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Puerperium Care

The puerperium refers to the process where your body, which has changed due to pregnancy and childbirth, gradually returns to its normal state after delivery. This period takes about 6 weeks after childbirth. If any of the following anomalies is found during the puerperium, you must immediately see a doctor or consult with your health care provider.

  • - Large amount of scarlet-colored vaginal blood
  • - High fever
  • - Severe pain in the lower abdomen
  • - Hard breasts with pain
  • - Great pain in the cut perineal region

Uterus Contraction

You feel your uterus like a hard ball in your lower abdomen for about 2 to 3 days after the delivery accompanied with occasional contractions. This is called ‘after pain.’ Some severe cases may require the use of a painkiller to relieve the symptom. In most cases, however, it goes away in 3 to 4 days.

Lochia

Some mothers complain of difficulty in urinating after the delivery. If failed to urinate within 4 hours after the deliver, you may choose to have the catheter inserted. This will soon help you urinate well. Sometimes you don’t pass gas properly after the delivery and it is considered temporary as your bowels were emptied completely before the delivery. Therefore, the constipation will be easily treated through walking and proper meals. As for severe cases, the stool softener may help.

Bladder and Bowels Care

Some mothers complain of difficulty in urinating after the delivery. If failed to urinate within 4 hours after the deliver, you may choose to have the catheter inserted. This will soon help you urinate well. Sometimes you don’t pass gas properly after the delivery and it is considered temporary as your bowels were emptied completely before the delivery. Therefore, the constipation will be easily treated through walking and proper meals. As for severe cases, the stool softener may help.

External Genitals Care

You may relieve the symptoms by applying ice packs against it for the first 24 hours after the delivery. After that, try taking a sitz bath with warm water to relieve pain in the area where the episiotomy was operated. The pain on the area will start to lessen within several days and will be completely gone in 3 weeks. If you continue to feel pain, swelling and hardening, you should go see a doctor or your health care provider immediately.

Breasts and Milky Nipple Discharge

You will see milk flow in about 1 to 2 days after the delivery. Your breasts become larger, lumps are felt, and you may feel pain. Milk flows in about 2 to 3 days and this is when you should try to soften the lump in your breast through hot or cold packs and massages, or by suckling your baby or squeezing with a breast pump. If failing to do so, you may experience fever throughout your entire body, which is called ‘milk fever.’ Unless you keep your nipples and breasts hygienic, mastitis may occur. In most cases, one of your breasts will become hard with pain about 3 to 4 weeks after the delivery. If you suffer from the chills or a fever, you should consult with your doctor or health care provider.

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