Just as every woman's delivery experience can be different, so can the post-partum period.



Immediately after delivery, bleeding and pain are closely monitored. Some women can have severe bleeding, potentially even life-threatening. Post-partum hemorrhage is usually addressed with medications and intravenous fluids.

For breastfeeding mothers, ensure you are drinking lots of fluids. Breastfeeding requires sometimes as much as 400 calories more energy per day so ensure adequate healthy food intake too. Immediately post-partum we often recommend continuing your prenatal vitamin.

Many women will have an injury to their vagina and perineum from vaginal delivery. Sometimes it may only be a small tear that does not even require a stitch, while some women suffer major injuries that require delicate repair of anal and rectal structures.

Post-partum many women experience changes in mood. This is typically exacerbated by poor sleep, especially when initially home from the hospital. If your mood is increasingly low, it is important to discuss it with your physician – post-partum depression can be a very serious condition. Post-partum depression can develop in women even with no past history of depression or anxiety.



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