SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
24/7 HELPLINE (903) 212-7500
  • PATIENT PORTAL LOGIN

PhyNet Health PhyNet Health

  • Home
  • Find a Clinic
    • Hughes Springs, TX
    • Longview, TX
    • Jefferson, TX
    • Kilgore, TX
    • Lindale, TX
    • Linden, TX
    • Gladewater, TX
    • Lone Star, TX
    • Tatum, TX
    • Marshall, TX
  • Health Services
    • Primary Care Services
    • Physical Therapy / Rehab
    • Allergy Testing & Treatment
    • Chronic Care Management
    • Remote Monitoring Program
    • Virtual Visit
  • Resources
    • MedlinePlus Wiki
      • Health Topics
    • Home Health Coordination
    • Transitions of Care
    • Insurance Help
  • About Phynet
    • About Phynet
    • PhyNet News
    • Better Together Stories
    • Careers
  • Billing

Health Topics

Skip navigation

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine
MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You
  • Health Topics
  • Drugs & Supplements
  • Genetics
  • Medical Tests
  • Medical Encyclopedia
  • About MedlinePlus
  • About MedlinePlus
  • What's New
  • Site Map
  • Customer Support
  • Health Topics
  • Drugs & Supplements
  • Genetics
  • Medical Tests
  • Medical Encyclopedia
Español
You Are Here:
Home →
Health Topics →
Postpartum Care
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/postpartumcare.html

Postpartum Care

Also called: Post-pregnancy health
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Symptoms

Learn More

  • Related Issues
  • Specifics

See, Play and Learn

  • No links available

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Patient Handouts

Summary

Taking home a new baby is one of the happiest times in a woman's life. But it also presents both physical and emotional challenges. :

  • Get as much rest as possible. You may find that all you can do is eat, sleep, and care for your baby. And that is perfectly okay. You will have spotting or bleeding, like a menstrual period, off and on for up to six weeks.
  • You might also have swelling in your legs and feet, feel constipated, have menstrual-like cramping. Even if you are not breastfeeding, you can have milk leaking from your nipples, and your breasts might feel full, tender, or uncomfortable.
  • Follow your doctor's instructions on how much activity, like climbing stairs or walking, you can do for the next few weeks.
  • Doctors usually recommend that you abstain from sexual intercourse for four to six weeks after birth.

In addition to physical changes, you may feel sad or have the "baby blues." If you are extremely sad or are unable to care for yourself or your baby, you might have a serious condition called postpartum depression.

Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health

Start Here

  • Pregnant and Postpartum Women Video (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Recovering from Birth (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
  • Recovering from Delivery (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Your Body after Baby: The First 6 Weeks (March of Dimes Foundation)

Symptoms

  • Signs and Symptoms of Urgent Maternal Warnings Signs Easy-to-Read (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
  • Warning Signs to Look for After Having a Baby (March of Dimes Foundation)

Related Issues

  • Exercise after Pregnancy (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
  • Postpartum Birth Control (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
  • Providing Support for Pregnant or Postpartum Women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Your Postpartum Checkups (March of Dimes Foundation)

Specifics

  • Infections After Childbirth (Merck & Co., Inc.)
  • Mastitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Postnatal Care From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Postpartum Period From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Puerperal Disorders From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: A cross-sectional analysis of the impact of lady health worker visits...
  • Article: Evaluating the effectiveness of the global position system beaded bracelets to...
  • Article: FIGO position statement on postpartum intrauterine devices (PPIUD).
  • Postpartum Care -- see more articles

Find an Expert

  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development From the National Institutes of Health Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • After vaginal delivery - in the hospital (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Losing weight after pregnancy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Questions to ask your doctor about going home with your baby (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Questions to ask your doctor about post pregnancy care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Vaginal delivery - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Postpartum Care

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • After vaginal delivery - in the hospital
  • Episiotomy - aftercare
  • Losing weight after pregnancy
  • Questions to ask your doctor about post pregnancy care
  • Vaginal delivery - discharge

Related Health Topics

  • Postpartum Depression

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Postpartum Care

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

  • About MedlinePlus
  • What's New
  • Site Map
  • Customer Support
  • Subscribe to RSSRSS
  • Connect with NLM
  • NLM Web Policies
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility
  • Guidelines for Links
  • Viewers & Players
  • HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
  • MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs
  • For Developers
National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health
Last updated July 30, 2024
Return to top

Patients

  • Find a Clinic
  • Health Services
  • Complex Case Management
  • MA / Medicare Assistance

Quick Links

  • Billing Information
  • Careers
  • About Phynet
  • PhyNet News

Network Links

  • PrimeCareHomeHealth.com
  • PrimeCareNet.com
  • PrimeCareManagers.com
  • Core-Rehab.com

Home Office

4002 Technology Center Longview TX 75605
Phone: (903) 247-0484
Fax: (903) 247-0485
[email protected]
  • PrimeCareHomeHealth.com
  • PrimeCareNet.com
  • PrimeCareManagers.com
  • Core-Rehab.com
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2021 PhyNet Health • All rights reserved
YOUR LIFE. YOUR CHOICE.

TOP