Post-delivery symptoms: what to expect?

Pregnant women receive regular medical check-ups during their pregnancy. But when they leave the maternity ward, women return home and sometimes find themselves confronted with symptoms and situations they didn't know existed, and never thought could happen. 

What is postpartum?

Postpartum is the period between the end of childbirth and the return from childbirth. During this period, many symptoms appear... It's also known as the puerperium. During the post-partum period, the uterus takes the time it needs to regain its normal size and position. 

The postpartum period is sometimes longer physiologically than physically, and for some women it can be described as an "emotional tsunami". Postpartum is characterized by both physical and psychological symptoms.

What causes post-partum symptoms?

Post-partum symptoms have many origins: 

Falling hormones

Hormone deficiency occurs in the post-partum period as hormones are suddenly eliminated. This is a natural stage, of course, but it does cause fatigue. For some women, the drop in hormones can be difficult to cope with, as it really disrupts their psychological and physiological state.

Baby-blues or post-partum depression

Baby blues are a very common and normal phenomenon. The baby blues are caused by the drop in hormones and the upheaval of childbirth. It occurs in just a few days and is characterized by crying, depression, anxiety, doubts about one's ability to be a mother, etc. Unlike post-partum depression, baby blues do not last. Post-partum depression requires treatment, because it's a real depression that lasts over time. It can have consequences for the mother and her bond with her child.

It's very important for mothers to feel supported and to ask for help if they feel overwhelmed and exhausted.

What are the physical symptoms of childbirth?

The physical symptoms are numerous. These include : 

Lochies

The famous lochia, the bleeding that occurs after every birth. It's a perfectly normal phenomenon.

After giving birth, a woman loses an average of 500ml of blood. This bleeding lasts an average of 10 days to 6 weeks.

The composition of this discharge is a mixture of placental membrane debris, blood clots and bleeding from wounds in the vagina and cervix (due to the passage of the baby). The color of this bleeding changes over the weeks, gradually turning from red to brown and then yellow. Their abundance also diminishes from day to day, but they can continue to bleed irregularly for up to 6 weeks post-partum. Some women also lose blood clots. The first post-delivery blood loss is often heavier than the periods.

To protect your clothes during the lochia period, we recommend wearing external sanitary protection. Avoid external protection at all costs, as it greatly increases the risk of infection during this period.

Trenches

Another phenomenon that occurs after giving birth is trenches. These are post-delivery contractions of the uterus. Although less painful than labor contractions, they can still be relieved with painkillers. They allow the uterus to return to its normal size, and help to eliminate potential clots and prevent haemorrhaging.

Please note: nursing mothers are prone to trenching, but in a more painful way due to oxytocin.

Uterine prolapse

Uterine prolapse will be detected when a woman complains of a sensation of vaginal heaviness and/or backache. Other symptoms may indicate uterine prolapse, such as urine leakage and constipation. Uterine prolapse is simply the descent of an organ, in this case from the uterus to the vulva. 

Uterine prolapse is caused by the relaxation of perineal tissues and muscles. Fortunately, it's very treatable thanks to perineal re-education.

Leakage and urinary infections

Urinary tract infections are common after childbirth. In fact, sometimes bacteria are present in the bladder during pregnancy and the infection appears after delivery. Pregnancy hormones also play a role: as they fall, they relax the bladder muscles. This makes it more difficult for the bladder to empty completely. Bacteria accumulate and proliferate.

After childbirth, a slackening of the perineum can lead to urine leakage. During labor, pushing will stretch the muscles.

Some women also have difficulty urinating and emptying their bladder completely in the days following childbirth, due to the epidural.

Fortunately, bladder weakness disappears over time, so you can also undergo perineal re-education.

Back pain

Back pain is very common after pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about getting a support belt. 

Digestive disorders: constipation, stomach ache, etc.

After pregnancy, your uterus gradually returns to its normal size, as does your digestive tract. By the time everything is back in order, it's not unusual to experience digestive problems: your transit may be disrupted.

While some women tend to be constipated during pregnancy, they can still be constipated after giving birth. To counteract these symptoms, it's important to drink enough water and choose high-fibre foods. Don't force yourself to have a bowel movement: your perineum has already suffered with childbirth, so there's no need to make it suffer even more.

You can also be prescribed suppositories or a laxative to get everything back in order.

Note, however, that it is normal not to have a bowel movement in the days following childbirth. 

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids originate from the pressure exerted on the veins in the anal region during labor and pushing. Around 20% of women will be prone to post-delivery hemorrhoids. 

Milk production after childbirth

Generally speaking, the first milk comes in between 30 and 40 hours after the baby's birth, around the third day. Here are the signs you should look for when your milk comes in: 

• Your breasts are tense;
• You feel a sensation of heat in your breasts;
• Or your breasts are swollen.

How do I recover from a Caesarean section or episiotomy?

If you've had a caesarean section or episiotomy, recovery may take a little longer. Even if you don't have a vaginal delivery, you'll still experience lochia, trenching and other symptoms such as bladder weakness.

Pain is frequent in the first few days. They may persist for a few weeks before gradually subsiding and disappearing.

Here are a few tips to help you recover after a C-section: 

• Avoid certain activities such as cycling and running for the first six weeks;
• Do not lift heavy loads for 6 weeks (objects heavier than your baby);
• Take showers, not baths;
• Avoid stairs;
• Do not drive for 1 month;

After a Caesarean section, it's important to ensure that the wound heals properly.

Follow the medical profession's recommendations and don't hesitate to contact your doctor if you notice any redness, if your skin feels hot, if the scar tends to swell and harden, if there's an appearance of pu, if it's painful. Consult your doctor for appropriate treatment. 

What about post-partum rehabilitation?

As we recently explained, after giving birth, the muscles of the perineum are sometimes relaxed and the nerves numb. Many women go in for rehabilitation.

Perineal rehabilitation

Perineal rehabilitation aims to restore muscle tone. Exercises are based on contraction of the muscles surrounding the vagina and raising the anus.

This helps prevent bladder weakness or uterine prolapse.

Abdominal rehabilitation

During childbirth, the abdominal muscles are put to the test. Many women are therefore prescribed abdominal re-education sessions by their health professionals to prevent back and lumbar pain, and to tone and strengthen the abdominal muscles.

FAQs on post-partum symptoms

When do pregnancy symptoms disappear after childbirth?

When does the hormone drop occur after childbirth?

Why rest after childbirth?