In the first 24 hours after giving birth, you will be closely monitored by your medical team. They will keep track of your vaginal bleeding and how quickly your uterus contracts. They’ll likely read your blood pressure and temperature a few times before you’re discharged from the hospital [1]. But during this post-delivery period, they may neglect to tell you about some normal phenomena that may happen to your body soon after giving birth. Here are a few things your body may do that you can be aware of.
1. Urinary retention
Even after uncomplicated labor, urinary retention happens in 12% of women [2]. In cases where there were incisions or lacerations, where baby was much larger than average, or where pain medications were administered, urinary issues occur in 20% of women [3, 4]. A few factors may be responsible. First, anesthesia can dull the sensation of needing to urinate. Second, the strain of labor can displace your bladder so that it’s not completely emptied when you urinate [4]. Third, sprains and injuries from labor and delivery can make it painful to sit down, or the perineum may sting when you urinate.
It’s recommended that you urinate six hours after delivery so that urinary problems do not worsen. It may be easiest to do this in the shower; standing may be easier on your body, and you can immediately rinse your vulva with warm water to avoid irritation.
Most women are just fine within four to five days [4].
2. Urinary incontinence
During vaginal birth, your pelvic floor muscles are stretched and weakened. Some women leak a little urine when they laugh hard, cough, or lift their baby. Kegel exercises (before, during, and after pregnancy) are tremendously helpful in preventing and mitigating this. In the meantime, buy urological pads instead of menstrual pads, as they are more absorbent.
3. Constipation
Think about it: your body just strained hard enough to push out an 8 lb. baby! Does it make sense that your body might be done with pushing? In 2014, the Cochrane Society (an international organization focused on studying the effectiveness and safety of medical treatments) tried to find methods of effectively alleviating post-delivery constipation. They were not able to [5]! So clearly this is a challenge, and unfortunately, one that many mamas and their healthcare providers are somewhat shy about discussing.
Treat post-delivery constipation the same way you would regular constipation. Drink lots of water and eat lots of fiber. Usually, the constipation subsides in one or two weeks [4].
4. Bleeding
After giving birth, it’s normal to bleed more heavily than you would during your period. It’s even heavier when you’re breastfeeding, because as baby nurses at your breast, your uterus contracts. While this bleeding is normal, it’s important to keep tabs on excessive blood loss. Pay attention to how many menstrual pads you’re using; if it’s more than seven high-absorbency pads per day, call your doctor.
