Postpartum Symptoms (Baby Blues After Child Birth)

Giving birth is a wonderful act for many mothers, mainly because of the longing to hold their baby for the first time. This brings a lot of joy, but it can also bring with it many postpartum symptoms. These symptoms can be especially alarming for first-time mothers, so we will try to clarify some doubts about it.

Most common postpartum symptoms

At first these postpartum symptoms can be confusing. For many mothers, thoughts such as “why is this happening to me?” It is an especially frustrating time, because not many people around you will know how to help you.

Whether you are going through this, or someone you know is experiencing it, these are the most common postpartum symptoms:

Postpartum Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage is a common symptom, both in cesarean and vaginal deliveries. Typically, during childbirth a woman loses about 500 ml of blood.

If this excessive bleeding occurs after one or two weeks postpartum, it may be due to remnants of the placenta that are retained in your uterus and have not been expelled. This is something that also puts you at a higher risk for postpartum hemorrhage and therefore should not be neglected.

If you are already at home and you notice this symptom, the first person you should consult is your doctor. If you have placental debris, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to remove it.

Abdominal pain after childbirth

This is not to be confused with normal abdominal cramps. Postpartum abdominal pain is a condition that is often considered strange. This can occur during the course of pregnancy and even persist a week or two after delivery.

Research indicates that this can be life-threatening, as it affects the liver and your blood’s ability to clot. Some of the symptoms are:

● Headache
● Severe pain in your upper stomach
● Feeling sick.

The only thing you can do in this case is to inform your doctor of your situation and the symptoms you have observed to help him or her recommend the appropriate treatment for this syndrome.

Constipation and postpartum hemorrhoids

Constipation and hemorrhoids are a fairly common postpartum symptom. This is the result of the pressure the baby puts on the lower abdominal veins. That is why it is recommended by doctors to improve the diet after pregnancy and consume foods rich in fiber.

Many suggest consuming a variety of fluids to stimulate bowel movements and reduce the swelling of these veins. Even if you do not have this symptom, ideally your postpartum diet should be one of your priorities in order to prevent this situation.

Postpartum depression

Although pregnancy brings much joy, postpartum depression is more common than you might think. Many women feel anxious because of the level of responsibility of having a newborn, coupled with the various hormonal changes. This can create a lot of frustration for mothers who feel they should be more joyful for their newborn.

Symptoms of postpartum depression appear in most women between two weeks and a few months after delivery. In addition, another sign of postpartum depression is physical pain after childbirth, which makes it difficult for a woman to cope with her new role as a mother.

Lack of interest in the baby, abnormal behavior towards the newborn or violent thoughts that may lead her to harm the child are also signs of postpartum depression. PPTD must be treated immediately with the care of your doctor and you must not stay at home hoping it will pass, as it can be dangerous for both yourself and your newborn.

Still, you can avoid it or speed up the recovery process by learning to control your emotions. Although you may feel that some of them are out of your control, ideally you should learn to control them to protect your overall health.