Your baby is born! After nine months of pregnancy dealing with the desire to hold him in your arms, the changes in your body and the associated discomforts and after the hard labor, there is still one more period to overcome: the postpartum period. This stage, known as the puerperium or quarantine, begins immediately after giving birth and lasts for approximately six weeks.
During this time, the mother’s body progressively returns to its previous physiological state before pregnancy and to do so, it goes through a series of changes, both physical and emotional. Therefore, in addition to devoting your attention and time to meeting the needs of your newborn, you must also seek care to feel good. Just as you were surely informed of everything that happened in your body and that of the baby during the weeks of pregnancy, it is important to know what to expect in terms of the puerperium or quarantine.
After giving birth –whether it was a natural delivery or by caesarean section– you will attend vaginal bleeding known as lochia. When the placenta detaches from the uterine mucosa, it produces a wound that will cause bleeding, made up of blood, mucosa and remains of the uterine walls.
Bleeding lasts around two weeks, although it depends a lot on each case. For example, they are less durable in the case of mothers who are breastfeeding. During the duration of the lochia you should not use tampons or menstrual cups, only compresses. Likewise, baths are not recommended, opt for the shower instead.
The contractions are not limited only to the moment of giving birth, but you will also suffer them in the postpartum period, although with a lower intensity. They are known as injuries and are caused by contractions of the uterus, which must return to its size prior to pregnancy, expelling the remains of blood and membranes resulting from childbirth. Aftermaths are usually more intense in the case of women with multiple pregnancies or who have been mothers before.
After nine months watching your body increase in size and change its shape, it is normal to want to recover the figure as soon as possible. But you must arm yourself with patience. The uterus must regain its size and all the organs that moved to make room for the growing baby have to return to their place. Likewise, although a lot of weight responded to the baby, the placenta and the amniotic fluid, you will surely continue with a few kilos that you must lose little by little.
As for exercising after giving birth, you should follow your doctor’s recommendations, as it depends on each person, the guideline varying between four and six weeks of waiting. When you return to physical activity, gradually start with low-impact disciplines such as Pilates or yoga and don’t forget to include exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor.
