{"id":107508,"date":"2020-04-02T10:33:50","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T14:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/107508\/pregnancy-doctor-health-after-delivery\/"},"modified":"2025-02-06T14:40:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T19:40:30","slug":"pregnancy-doctor-health-after-delivery","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/107508\/pregnancy-doctor-health-after-delivery\/","title":{"rendered":"Talking to your doctor about your health after delivery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It may feel too soon to start talking about how you\u2019ll feel physically <\/span>after<\/span><\/em> you deliver Baby<\/span>, but when you do give birth, you\u2019ll probably be a little distracted by labor, delivery, and the brand new person you\u2019re going to get to see for the first time. And by the time you see your doctor again about your physical health, it may be as much as six weeks before your postpartum checkup. Really, now is a great time to get some baseline information about what your physical health might look like once you\u2019re no longer pregnant, and what you might need to do to get yourself feeling your best as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helping your body heal<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Whether you give birth vaginally or by c-section, your body is going to need some time to recover afterwards, both from delivery itself and from the months of big physical changes you\u2019ve been going through leading up to delivery. It is normal to experience some vaginal bleeding and discharge for up to six weeks after delivery. You may also experience swelling in your legs, and cramping, especially during breastfeeding. You\u2019ll want to follow your doctor\u2019s instructions about getting the rest you need, which may include limiting physical activity like climbing stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postpartum sex – what you need to know<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After delivery, your healthcare provider will recommend that you hold off on having sex for a few weeks in order to give your cervix time to close, your body time to heal from any tearing, and to prevent infection. In most cases, your healthcare provider will be able to give you the green light to resume having insertive vaginal sex as soon as you feel ready after your postpartum checkup, which is usually scheduled for around six weeks after delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many new moms\u2019 periods return six to eight weeks after delivery, and fertility comes back a little bit before the first period, so it\u2019s a good idea to think about birth control before this happens. Most parents of newborns aren\u2019t <\/span>quite<\/span><\/em> ready to add another baby to the mix right away, and pregnancies that happen 18 months or less after a previous birth can be less healthy for mom and baby than pregnancies that are spaced further apart.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six week postpartum appointment can be a great time to talk about contraception, but there\u2019s also no reason to wait that long. Your healthcare provider can talk you through your postpartum contraceptive options at your next prenatal visit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n