Postpartum Care

In the weeks leading up to your due date, it's easy to get caught up thinking about baby. You make sure you have all the necessary baby gear from clothes and blankets to thermometer and carseat. You read up on caring for a newborn and what to expect. You learn about how to initiate breastfeeding. You stock the freezer. You schedule the revolving door of relatives.

Did you remember to think about yourself?

Do you wonder what your body might go through?

Have you thought about self care as you recover from the marathon of birth?

.: Postpartum Care - What to Expect - excellent explanation of the whole gamut of physical changes your body goes through after birth with tips on how to make recovery more comfortable.

.: The Postpartum Period - instructions on the importance of rest and self care during the postpartum period.

.: Care of Mom & Baby - a basic explanation of physical care for mom and baby during the postpartum period. Covers cord care, bleeding, nursing, peeing and more...

.: When to Call Your Health Care Provider
.: Kegel Exercises
.: Postpartum Recovery Supplies

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Call Your Midwife or Physician Immediately if:

• It is difficult to wake/rouse baby; baby is lethargic, too sleepy to nurse
• Decreasing number of wet or dirty diapers (less than 6-8 in 24 hours)
• Baby's temperature is greater than 37.5°C
• Baby is jaundiced at less than 24 hours of age or becoming progressively more jaundiced thereafter—skin from head to toe and whites of eyes are yellowed
• Baby shows signed of respiratory distress—nasal flaring, grunting, visible muscles contracting between the ribs, or blue colouring of face, chest and/or belly
• Foul odour, substantial bleeding, pus or redness develops around the base of the cord

• There is difficulty breastfeeding
• Red patches or streaks on breast
• Fever of 38°C or more
• Leg pain with or without inflammation
• Persistent burning or throbbing in an area where you have stitches
• Any major increase in postpartum bleeding/cramping or passing of a clot larger than a mandarin orange or if you soak more than 2 sanitary pads within one hour

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