Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
First 24-Hours Instructions
Days and Weeks After Birth
Coping Through Changes
Resources and Support
It is normal and expected to experience several physical symptoms like swelling, cramping,breast tenderness,constipation, and leaking milk. It is also common to experience emotional changes like feeling sad and overwhelmed.
This article discusses postpartum care, what to expect, and how to care for yourself.
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Postpartum Care: Instructions for the First 24 Hours
The first 24 hours after birth can feel like a whirlwind. Your focus is both on healing physically and caring for your newborn.
Physical symptoms you may experience in the first 24 hours include:
What to Know About Postpartum Hormones
Postpartum Care in Days and Weeks After Birth
The days and weeks after giving birth can be emotional. You will likely not feel like yourself because of your physical recovery, changing hormone levels, and caring for a newborn.
It is important to see your healthcare provider during the postpartum period. Your provider can help keep you and your newborn healthy.
Healing From Birth
Giving birth is physically exhausting and requires time to heal.There are many symptoms you might feel during the postpartum period. Fortunately, there are ways to help relieve them.
Sleep
Mental Health
It’s common to feel sad,anxious, or irritable for up to two weeks after giving birth. When frequent feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, or anger last longer than two weeks, you may havepostpartum depression.
Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 8 people in the postpartum period.Symptoms may include:
If you are concerned about your mood, talk with your healthcare provider right away. Fortunately, postpartum depression is treatable with therapy support groups, medication, and support. Other measures that may help include:
How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last (And Can You Shorten It)?
Contraception
It may seem too soon to start thinking about future pregnancies, but it is important to have acontraception planwhen you are postpartum. Most healthcare providers recommend abstaining from sex for about four to six weeks after giving birth.This is how long it usually takes to heal.
Once you are ready to have sex again, talk with your provider about a contraception plan. You may consider barrier methods likecondomsanddiaphragmsor hormonal methods likepills, patches,intrauterine devices(IUDs), or shots.
Coping Through Postpartum Changes
The postpartum period brings countless changes. It may be helpful to make a plan for changes in this new chapter of life.
Physical and Self-Esteem
The physical exertion of childbirth, lack of sleep, and other factors may make you uncomfortable. Focus on rest and recovery. Caring for a newborn requires a lot of time, but aim to eat, sleep, and shower daily.
Plan to wear a sanitary pad in the days and weeks after birth due to vaginal bleeding. Drink plenty of water, and add healthy, fresh foods to your meals when possible.
Talk with your healthcare provider about an exercise plan. There are severalbenefits to working outin the postpartum period, including increased energy, better sleep, stress relief, and stronger muscles. Start slow, taking 10-minute walks, and work up from there.
Adjusting to Parenthood
Adjusting to life as a new parent (or a parent with another child) takes time. Try to focus on small things that help you feel like yourself. Sleep whenever you can, and spend time resting throughout the day. Talk to your partner, friends, or loved ones about how they can support you.
It’s normal to not feel like yourself at first or to feel sad and overwhelmed in the postpartum period. If you find yourself feeling this way for more than two weeks, speak to your healthcare provider because you could be experiencing postpartum depression.
Feeding
Ifbreastfeeding, seek support from a lactation consultant, midwife, or healthcare provider. They can help with any breastfeeding challenges or questions. It’s important for people who breastfeed to drink water throughout the day and consume an extra 500 calories daily.
When your milk first comes in, it may cause engorgement when the breasts fill with milk and feel full and tender. Frequent feedings, breast massage, and warm showers can help. See your healthcare provider if you develop a fever or chills while breastfeeding.Mastitisis a common infection in breastfeeding people and can be treated with antibiotics.
Going Back to Work
As your return to work gets closer, practice for the big day. It may help to have a morning in which you get ready as if for work and think through any possible issues that could come up. If you are planning to continue breastfeeding after going back to work, practice with the breast pump ahead of time.
When you return to work, remember it’s normal to feel different. You have undergone changes. Try to be patient with yourself and those around you. This is a big transition, and it will take time.
It is important to continue seeing your healthcare provider after giving birth. Healthcare providers recommend checking in within three weeks of giving birth and seeing them for a visit within 12 weeks. Most people see their providers about six weeks after giving birth. About 40% of people do not attend their postpartum visit.
During your follow-up visit, your provider will ask about your physical and emotional health. They will talk with you about your mood and any symptoms you are experiencing. Your provider will likely examine your incisions if you have them and will perform a pelvic exam to determine if you have healed from birth. Talk with your provider about any concerns you have.
Everyone needs support during the postpartum period. If you have friends and family members offering to help, take them up on it. If you do not have people in your life to help you, there are still resources available. These resources include:
If a loved one recently gave birth, you may wonder how best to support them. Ways to show support include:
Summary
The postpartum period is an intense time of life. You will likely experience several changes, both physical and emotional. It is important to focus on your health and well-being in addition to your newborn.
It is normal and expected to experience several physical symptoms like swelling, cramping, breast tenderness, constipation, and leaking milk. Emotional changes like feeling sad and overwhelmed are common, too. There are resources available to help you during the postpartum period.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Postpartum care.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Optimizing postpartum care.Adams YJ, Miller ML, Agbenyo JS, Ehla EE, Clinton GA.Postpartum care needs assessment: women’s understanding of postpartum care, practices, barriers, and educational needs.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023;23(1):502. doi:10.1186/s12884-023-05813-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pregnant and postpartum women.Paladine HL, Blenning CE, Strangas Y.Postpartum care: an approach to the fourth trimester.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(8):485-491.Nemours Kids Health.Recovering from delivery.Reichner CA.Insomnia and sleep deficiency in pregnancy.Obstet Med. 2015 Dec;8(4):168-71. doi:10.1177/1753495X15600572Office on Women’s Health.Postpartum depression.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum birth control.Office on Women’s Health.Recovering from birth.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Exercise after pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Partners, friends, and family of pregnant or postpartum women.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Postpartum care.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Optimizing postpartum care.Adams YJ, Miller ML, Agbenyo JS, Ehla EE, Clinton GA.Postpartum care needs assessment: women’s understanding of postpartum care, practices, barriers, and educational needs.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023;23(1):502. doi:10.1186/s12884-023-05813-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pregnant and postpartum women.Paladine HL, Blenning CE, Strangas Y.Postpartum care: an approach to the fourth trimester.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(8):485-491.Nemours Kids Health.Recovering from delivery.Reichner CA.Insomnia and sleep deficiency in pregnancy.Obstet Med. 2015 Dec;8(4):168-71. doi:10.1177/1753495X15600572Office on Women’s Health.Postpartum depression.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum birth control.Office on Women’s Health.Recovering from birth.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Exercise after pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Partners, friends, and family of pregnant or postpartum women.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Postpartum care.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Optimizing postpartum care.Adams YJ, Miller ML, Agbenyo JS, Ehla EE, Clinton GA.Postpartum care needs assessment: women’s understanding of postpartum care, practices, barriers, and educational needs.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023;23(1):502. doi:10.1186/s12884-023-05813-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pregnant and postpartum women.Paladine HL, Blenning CE, Strangas Y.Postpartum care: an approach to the fourth trimester.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(8):485-491.Nemours Kids Health.Recovering from delivery.Reichner CA.Insomnia and sleep deficiency in pregnancy.Obstet Med. 2015 Dec;8(4):168-71. doi:10.1177/1753495X15600572Office on Women’s Health.Postpartum depression.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum birth control.Office on Women’s Health.Recovering from birth.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Exercise after pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Partners, friends, and family of pregnant or postpartum women.
MedlinePlus.Postpartum care.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Optimizing postpartum care.
Adams YJ, Miller ML, Agbenyo JS, Ehla EE, Clinton GA.Postpartum care needs assessment: women’s understanding of postpartum care, practices, barriers, and educational needs.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023;23(1):502. doi:10.1186/s12884-023-05813-0
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pregnant and postpartum women.
Paladine HL, Blenning CE, Strangas Y.Postpartum care: an approach to the fourth trimester.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(8):485-491.
Nemours Kids Health.Recovering from delivery.
Reichner CA.Insomnia and sleep deficiency in pregnancy.Obstet Med. 2015 Dec;8(4):168-71. doi:10.1177/1753495X15600572
Office on Women’s Health.Postpartum depression.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum birth control.
Office on Women’s Health.Recovering from birth.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Exercise after pregnancy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Partners, friends, and family of pregnant or postpartum women.
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