Delivery & Postpartum Instructions: Essential Care Guide for New Mothers
CONGRATULATIONS on your new arrival! These postpartum instructions will help you navigate your recovery process, whether you had a vaginal delivery or a cesarean section. Following these care instructions will help ensure proper healing and support your transition into motherhood:
About Delivery and Postpartum Instructions
LoneTree OB/GYN & Midwives is a midwifery and nurse practitioner practice. There is always a nurse-midwife on-call for deliveries. Our midwives work closely with HCA Sky Ridge Medical Center. We consult with these physicians 24-7 when there are any complications or even emergent situations such as a caesarean section. This combination of midwife and physician gives our patients the best of both worlds.
Caesarean Sections
If you need a scheduled C-section, we will work with you to schedule this procedure at an appropriate date with our physician. If you should need a C-section while in labor, we will use our own physician or the obstetrician/hospitalists at the hospital.
Preparing for Labor and Childbirth
There are many options in labor and childbirth. We are here to support you and your partner in bringing your new baby into the world.
Our providers will have a conversation with you about your plans for childbirth during your prenatal care. We can also direct you to more resources specific to your birth plan.
Postpartum Instructions Information
After you have your baby, you might have some more questions. We want you to know that we are still available to you to answer your questions and help you in any way we can. The mother/baby nurses will give you important information before you leave the hospital regarding your health after delivery.
We will see you here in the office anytime at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after delivery. You can call our office once you get home from the hospital and settled in, to make your appointment. At that visit we will do a brief exam to be sure your body is back to normal and will discuss birth control with you, if you need that information (see below). We recommend you continue your prenatal vitamin for at least six weeks (or for the entire time you are breastfeeding).
Postpartum Warning Signs
After you get home and are settled in, you should notice you are getting better and better each day. If you are feeling worse instead of better over time, consider calling to check in with us.
Please call us if you have any of the following postpartum warning signs:
- Fever >100.4° F
- Bleeding heavily (soaking a pad in an hour or more, frequently) or a foul odor to your bleeding
- Increasing pain not controlled with Ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Severe headache unrelieved by Tylenol or Motrin
- Feeling an increasing sense of sadness, anxiety, or depression (see below)
- Leaking pus, bleeding, or increased pain at the site of any stitches (either vaginal area or on your abdomen if you had a cesarean section)
Circumcision
Many pediatricians can perform your baby boy’s circumcision at the hospital. If the pediatrician you have selected does not do them, we are happy to help you find a provider who performs circumcision. We are happy to discuss the benefits and risks of circumcision with you and the forms of analgesia that are available. Below is the most recent statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding circumcision:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) finds that circumcision has potential medical benefits and advantages, as well as risks. A recent analysis by the AAP concluded that the medical benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks. We recommend that the decision to circumcise is best made by parents in consultation with their pediatrician, considering what is in the best interests of the child, including medical, religious, cultural, ethnic traditions and personal beliefs.
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
Postpartum depression and anxiety are surprisingly common, and our society doesn’t do that great a job identifying women who are suffering from this problem. This disorder can impact the health and well-being of your newborn child and be a very negative experience for you. This type of depression and/or anxiety can affect any women, regardless of age, income, birth experience, health, or previous history, so all women and families need to be alert for symptoms. Postpartum depression is more common in women with a history of depression or previous postpartum depression.
It is normal, in the first week or two after your baby is born, to have some ups and downs in your emotions – this is known as the “baby blues.” One moment you may feel happy, and the next moment you are sad or crying. This is very normal, as your hormones are changing, and you have just been through an emotional and possibly exhausting experience. However, this should resolve within a short time frame and be mild.
If, after a week or two (or sooner), you notice you are feeling very sad, anxious, overwhelmed, angry, helpless, ashamed, or out of control, you might have postpartum depression. Some women even have thoughts of hurting themselves or their baby. Women who have had a baby are at risk for postpartum depression for a full year after the birth of the child.
If you think you have any symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety, PLEASE call us right away. We can help you sort through emotions you are experiencing, help you with any problems, and make sure you receive treatment for this serious postpartum illness.
Learn more: PostPartum Support International
Considerations for Breastfeeding
While we understand that some women are not comfortable with the idea of breastfeeding, we want to take a moment to encourage you to consider this method of feeding your new baby. Breastfeeding is nature’s best way to nourish your child and your milk is uniquely suited to your own baby’s nutritional needs and stage of life. Breastfeeding confers many benefits to both you and your baby!
Infants who are breastfed have fewer illnesses and are less likely to suffer from allergies and wheezing illness. They are less likely to develop diabetes, and breastfed babies are less likely to have SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Breastfed babies score higher on IQ tests as well as on measures of social and cognitive development. Mothers who breastfeed also may have an easier time losing the weight they gained during pregnancy.
A recent study suggested that there is no difference in the amount of sleep of babies who bottle feed or breast feed-it is a myth that bottle fed babies sleep better. Most moms also relate how special they found the mother-baby breastfeeding bond to be, and breastfeeding releases beneficial hormones into the mother’s bloodstream.
Here is a great website that discusses breastfeeding benefits (including research supporting this method of feeding your child).
Learn more: Breastfeeding Benefits
HCA Sky Ridge Medical Center has certified lactation consultants available to you in the hospital and after you go home (by appointment), to help you with any breastfeeding questions or problems.
Postpartum Instructions by Our Pediatricians
We advise all of our pregnant patients to choose a pediatrician prior to delivery. We recommend you begin looking at 28 weeks of gestation. Your pediatrician begins providing care for your newborn once they are born. The pediatrician will come see your baby the morning after you deliver and every morning until you go home.
There are several pediatricians in the area that will come to see your baby in the hospital. If your pediatrician does not come to Sky Ridge Medical Center, there are on-call pediatricians who are happy to see your baby until they go home. We are happy to refer you to a local pediatrician and discuss the process of picking out a provider for your baby.
Medications for Pain Management
Postpartum Instructions for Medication Following Your Cesarean
- Vicodin, Percocet, Darvocet, or Tylenol #3 1-2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours for pain (DO NOT take on an empty stomach).
- Motrin (Advil) 600 mg every 6 hours as needed for cramping.
- Tylenol (regular or extra strength) 1-2 tablets every 4 hours as needed for pain.
- Colace (over the counter) 100 mg twice daily as needed (stool softener).
- Anusol HC or Tucks as needed for hemorrhoids.
- Continue prenatal vitamins, especially if you are breastfeeding.
Postpartum Instructions for Medication Following Your Vaginal Delivery
- Vicodin, Percocet, Darvocet, or Tylenol #3
- 1-2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours for pain (DO NOT take on an empty stomach).
- Motrin (Advil) 600 mg, every 6 hours as needed for cramping.
- Tylenol (regular or extra strength)
- 1-2 tablets every 4 hours as needed for pain.
- Colace (over the counter) 100 mg, twice daily as needed (stool softener).
- Anusol HC or Tucks as needed for hemorrhoids.
Continue prenatal vitamins, especially if you are breastfeeding.
Follow-Up Care Schedule
Upon arriving home, please call our office to schedule your first recovery visit, which should occur two weeks after your delivery date. During this first appointment, we will schedule your second visit for six weeks after delivery to ensure your complete recovery is progressing well.
When to Contact Your Doctor
You should contact our office immediately if you experience a temperature over 100.5°F, notice an increase in vaginal bleeding, or have persistent nausea and vomiting. These symptoms may indicate complications that require prompt medical attention.
What to Expect During Recovery
Bleeding for up to six weeks after delivery is completely normal, and this bleeding should decrease gradually over time. However, if your bleeding increases or you pass large blood clots, contact our office right away. If you had an episiotomy or laceration requiring repair, the sutures will dissolve naturally within six weeks without any intervention needed.
During your recovery period, you can take sitz baths or soak in the bathtub twice daily to ease discomfort, but avoid using soap or bubble bath in the water. If you notice redness, swelling, discharge, or an increase in pain around any surgical sites, contact our office immediately.
You should avoid sexual intercourse for six weeks to allow proper healing, and do not use tampons or douches during this same period.
Staying well-hydrated is crucial during recovery, so aim to drink at least eight glasses of water daily, particularly if you’re breastfeeding.
Try to rest whenever possible by sleeping when your baby sleeps, as adequate rest is essential for healing. Walking is encouraged as gentle exercise, but avoid any strenuous physical activity for at least two weeks after delivery. Follow these postpartum instructions, and you’ll be fine.
Special Considerations for Postpartum Instructions
If you had a cesarean section, you’ll follow all the same medication and general care guidelines as vaginal delivery, with some additional considerations for your surgical incision.
The sutures in your incision will dissolve naturally within six weeks. Contact our office if your incision opens or becomes red and inflamed, as this may indicate infection or healing complications.
You may shower normally, but avoid taking baths or soaking your incision for six weeks to prevent infection. An important restriction after cesarean delivery is that you should not lift anything weighing more than 10 pounds during your initial recovery period. This includes older children, heavy bags, or household items that might strain your abdominal muscles and incision site.
Comprehensive Breastfeeding Guide
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for a year or more after birth. As part of your postpartum instructions, we emphasize the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and baby due to its long-term benefits.
For infants, breast milk provides superior nutrition that cannot be replicated in formula, leading to improved brain development. Breastfeeding reduces your baby’s risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening intestinal infection, and decreases the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome. The immune system benefits are substantial, with breastfed babies showing increased resistance to infections, fewer allergies, fewer stomach upsets, and decreased risk of various cancers later in life.
Breastfeeding Instructions
- If your breast(s) become red and tender, or if you develop fever/chills, you may have developed MASTITIS (Inflammation of the breast), a condition which requires antibiotic treatment. If this occurs, please call the office immediately.
- For sore or tender nipples use lanolin (Lansinoh) after feeding. It is best to avoid cleaning the nipples with soap and when possible, allow the nipples to air dry after feeding.
- You are encouraged to wear a bra 24 hours a day for support.
- Remember that what you eat affects the baby. You should avoid food that upsets your stomach (i.e. spicy or gassy foods). Be aware if the baby has a problem with gas as it may be related to your diet.
- You should be cautious when taking any medication including over the counter medications. Please see above for a list of medications or you may call the office or consult with a pharmacist to make sure they are okay to take while breastfeeding.
- If you are breastfeeding, you will require more calories than when you were pregnant (approx. 2,500 – 3,000 calories / day). So, be sure to continue a healthy diet, and take your prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding.
- If you are not breastfeeding,g you should wear a tight bra to help alleviate the pain of engorgement. You may also use ice or place cold cabbage leaves inside your bra.
Achieve Your Recovery with Proper Postpartum Instructions
At Lone Tree OB/GYN & Midwives, we combine cutting-edge medical expertise with personalized attention to ensure that both you and your baby are safe and healthy in every stage of your pregnancy.
You can find us at Lone Tree or Castle Rock, Colorado, and schedule your appointment or contact us to start your pregnancy journey with a team who cares about you, your baby and the safety of both.