7 postpartum he alth issues not to be overlooked

2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 18:44

Back home with baby, a thousand and one questions cross your mind. Is he drinking enough? Is he getting enough sleep? Attentive to all its needs, you may be neglecting the signals sent to you by your body.

For 9 months, women go to their pregnancy follow-up and they are taken care of at the slightest problem. After childbirth, they return home and they are not always safe from postpartum troubles. Only here, they must be able to recognize the symptoms and not ignore them. In most cases, immediate attention will promote a quick and complete recovery.

On the Internet, you can find all sorts of he alth problems that can occur as a result of childbirth. From pulmonary embolism to heart attack, through the infection of stitches, we find everything. Although these problems are very serious and can occur, they are quite rare.

We asked Sharon Laplante, pediatric nurse and founder of the Clinique Parents-Enfants, to tell us about the most frequent cases.

Uterine prolapse

“Sometimes women come to the clinic and complain of vaginal heaviness,” explains Sharon Laplante. After an examination, there is a prolapse uterus”. It is, in fact, a descent of the uterus towards the vulva. In addition to a feeling of heaviness, women may experience lower back pain, some issues with constipation, and urinary leakage. “Fortunately, adds the nurse, with adequate treatment in physiotherapy, the majority of patients recover completely”.

Urinary tract infections

After childbirth, especially after catheterization, urinary tract infections are not uncommon. Not to mention the role of pregnancy hormones that distend the bladder and prevent it from emptying completely, thus promoting the proliferation of bacteria. A few days after giving birth, women may feel pain when urinating and/or be feverish. Ms. Laplante specifies: “A simple urine analysis confirms or invalidates the presence of an infection. If the result is positive, a course of antibiotics is then prescribed.”

To prevent or help cure a urinary tract infection, the nurse advises drinking plenty of water.

Constipation

Although constipation can have physiological causes, after childbirth it is often psychosomatic. “New moms are scared,” says Sharon Laplante. They fear to explode their points or to force. Theytherefore refrain from having a bowel movement”. It doesn't take much for constipation to set in.

To remedy this uncomfortable problem, here are some tips:

• Again, water is one of the keys to help the transit work properly.
• It is also important to eat enough fruit, fiber and to move around (as much as possible with a newborn).
• If the problem persists, ask your pharmacist for advice, who will certainly be able to tell you which product to use to relieve this temporary problem.

Hemorrhoids

hemorrhoids are very common during pregnancy, but also afterwards. The pressure exerted on the veins of the anal region during the push is enormous which favors their appearance.

To relieve them, wash and dry thoroughly after passing stool. Using stool softeners can also make going to the bathroom less painful.

Back and pelvis pain

“After giving birth, says the specialist, women often discover muscles they never knew existed. They may feel like they're sore. Once again, we have to say thank you to the hormones and to the work for these little (or big) discomforts. Until the problem becomes chronic and prevents you from taking care of your baby, there is nothing you can do. However, consultations with an osteopath can be beneficial.

Phlebitis or venous thrombosis

After childbirth, to some extent, it is normal to observe edema in the lower limbs. The epidural and solutions are often the first causes. “However, explains Sharon Laplante, if the legs become painful, hot, red and swollen, you must consult quickly”. These symptoms may indicate phlebitis. It is the obstruction of a vein by a blood clot.

According to the nurse, to try to prevent them, all you have to do is practice certain good habits: move, avoid s alt and… drink lots of water.

Postpartum depression

postpartum depression is certainly the most common he alth problem following childbirth, even if it is not directly life-threatening mom. “A few weeks after the birth of their child, says Ms. Laplante, the mothers arrive in my office and start crying when I ask them how they are. The psychological distress of new mothers is not to be overlooked. Fatigue, hormones and coping are factors that can promote postpartum depression.

Warning

It is very important that new mothers, when feeling overwhelmed and/or exhausted, seek counseling and seek help. If you are one of the relatives of a young mother, listen in!

There is no magic formula to avoid he alth problems. Stay hydrated, rest as much as possiblepossible, eating he althy, listening to your body and moving (eventually) are just a few good habits to adopt and maintain before, during and after pregnancy.