HEALTHIER YOU: After the baby comes, be aware of changes in the body

After the baby comes, be aware of changes in the body

BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN

Pregnancy brings a lot of changes to a woman’s body, and they can really be felt after giving birth. New moms experience a wide range of changes — from breasts getting full with milk to profound emotional shifts.

Many of the discomforts in a woman’s body after giving birth are normal and some changes can be signs of other health problems. It is important for new mothers to attend all of their checkups after giving birth, even if they feel fine. These appointments help to ensure that you’re recovering well from labor and giving birth.

Some new mothers will experience perineum soreness. The perineum is the area between your vagina and rectum. It stretches and may tear during labor and vaginal birth. It’s often sore after giving birth, and it may be sore if you have an episiotomy. This is a cut made at the opening of the vagina to help let the baby out.

Also, afterbirth pains are belly cramps you feel as your uterus (womb) shrink back to its regular size after pregnancy. The cramps should go away in a few days. Right after you give birth, your uterus is round and hard and weighs about 2 1/2 pounds. By about six weeks after birth, it weighs only 2 ounces.

There can also be an occurrence of vaginal discharge that happens after the baby is born. This takes place as a method of ridding the body of blood and tissue that was inside the uterus.

For the first few days after giving birth the discharge can be heavy, bright red and may contain blood clots. Mothers might have the discharge for a few weeks or even for a month or more.

Mothers will also experience breast engorgement after giving birth. This is when your breasts swell as they fill with milk. It usually happens a few days after giving birth. Your breasts may feel tender and sore. The discomfort usually goes away once you start breastfeeding regularly. If you’re not breastfeeding, it may last until your breasts stop making milk — usually within a few days.

For more information, call Las Vegas All Women’s Care at (702) 522-9640. Or visit us at 700 Shadow Lane #165 in Las Vegas.