After my baby\u2019s born, when can I expect to hold her\/him?<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Once you deliver your baby, the baby should be able to go to the mom\u2019s chest immediately, as long as there are not any complications. Even if you have had a CS delivery, you can ask to have the baby come to your chest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Why do many doctors like to get skin-to-skin contact right away, and in what cases might this have to be delayed?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The only reason a baby would not go skin-to-skin on a mom\u2019s chest would be if there are any complications associated with the baby or delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When can women typically go home–and take baby home–if they\u2019ve had a vaginal delivery?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If a woman has an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, she should expect to go home 2 days\/nights after the delivery.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How long does a women typically stay hospitalized if she had a C-section?<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After a woman has a C-Section she should expect to stay 4 days in the hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After you deliver your baby, either by C\/Section or vaginally, how long does your uterus and flappy belly skin need time to get back to its pre-pregnant status?<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Immediately after delivery, the uterus will be at the level of your belly button, which is reminiscent of being 20 weeks pregnant.\u00a0 Even though the uterus is smaller, this allows for more unwanted attention to your stretched, loose and weak skin.\u00a0 Women tend to look pregnant for another 6 to 9 weeks as the uterus and saggy, post-baby belly find their way back to normal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Although I always tell my patients that it took 9 months to go through the pregnancy, so allow 9 months to recover to your pre-pregnant body.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What pain medication will a new mom go home with?<\/b><\/p>\n When discharged from the hospital, you would be told to take over the counter Tylenol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications to treat the pain associated with a vaginal delivery. If you had a CSection, you will be discharged home with a narcotic and a NSAID for the first week to help deal with the post operative pain.<\/span><\/p>\n How can I recover from vaginal tearing that happened during my vaginal birth?<\/b><\/p>\n Take care of a healing vagina if you had a normal vaginal delivery. Daily sitz baths with warm water and ibuprofen will help decrease vaginal swelling and pain.\u00a0 Another soothing and helpful tip is to use a squirt water bottle filled with warm water and pour it over the vagina while urinating or after a bowel movement. The squirt bottle can also be used to clean the area after urinating or having a bowel movement which will be a bit gentler on a bruised and swollen perineum.\u00a0 The best news of all is the vagina is very resilient. The vagina will be close to \u201cas good as new\u201d within 6 to 10 weeks. Until then, keep the vagina and perineum clean, use simple treatment options and sit down slowly not to disrupt the healing process<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0How long does it take for c-section scars to heal?<\/b><\/p>\n Everyday gets a little easier in the recovery of a C-Section.\u00a0The first few weeks are definitely the most challenging since the body is going through a major physical and hormonal transition.\u00a0 Your ability to move around freely and without experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort in the abdomen and incisional area will be most difficult the first 2 weeks.\u00a0Don\u2019t overdo it!\u00a0 Move slowly and take it easy. It takes a good 6 weeks to fully recover after having had a C-Section.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What is recovery like in the couple of weeks following a c-section? What do you need in that time to heal?<\/b><\/p>\n Our bodies are amazing during the healing process.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t overdo it, be patient and allow the body to heal you will feel more like yourself by 6 weeks postpartum. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Be patient and don\u2019t push yourself.\u00a0 This is the biggest mistake women make, not following the rules of recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do c-section scars hurt?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Burning sensation-take an ibuprofen, use a heating pad, ask the question if you are over doing it which is often the case.<\/span><\/p>\n A Keloids scar is basically a raised scar that can become larger weeks and months after surgery. Keloid scars can become painful and itchy.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do all the food \u201cdo\u2019s\u201d and \u201cdon\u2019t\u2019s\u201d go out the window right after delivery?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After your delivery, many of the \u201cdo not eat\u2019 while pregnant goes away.\u00a0 Sushi, deli meat, caffeine restrictions are no longer applicable. You can order a tuna roll immediately after delivery if you have been wanting to eat raw fish. If you are breastfeeding, there are no sushi or deli meat restrictions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What happens at the 6-week postpartum visit?<\/b><\/p>\n During the 6-week postpartum visit, your health care provider will do a breast and pelvic exam, discuss birth control options, and give you permission to resume sexual intercourse.\u00a0 If you had a vaginal delivery, your vagina will be checked out to make sure it is completely healed. If you had a cesarean section, your incision will be examined to make sure it is fully healed. If everything checks out, you will also be allowed to take bathes and go into swimming pools.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is also the perfect time for you to ask questions about all the changes that are happening in your life, hormonally, emotionally and physically.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What are some questions new moms should ask their doctor?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n When can I start exercising?<\/span><\/p>\n When should I start doing Kegel exercises?<\/span><\/p>\n Can I stop taking my prenatal vitamins?<\/span><\/p>\n Are there any other supplements I should be taking?<\/span><\/p>\n Why are my nipples still sore when I breastfeed?<\/span><\/p>\n When can I start having sex?<\/span><\/p>\n After a vaginal delivery, when is my vagina ready to for sex?<\/span><\/p>\n Will sex be painful?<\/span><\/p>\n Why do I have burning in my vagina?<\/span><\/p>\n How long will it take to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy?<\/span><\/p>\n Why is it harder to lose weight when I am breastfeeding?<\/span><\/p>\n When will I get my period?<\/span><\/p>\n What type of birth control can I take when I breast feed?<\/span><\/p>\n What type of birth control can I take if I don\u2019t breast feed?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What issues should you discuss with your doctor?<\/b><\/p>\n Issues to discuss if you are having problems with:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What do you look for, in terms of mental health, at the 6-week appt?<\/b><\/p>\n During the 6-week postpartum visit, most women feel as though they are more in control of handling the hormonal storm that comes with the first 6 weeks of having a baby. I go through a check list to make sure new moms are able to feed and care for their baby and that they are eating a healthy diet and getting enough rest.<\/span><\/p>\n Breastfeeding can be challenging, and I always remind new moms that this can be an uphill battle and can take time to master.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0I also ask what kind of support they are getting from their partner, other family members, friends, or paid help.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0If I find a woman is struggling with their mental health, I strategize with them in providing a support team including a therapist and anti-depressants to help get them back on track.<\/span><\/p>\n My best piece of advice for women in the 4<\/b>th<\/b> trimester.<\/b><\/p>\n I always tell my patients that they get a \u201cpass\u201d for one year following the birth of their baby.\u00a0 <\/span>It<\/span> takes you 9 months to go through the pregnancy process.\u00a0 Allow yourself 9 months during the postpartum process to have your body and vagina return to normal\u2026and hopefully your sex life too!\u00a0 The excitement of your old life will return and now you have a wonderful addition to create that perfect family.\u00a0 <\/span>Don\u2019t pressure yourself to get your pre-pregnant body back and create other expectations that you may not achieve. Life usually gets back to normal as everyone adjusts with an open mind, patience and understanding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do I need to continue taking my their prenatal vitamins?<\/b><\/p>\n Many women think once they had the baby they don\u2019t need to continue taking prenatal vitamins any more.\u00a0 Unfortunately, this is not the case.\u00a0 If you are breastfeeding your body requires more vitamins and mineral than during your pregnancy.\u00a0 Continuing to take your prenatal vitamins, extra vitamin D and omega 3 fish oil to help ensure your growing newborn gets those vital nutrients it needs.<\/span><\/p>\n What are some of the most common challenges for new mothers?<\/b><\/p>\n The most common challenges for new moms include not producing enough milk to breastfeed, not getting enough sleep, feeling depressed and inadequate as a mom, having unexplained crying, irritability and anger and having problems with your partner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s my best advice for new mothers trying to balance the new pressures of motherhood?<\/b><\/p>\n I always tell my patients that they get a \u201cpass\u201d for one year following the birth of their baby.\u00a0 Don\u2019t pressure yourself to get your pre-pregnant body back and create other expectations that you may not achieve. Life usually gets back to normal as everyone adjusts with an open mind, patience and understanding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tips during the Postpartum Period:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everyday gets a little easier in the recovery of a C-Section.\u00a0The first few weeks are definitely the most challenging since the body is going through a major physical and hormonal transition.\u00a0 Your ability to move around freely and without experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort in the abdomen and incisional area will be most difficult the first 2 weeks.\u00a0Don\u2019t overdo it!\u00a0 Move slowly and take it easy. It takes a good 6 weeks to fully recover after having had a C-Section.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When is the next follow up appointment with your healthcare provider after having a C-Section?<\/b><\/p>\n You should follow up for an incision check with your healthcare provider 2 weeks after your discharge from the hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n What does pelvic rest for 6 weeks mean?<\/b><\/p>\n When a new mom leaves the hospital after giving birth, either vaginally or by Cesarean section, her OBGYN tells her \u201cpelvic rest for 6 weeks until I see you for your postpartum visit\u201d.\u00a0 Pelvic rest for 6 weeks means nothing inside the vagina including tampons, douching, sex or bath water. You can shower and have sitz baths.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What are the first few days like? What do you need to do initially to heal?<\/b><\/p>\n The first few days are definitely the most challenging since you body is going through a major physical and hormonal transition.\u00a0 You are moving slowly trying to navigate many nuances, from caring to your baby and caring for your own needs in the recovery process. You are not only recovering from surgery but also recovering from having gone through underwent a major surgery, although it doesn\u2019t feel that way since you are awake during the surgery.\u00a0 It takes 4 weeks for the sutures used during surgery to dissolve.<\/span><\/p>\n Avoid lifting anything heavier than the baby for the first 4 weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n Wear comfortable and loose clothing especially around your abdomen and near the incision. Where supportive belly bands are also helpful. After a cesarean section belly wraps can support the uterus and belly taking pressure off the abdominal incision.\u00a0 It\u2019s important not to wrap yourself too tight since it might affect the healing of the incision.<\/span><\/p>\n What is recovery like in the couple of weeks following a c-section?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Our bodies are amazing during the healing process.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t overdo it, be patient and allow the body to heal you will feel more like yourself by 6 weeks postpartum. \u00a0Be patient and don\u2019t push yourself.\u00a0 This is the biggest mistake women make, not following the rules<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Do c-section scars hurt?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Burning sensation-take an ibuprofen, use a heating pad, ask the question if you are over doing it which is often the case<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When something injures your skin, your body’s nerve endings can become damaged, too. The nerve endings can become very sensitive and cause\u00a0<\/span>itchy<\/b>\u00a0sensations as they start healing. New\u00a0<\/span>scars<\/b>\u00a0form for a number of reasons: due to acne blemishes<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When should women go back on birth control<\/b>?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When a woman goes for her 6-week postpartum visit it\u2019s at this time the conversation occurs as it relates to birth control.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Safe birth control options for breastfeeding moms include progesterone only birth control pills, non-hormonal or hormonal IUD, Nexplanon, a diaphragm or condoms. If permeant conception is warranted, then a vasectomy or tubal ligation is an option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you are not breastfeeding, you have all the usual options for birth control including using the combination estrogen-progesterone pill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What is a keloid scar? 50<\/b><\/p>\n A keloid scar is an overgrowth of tissue from the existing scar. It occurs when there is too much collagen produced at the site of the wound. A keloid can continue to grow even after the incision has healed. It\u2019s associated with pain, itching and tightness.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Superficial nerves on the skin are cut and that is why women feel numbness when touching the scar.<\/span><\/p>\n The healing process is slow and steady, women often forget they had a major surgery. Sitting up and turning to get out of bed can be challenging.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even though abdominal muscles haven\u2019t been cut there is some rearranging but ultimately putting all the pieces back together the way we found them\u2026 that takes place once the babies out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sutures take 4 weeks to dissolve under the skin. One side may hurt more than the other. By 6 weeks you are feeling more like yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How long do steri strips stay on?<\/b><\/p>\n Steri-strips are applied during the CSection or when you are discharged from the hospital. They are removed during the 2-week post op visit. When you are discharged from the hospital, the steri-strips cover the incision, so you should use a hand towel or coverlet while showering not to get them wet.<\/span><\/p>\n The first 2 weeks the incision will feel numb due to the superficial nerves cut at the time of the CS and you will feel a small ridge along the incision. By 6 weeks the ridge will flatten.<\/span><\/p>\n Are there cosmetic fixes to C-section scars? <\/b><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Although scars cannot be completely removed, their appearance can be improved to some extent. Methods for improving the appearance of scars include:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When can women drive a car after having a baby?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After having a baby, you can drive a car as long as you are not taking pain medications, with codeine or other narcotics, and are having an easy recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How long do women have to wait to exercise after having a baby?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How soon to resume your exercise regimen will vary according to your physical and mental condition, your regimen prior to and during your pregnancy, and, of course, your delivery experience. If you had a traumatic delivery and\/or an episiotomy you may not be able to resume even the easiest exercises until three to four weeks postpartum. The sutures used in repairing an episiotomy typically dissolve within four weeks, so it\u2019s best not to overextend yourself during that time. If you begin a strenuous workout sooner than your body is able to handle, you\u2019ll set back your postpartum recovery. Be reasonable in your workout routine. You don\u2019t want to ride a bicycle or take a spinning class for at least six weeks following an episiotomy repair (you may even wince just thinking of it). Walking and strolling with your newborn 20 to 30 minutes a day is a perfect way to begin once your health care provider gives you the go-ahead. Start those Kegels as soon after delivery as you remember to. Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken your pelvic floor muscles, resulting in uncomfortable pelvic pressure and unwanted leakage of urine (try sneezing without those muscles). Kegel exercises are a simple and effective way to strengthen those pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder and bowel. They can help delay or even prevent pelvic organ prolapse (protrusion of the pelvic organs into or through the vaginal canal) and other related symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When can women have sex again?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When a new mom leaves the hospital after giving birth, either vaginally or by Cesarean section, her OBGYN tells her \u201cpelvic rest for 6 weeks until I see you for your postpartum visit\u201d, which translates to \u201cno sex\u201d. \u00a0A women\u2019s body is still healing regardless of the mode of delivery for at least 6 weeks so at this visit you get restarted on birth control and are given the A-OK to have sex again. Fantasizing about the next time to have sex with their partner is usually not at the top of a woman\u2019s postpartum wish list.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/i>It\u2019s well known amongst mommy group\u2019s that the first 6 weeks are the hardest hormonally and physically for both women and men.\u00a0 If breastfeeding is involved there are hormonal changes that make life miserable. Plus all the nuances of dealing with a newborn make the hormonal changes even worse…not sleeping well, feeling exhausted, breasts leaking all over day and night and carrying all the extra weight that you gained in pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Between 6 weeks to 3 months, many women experience painful intercourse. \u00a0The cause of painful intercourse can be due to vaginal tears, episiotomy, damage to the pelvic floor muscles and the hormonal effects of low estrogen if you are breastfeeding.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The low estrogen levels make the vagina to undergo the changes associated with atrophy.\u00a0 These changes cause the vaginal tissue to be thin, dry and pale.\u00a0 There is less blood flow to the vagina resulting in decrease vaginal lubrication.\u00a0 Vaginal dryness, irritation, burning, itching, painful urination, and painful intercourse are common symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When does sex feel less uncomfortable after having a baby?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n At the 3 months postpartum timeline, life is getting better in every way.\u00a0 The nuances of having a newborn in your lives are easier to handle. \u00a0For those that breastfed they are either in the rhythm of nursing and those who struggled has most likely stopped.\u00a0 Your vagina is now healed after a vaginal delivery and your scar is healed after a Cesarean section.\u00a0 You probably have had sex a couple of times but the routine of intimacy is usually delayed for as long as possible by women more so than men.\u00a0 Exercise is now happening regularly and the pregnancy weight is coming off.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/span>How long does it take for c-section scars to heal?<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Is it normal for the scar to be itchy\/irritated?<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Is it normal to have a numb scar?<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>What is the healing process like?<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/span> What will the healing process likely look like?<\/b><\/p>\n\n