Common Postpartum Complications Many women have an uncomplicated recovery after pregnancy, labor and delivery, but there are potential postpartum complications that can arise after your baby is born. Some of the more common complications are: postpartum infections, most often in the urinary tract and uterusexcessive bleeding after deliverypostpartum depression and/or “baby blues”sleep deprivationbreast and breastfeeding problems, such as swollen breasts, mastitis or clogged milk ductsdigestive and colorectal problems such as incontinence (both urinary and fecal), constipation and hemorrhoids hair lossperineal pain (the perineum is the area of skin and muscle between the vaginal opening and the anus)vaginal painbreast pain and tendernesspain at the incision site if a C-section was performeddiscomfort during sexvaginal dischargestretch marks Signs of Infection After BirthMany complications aren’t serious and can be treated at home or in your doctor’s office. But call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: vaginal bleeding that is saturating a pad every hourflu-like symptoms accompanied by a high fever, rapid heart rate (above 100 beats per minute), tenderness in your lower abdomen, or a foul smelling vaginal dischargea red, swollen or pus-filled C-section incisionpain, swelling or tenderness in your legs; most importantly one leg more than the otherpersistent or increasing pain in the vaginal area breast tenderness or pain that is accompanied by fever, chills, fatigue, headache or nausea and/or vomitingbreasts that are sore and hot to the touchburning or pain with urinationfeelings of sadness, hopelessness or depression last for more than a few daysa very high fever (over 100.5 degrees F or 38 degrees C) Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you:experience sudden and heavy blood losshave a severe or persistent headachehave a headache with blurred vision or nausea and/or vomitinghave thoughts of harming yourself, your baby or anyone elseare unable to care for your babyhave hallucinations or manic behaviorexperience upper abdominal pain or tenderness within 48 hours of delivery along with fatigue, nausea or vomitinghave chest pain or shortness of breathIt’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to dealing with your health. So if you do have any of the above symptoms, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 for help.
Common Postpartum Complications Many women have an uncomplicated recovery after pregnancy, labor and delivery, but there are potential postpartum complications that can arise after your baby is born. Some of the more common complications are: postpartum infections, most often in the urinary tract and uterusexcessive bleeding after deliverypostpartum depression and/or “baby blues”sleep deprivationbreast and breastfeeding problems, such as swollen breasts, mastitis or clogged milk ductsdigestive and colorectal problems such as incontinence (both urinary and fecal), constipation and hemorrhoids hair lossperineal pain (the perineum is the area of skin and muscle between the vaginal opening and the anus)vaginal painbreast pain and tendernesspain at the incision site if a C-section was performeddiscomfort during sexvaginal dischargestretch marks Signs of Infection After BirthMany complications aren’t serious and can be treated at home or in your doctor’s office. But call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: vaginal bleeding that is saturating a pad every hourflu-like symptoms accompanied by a high fever, rapid heart rate (above 100 beats per minute), tenderness in your lower abdomen, or a foul smelling vaginal dischargea red, swollen or pus-filled C-section incisionpain, swelling or tenderness in your legs; most importantly one leg more than the otherpersistent or increasing pain in the vaginal area breast tenderness or pain that is accompanied by fever, chills, fatigue, headache or nausea and/or vomitingbreasts that are sore and hot to the touchburning or pain with urinationfeelings of sadness, hopelessness or depression last for more than a few daysa very high fever (over 100.5 degrees F or 38 degrees C) Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you:experience sudden and heavy blood losshave a severe or persistent headachehave a headache with blurred vision or nausea and/or vomitinghave thoughts of harming yourself, your baby or anyone elseare unable to care for your babyhave hallucinations or manic behaviorexperience upper abdominal pain or tenderness within 48 hours of delivery along with fatigue, nausea or vomitinghave chest pain or shortness of breathIt’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to dealing with your health. So if you do have any of the above symptoms, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 for help.