After delivering a child, a mother’s body undergoes immense physical and emotional pain. The pain starts in every part of the body alongside continuous discomfort and mood swings. In some cases, it doesn’t last forever; however, sometimes it takes months to recover from. It also depends on how the baby was delivered. However, the postpartum condition always requires proper management, or else it gets worse and can cause long-term issues.
If you are a new mom and stressed over postpartum pain management, this blog will help you overcome the problem.
1. Sore Muscles
You may experience sore muscles once you deliver a child. Your hips, abdomen, or even your arms can be sore. For this, you can start with taking a warm shower and different massage techniques. After giving birth, stretching and moving around give you a great deal of comfort and help in releasing the pain.
Moreover, to reduce the risk of pressure on the body from prolonged sitting postures, many doctors advise the use of medical air cushions which can be very helpful in postpartum pain management.
2. Bottom Tenderness
Experiencing tenderness in the vagina and rectum after delivery is pretty normal. The whole area enabled the birthing process of a baby and slowly return to shape, of course, it will hurt for some time. The tissues may be tight and you can help release them by using icing packs right after birth. The pain may be slightly intense if you had sutures for which you can use a sitz bath for healing and comfort.
3. Breastfeeding Pain
Some new moms experience a burning sensation around their nipples when breastfeeding. This could be due to the yeast infection. Moreover, the breasts may get red or sore which is the indication of a bacterial infection called mastitis, necessitating a visit to your doctor.
4. Backache and Joint Pain
This is the most common pain after pregnancy. New moms have it for different reasons such as labor strain or an inappropriate position while breastfeeding. To help relieve back pain, you may take warm baths and try to change your posture.
After delivering a child, women also experience joint pain throughout their bodies, including hands, wrists, feet, and ankles. The wrist pain is caused by compression of nerves called Carpal tunnel syndrome for which, new moms must immediately consult the doctor.
5. Incision
If you have given birth via C-section, you are most likely to have incision pain for a few days along with the pain of uterine contractions. It is the most intense in the starting days after birth, and will likely stay for a few months. You will most likely need medicines to manage the pain prescribed by your gynecologist. And, in case your incision turns red, oozes blood or pus, you must immediately go to the doctor.
The Bottom Line
Post-pregnancy pain is an overwhelming experience for new moms and can be a traumatic one if they don’t take care of themselves. No matter what, they should never hesitate to share them with their doctor. To help ease the pain, medications are always prescribed depending on each case. The brighter side is: it doesn’t last forever.