Mother’s Care at Home
The gift you have looked forward to for
months is now ready to go home with you. As
you begin your new life with a newborn, here
are some things you should know.
Wait to have sex
Our women’s health experts recommend 6
weeks of pelvic rest without sex. If you are
emotionally and physically ready to have sex
before that, be sure all vaginal bleeding and
spotting have stopped. You may have vaginal
dryness for several weeks after delivery,
especially if you are breastfeeding. Use a
water-based lubricant for comfort if your
vagina is dry.
You can still get pregnant even if you have
not had your period. Talk about birth control
with your doctor or midwife before you have
sex.
Keep clean and fresh
Your hormone levels will change for the next
2 to 3 weeks. You may perspire more and
have night sweats. Shower, bathe or hand
wash your body each day. Fill a peri-bottle
with warm water and rinse yourself each time
you use the toilet. Change pads when you go
to the bathroom or at least every 2 to 4 hours.
Wash your hands each time you go to the
bathroom or change your pad.
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Bladder and bowels
At first, your bladder may not empty all the
way. It helps to go to the bathroom more
often. You will begin to pass more urine over
the next few weeks. As your body gets rid of
extra fluid, swelling should get better in your
legs and ankles. Your bowels will move
slower than normal for a few days. Drink
plenty of water and fruit juices. Eat raw fruits,
vegetables and whole grains. Taking a walk is
a light exercise you can do. If you have bowel
trouble or feel pain when you pass urine, call
your doctor or midwife.
Hemorrhoids
Veins in your rectum may have become large
and tender while you were pregnant. They
should slowly shrink back to normal over the
next week or so. While they still itch, bleed or
hurt, try these comfort measures:
• Take frequent, warm tub baths
• Use prescribed pain relief pills or ointment.
• Use hydrocortisone suppositories (Anusol
or other brand).
• Put your feet up and rest several times each
day.
Follow advice under “Bladder and bowels” to
avoid constipation. Do not push or strain
during bowel movements.
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Mother’s Care at Home
Sore tissue and stitches
Whether or not you had stitches around your
vagina, you will feel tender for a few days.
Itching is also normal. You should heal in 10
to 14 days. Stitches dissolve within 4 to 6
weeks. They do not have to be taken out. For
comfort and pain relief, sit in a warm tub bath
for 15 to 20 minutes. Do this 2 to 3 times a
day for the first week at home. Do not use
bath oils or bubble bath while you are
soaking. These may cause irritation. Your
doctor or midwife can order ointment or
cream to relieve pain.
Vaginal discharge
After you give birth, you will have vaginal
discharge for about 8 weeks. It goes through a
few stages. For the first 2 or 3 days, it is dark
red. You might pass small clots of blood. The
discharge lightens to pinkish brown for up to
10 days. After that, it turns pale yellow or
white. You may have more discharge than you
did before you became pregnant. This is
normal. Call your doctor or midwife if:
• The discharge smells foul.
• You pass large clots of bright red blood or
enough blood to soak more than one pad per
hour.
Do not douche or use tampons until after your
first checkup at 6 to 8 weeks. Your period is
likely to start again in 2 to 4 months.
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Swelling (edema)
Water retained from pregnancy and hormone
changes will go away after delivery. For some
women, swelling may increase for a few days
before it starts to ease. Many women pass
more urine for 24 to 48 hours in the first 5 to
7 days. Swelling is reduced by this normal
process. It may take 3 to 4 weeks for all
swelling to end. Be patient.
Eat a healthy diet
While you were pregnant, you were careful to
eat the right foods. Keep on eating a well
balanced diet with plenty of fruits and
vegetables. Return to your pre-pregnancy
calorie intake unless you are nursing your
baby. In this case, you will need 200 to 500
more calories per day. (There is a separate
handout on breastfeeding and nutrition.)
Care for your breasts
Within 2 to 4 days, your breasts will begin to
fill with your first milk, which is called
colostrum (ko-LAH-strum). This will happen
whether you breastfeed or give your baby
formula. When breasts are engorged (full of
milk), they will be swollen and tender. Wear a
well fitted bra 24 hours a day for good
support. You may also take acetaminophen
(Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®) as prescribed
on the package insert.
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Mother’s Care at Home
If you are breastfeeding, apply warm moist
cloths or shower before nursing to soften your
breasts. This will make it a little easier for
your baby to latch on. When breasts are no
longer engorged, it does not mean your milk
supply is lower.
If you do not breastfeed your baby, your body
will slowly absorb milk that is in your breasts.
Wear a well fitting support bra for the first 5
to 7 days. Take it off only when you shower.
Touch your breasts as little as possible.
If your breasts leak, keep your nipples dry
with pads. Change them as needed. Nipples
that stay damp may become sore. Wash your
breasts with warm water and very little soap.
Too much soap can dry your nipples and
make them more likely to crack.
Sore nipples
This is a common challenge for new mothers.
It does not mean you are doing something
wrong. Your breasts will soon adjust. Here are
some things you can do to help this normal
process.
• Make sure your baby has his or her mouth
over the nipple and areola. Your nurse can
show you correct “latch” and how to coax
your baby’s mouth to open wide.
• Nurse your baby more often but for shorter
periods of time.
• Start on the side that is less sore.
• Change the way you hold your baby. Try the
football hold, cradle hold, lying down and
other positions.
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• If your nipples are tender, slightly red or
bruised, gently pat them dry or let them air
dry. Express some colostrum and rub it
around the nipple and areola. This will help
them heal.
• If you have blisters, cracks or abrasions,
you may use a pure lanolin product to aid
healing. Two brands that are pure enough to
use when you breastfeed are PureLan 100®
and Lansinoh®. Apply a small amount after
you nurse your baby. You do not need to
wash it off before the next feeding.
If soreness keeps getting worse, you may
contact a lactation consultant at
(608) 775-6876 or (800) 362-9567, ext.
56876.
Call your doctor or midwife if you notice
symptoms of mastitis such as:
• Fever of 101 degrees F or higher
• Tender area of the breast
• Red streaks or a painful lump
• Feeling like you have the flu
Keep nursing and keep the breast empty. Your
breast is infected. Your breast milk is not.
Postpartum adjustment
Changes in your body and mind after birth
can cause more stress than you expect. Many
women tend to put themselves last as they try
to meet the demands of:
• A new baby
• Other children
• A partner
• Keeping a home
• Going back to work
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Mother’s Care at Home
Do not expect too much of yourself. There are
no “super moms.” Take care of yourself
first. Here are some ways you can adjust:
• Nurture yourself - Take 15 or 20 minutes
out of your day to sit down and enjoy
something you feel is a luxury. Call a friend
or visit over a cup of coffee. Read a book or
magazine. Do something you think of as a
special treat.
• Take a break. Leave the house for a while
without your children or partner. Or, spend
time with just your partner.
• Get some exercise. Taking a walk or doing
some other moderate activity will help
reduce stress.
• Eat simply but eat well. Snacks and meals
should not consume a lot of time. Just make
sure they are high in food value.
• When your baby naps, you should rest.
Housework can wait.
• Find a support system. Other mothers with
young children can help you cope with your
feelings, the challenge of childcare and
other issues.
• The less you do in the first 2 weeks after
you go home, the better you will feel in 6
weeks. The more you push it, the longer
your recovery will take.
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“Baby blues” and
postpartum depression
As a new mother, thoughts like these may
bother you in the days ahead:
• I feel like crying all the time.
• I can’t get going.
• I feel so worried all the time.
• I’m scared.
• I just can’t cope.
• I feel so alone.
• I don’t know who I am any more.
• I want to sleep all the time - or - I can’t
sleep at all.
• I can’t stop eating - or - I don’t want to eat.
You may feel unsure of your new role. You be
tearful and easy to upset. These are normal
signs of postpartum depression, also known as
the “baby blues.” Fatigue and changes in
hormones and family relationships bring them
on. Both mothers and fathers may notice the
blues within days after birth. Sometimes
symptoms do not show up for weeks.
As you adjust to being new parents, there are
things you can to maintain your sense of self
and your identity as a couple. After the first
week, plan an evening out or share time alone
with your partner. Leave your newborn with
family members or trusted friends. During this
period:
• Accept your feelings without judging them.
• Ask for support from others without feeling
ashamed.
• Trust your feelings to improve as time
passes. In most cases, they will.
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Mother’s Care at Home
If you reach a point where you are sad,
anxious or feel overwhelmed much of the
time, you may need help. Signs of a more
troubled state of mind than “just the blues”
include:
• Thinking that you cannot care for yourself.
• Thinking that you cannot care for your
baby.
You should be concerned if sad or worried
feelings last for 2 weeks or longer. Call your
doctor, midwife or a nurse at one of the
numbers below. You may need to be
counseled or to take prescribed medicine to
feel more like yourself again.
Cesarean incision care
Your dressing will be removed during the first
48 hours. You should be able to shower then.
If you still need a dressing to absorb drainage,
it should be changed each day. If your incision
was closed with stitches, they will dissolve on
their own. If your doctor used staples, they are
likely to be removed in 3 to 7 days. By then, a
dressing is usually no longer needed.
Steri-strips loosen enough to be removed after
about a week.
Shower or clean the incision area with a
washcloth, soap and water. You may use a hair
dryer on the cool setting to dry your incision.
Avoid tub baths until your incision has healed.
This will take about 2 weeks. Check it daily.
Use a mirror if you cannot see your incision.
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It is important to keep the skin and underlying
muscle flexible and mobile after a c-section.
Once the skin is healed, you should gently
massage the incision to decrease scar tissue
and hypersensitivity. You can start this
massage 6 weeks after your c-section. There
are 3 different techniques you can use:
1. Place 1 or 2 fingers on the scar and move
up and down over the scar. You can also go
side to side and in circles. Repeat this the
entire length of the scar.
2. Use your thumb and pointer finger to pinch
the scar and try to lift it up and away from
the underlying tissue. You can roll the scar
between your fingers.
3. If the scar is overly sensitive, wet a wash
cloth and gently rub it over the incision site
in different directions.
If you have any of these problems with your
incision, call your doctor or midwife:
• Redness
• Swelling
• Drainage
• Fever higher than 101 degrees F
• A very hard lump
Leg pain
You are at risk for a condition called
thrombophlebitis (throm-bow-fleh-BITE-us).
This painful swelling due to a clot in a vein
could appear in your calf or some other part of
your leg. It should be treated right way. Tell
your doctor or nurse if you notice:
• Steady pain in your leg
• A tender, red area or red streaks on your leg
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Mother’s Care at Home
Fever
If your temperature goes above 101°F, your
body aches and you feel very tired, call your
doctor or midwife right away.
Postpartum tubal ligation
If you have had your tubes tied, you may feel
aches or pains at or around your incision for a
few days. Bending or getting into or out of a
chair or bed may make pain worse. Take it
easy. Do not lift more than 10 pounds. (That is
what a gallon of milk weighs.) Shower or take
a sponge bath each day or every other day.
Do not take tub baths until your incision has
healed. This may take about 2 weeks. If you
notice any of these, call your doctor:
• Chills and / or a fever of 101°F or higher
• Increased pain, redness or swelling at your
incision
After pains
As your uterus shrinks, you will feel cramps
like those you have during your period. “After
pains” come and go for a few days. (If you are
nursing, you may notice them while you
breast feed your baby. This is very common.)
Keeping your bladder empty will help. Lying
on your stomach with a pillow under your
lower abdomen can also help. Do this twice a
day for 10 minutes at a time. This gently
pushes your uterus back into your pelvis and
eases muscle contractions. You may take
ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®) for relief.
Follow the guideline for dosage on the label.
By the time of your checkup in 6 to 8 weeks,
your uterus will be back to normal size.
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Slowly become more active
You may be surprised by how tired and sore
you feel after the hard work of labor. During
the first few days after your baby is born, you
need time to recover. This may not be easy
because your baby is likely to wake up often
each night. It may help to have a friend or
family member in your home during this time.
It is normal to want to show off your new
baby, but you should try to limit visitors. Take
a week or two to get to know your baby. Let
yourselves settle into a pattern of feeding and
resting. It takes time to adjust to your new
role. As you feel able, follow the guidelines
and drawings on the “Exercises after
Delivery” page in your prenatal binder. You
can also ask your nurse for a copy.
Rest or nap for short periods when you can. It
helps to sit with your feet raised for 20 to 30
minutes. If you had a vaginal birth, resume
mild to moderate activity. You can do light
housework, shop, and climb stairs if these do
not cause discomfort or more vaginal
bleeding. For at least 2 weeks, do not lift
anything that weighs more than your baby or
more than 10 pounds.
If you had a cesarean delivery, you should
not drive for 2 weeks, or longer if you are still
taking pain medicine prescribed by your
doctor. You can climb stairs. For 4 weeks, do
not lift anything that weighs more than your
baby or more than 10 pounds. (A 1-gallon
milk jug weighs about 10 pounds.)
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Mother’s Care at Home
Contact information
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Call the clinic where you received your
prenatal care.
OB/GYN - La Crosse Clinic
(608) 775-8181 or (800) 362-9567, ext. 58181
Ask for a nurse who works with your doctor.
Avery R. Gundersen Center for Women Onalaska Clinic
(608) 775-8176 or (800) 362-9567, ext. 58176
Family Medicine - La Crosse Clinic
(608) 775-6680 or (800) 362-9567, ext. 56680
Family Medicine - Onalaska Clinic
(608) 775-8151 or (800) 362-9567, ext. 58151
After 4:30 p.m. or weekends and holidays
Telephone Nurse Advisor
(608) 775-4454 or (800) 858-1050
For more information
The John & Nettie Mooney Libraries and the
Stanek Cancer Library provide current health
information from expert sources. On our
website (www.gundersenhealth.org/libraries)
you can:
• View titles of books and DVDs you can
borrow.
• Link to websites we trust and recommend.
For help finding answers to your questions,
ask any Gundersen Health System librarian.
• Call: (608) 775-5995 or (800) 362-9567,
ext. 55995
• E-mail: [email protected]
• In person: La Crosse and Onalaska campuses
and East Building
Doctor, Nurse Midwife or Physician Assistant
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Copyright 2014 – Gundersen Health System Patient Education. This content supports the care you receive from your health care team. It does not replace
medical care or advice. Talk to your doctor or others on your health care team before you start any new treatment.
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