Is postpartum follow-up important and what to check?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Obstetrician-Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Postpartum follow-up is a strange concept for many mothers, so concerns about whether or not to have postpartum follow-up are often raised during pregnancy as well as after the birth of a baby. The following article is useful general information for you on the issue of follow-up examination after vaginal birth and cesarean section.

1. What is postpartum follow-up?

Postpartum follow-up is the time when a woman gives birth to a baby 6-8 weeks after giving birth to a hospital or reputable medical facility to check her body after birth, similar to a gynecological examination including checking the condition. Wounds such as incisions, perineal incisions, uterine recovery and infant development
The time the mother comes to the hospital for follow-up visits is 6-8 weeks but not late and also should not go earlier than 6 weeks postpartum on the grounds that this period is the standard time to recover after giving birth and the mother's genitals also return to normal.
Postpartum follow-up not only helps the mother check her own health, but the doctor will help answer questions and issues to pay attention to after giving birth such as how long to get her period again, when to be pregnant. normal sex, whether the dryness goes away or not, effective postpartum contraception...

2. Should I go for a post-natal check-up or not?

The question of whether to re-examine postpartum or not is asked by many women during pregnancy or after giving birth. However, in reality in Vietnam today, the percentage of mothers who return to the doctor after giving birth is very small, partly because the mother feels that her body's recovery is very good, but in fact you have to Check to know the exact state of your health.
In addition, the propaganda measures about postpartum re-examination are not really popular, many mothers do not even know that they should go to the doctor after giving birth to ensure their own health as well as that of their family members. More peace of mind
The following are the reasons why mothers should go for a follow-up examination after giving birth:
For mothers after vaginal birth and cesarean section, the wound at the perineum and the surgical wound are prone to infection and bleeding even shock if not taken care of carefully so you should go for a follow-up visit to check the condition of those wounds
During pregnancy, the mother's uterus expands 1000 times, after giving birth , the remnants left inside the uterus will be peeled off and eliminated, but there will be cases where the remnants denature to create dangerous risks for the mother. Therefore, the postpartum follow-up period is considered a golden time to determine the body's condition and avoid future risks.
Help the mother check for uterine prolapse, perineal function damage, back pain, pubic pain
Help the mother screen and treat complications that may adversely affect the mother after birth such as uncontrolled weight gain, anemia, nipple inflammation. ..
In addition to health checks for the mother, the newborn is also given a general check-up to assess the baby's development status such as checking the child's height, weight, head circumference, and sleep quality. ..
In addition, the mother will be consulted as well as answer all questions about postpartum problems or suggestions on how to care for the baby based on the results of the baby's general examination, so the mother should list Things to ask the doctor before visiting the doctor to save time.

3. Postpartum re-examination process

3.1 Normal postpartum follow-up Postpartum follow-up usually includes the following issues:
General health check-up: A general health check-up helps the doctor assess the mother's general condition after giving birth. Pelvic floor exam: Check the perineal area for problems. For the mother who has a follow-up examination after vaginal birth, the doctor will check the stitches in the perineum, if the mother has any abnormalities in urination and defecation, she can consult a doctor. birth: Check to see if the discharge is abundant or not? When will the mother get her period again? Checking the body's changes after giving birth: Checking the mother's weight, if she has problems with overweight, the doctor will advise on diet and exercise so that the mother can get in shape quickly. best. Breastfeeding check: Counseling the mother about formula for formula feeding and how to get more milk if the mother is low on milk Counseling and answering the mother's questions: Contraception, use Are birth control pills harmful to babies? and many more questions 3.2 Follow-up after C-section The follow-up procedure after C-section is basically the same as that of a vaginal birth. However, for mothers who have had a caesarean section, the doctor will conduct a thorough examination of the incision to check for infection.
Unusual signs such as the incision is red, the wound is still bleeding, the mother has a fever, and the pain increases all reflect the risk of infection and the mother needs to be re-examined after cesarean section to check.
Caring for the mother after cesarean section in particular and postpartum in general is a continuous process and follow-up care after cesarean section is essential to ensure the mother's health.

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