to normal after three months or so. But after this time, if you are still losing a lot of hair, see your doctor, as this may be a sign of thyroid problems.
16. Melasma About 70% of mothers will develop melasma during pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations cause dark patches on the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip that often fade after birth but don't go away completely. Prescription bleaching creams, steroids, and tretinoin (the main ingredient in Retin-A) alone or in combination can effectively help fade dark spots. Many patients see improvement within a few weeks. However, these creams can cause temporary redness, peeling, and dryness; You should not use these products while breastfeeding or pregnant.

17. Acne Although your skin usually clears up on its own after your six-week visit, you can speed up the healing time by using an over-the-counter acne cream that contains salicylic acid. But talk to your doctor before use if you're breastfeeding, as even topical medications can pass into breast milk. For absolute safety, consider using a natural method.
18. In terms of postpartum energy Some new moms say they feel more energetic than ever before they got pregnant. In fact, a woman's aerobic capacity can increase by up to 20% in the first six weeks postpartum. Other women claim that their postpartum exhaustion, newborn care, and excess body weight make their postpartum bodies feel sluggish and erratic.
19. The risk of depression According to experts, due to hormonal changes combined with the physical and emotional changes that postpartum women experience, it can cause you to become anxious or have nightmares . As long as anxiety doesn't interfere with your baby's care, doctors often recommend waiting for the symptom to subside on its own rather than turning to medication. It's a good idea to discuss with your doctor early on about anxiety that may be increasing leading to panic attacks (or feelings of hopelessness or total overwhelm). This could be a sign of postpartum depression and requires medical treatment.
20. Surgical scars Although most surgery scars will fade to a pencil-thin line in a year or two, they never completely disappear. Therefore, you can consult with your doctor about some methods to fade this surgical scar.
Periodic health check-ups help to detect diseases early, so that there are treatment plans for optimal results. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has general health checkup packages suitable for each age, gender and individual needs of customers with a reasonable price policy.
Results of the patient's examination will be returned to the home. After receiving the results of the general health examination, if you detect diseases that require intensive examination and treatment, you can use services from other specialties at the Hospital with quality treatment and services. outstanding customer service.

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Reference source: parents.com; nhs.uk; emmasdiary.co.uk