A New Beginning

What You May Expect over the Next Few Weeks

Mom’s Discharge

YOUR FIRST & SECOND WEEKS HOME

What You May Expect Physically • Exhaustion • Breast engorgement • Lochia is less and lighter in color • Perineum soreness • Sore nipples • Swelling decreases Emotions You May Experience • Baby blues may linger • Lack of confidence • Feeling overwhelmed • Mood swings What You May Expect Physically • Strength should be increasing • Lochia continues to lessen • Less perineum soreness • Tire easily • Cesarean incision healing well Emotions You May Experience • No more baby blues • Lack of confidence • Feeling overwhelmed • Frustrated

What’s Happening Coming home from the hospital is exhausting! Family and friends will be excited to see you and your new baby. Have your partner limit unexpected drop-in visits or single visits. Make these first weeks you and your family’s time to adjust. Your baby will also be having their first pediatric office visit. If you had a complication during childbirth, you will be having your first postpartum follow-up visit.

YOUR THIRD & FOURTH WEEKS HOME

What’s Happening You and your partner’s roles are changing as you learn to care for your baby. Plan your day around your baby’s sleeping and feeding habits. Every woman’s recovery is different, so don’t get frustrated if your recovery takes longer than expected. Your baby may be having another pediatric office visit. Getting your first period after childbirth varies among women depending on the type of delivery. If you’re breastfeeding, it can resume as early as 4 weeks and may be heavier, last longer, and be less regular than before your pregnancy. Your cycle will slowly return to normal. What’s Happening Your 6-week postpartum visit is fast approaching. Be sure to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale questionnaire in Chapter 3 prior to your visit. Discuss not only how you are physically recovering from childbirth, but also how you are adjusting to parenthood. You may be preparing to go back to work. But it may take months for you to feel like you did before you became pregnant, even if you are cleared to return to work.

YOUR FIFTH & SIXTH WEEKS HOME

What You May Expect Physically • Strength should be increasing • Feeling better physically Emotions You May Experience • No more baby blues • Concerned about returning to work

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Chapter 4: Mom’s Discharge