Postpartum or Postbirth is usually a happy time for most women. However it can also be dangerous and stressful. There are many potential complications for the mother that can be life-threatening. You need to care for your baby and and the same time you realize that your body has undergone many changes that need to be addressed. Read HERE more about potential complications requiring immediate attention.
Postpartum Breast Engorgement
Just after giving birth, your body naturally begins to prepare for breastfeeding. During this time, breast engorgement can occur and your breasts may swell to sizes you can't believe and they may feel as hard as a rock.
... read more »
Breast Cancer Survivors Can Breast-Feed After Treatment
Researchers presented a report at the 35th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology that may take a few oncologists by surprise.
... read more »
Brain Growth Noted After Child Birth
Many women will be happy to find out the brain actually grows after childbirth, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.
... read more »
Best Birth Control Options After You Have A Baby
You probably feel that there is no way that you can become pregnant
again right after having a baby. You will be surprised to learn that
pregnancy right after you give birth is not as farfetched as you
thought.
... read more »
Giving Mom a Hand After Birth
After birth emotional issues, paired with sleep deprivation, often
strike a usually happy couple. Mom needs some alone time, support time,
and help after the baby is born, and Dad needs to learn how to read the
signs.
... read more »
Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression
Suffering from a brief bout of mild depression is common for women who
have just given birth. Some women will fight through the depression and
come out within a few weeks feeling better than ever before. Other
women will suffer from baby blues symptoms that lead to a deeper more
clinical-style depression.
... read more »
Unintended Pregnancy Associated with Depression Risk
According to research completed at the University of North Carolina, women who experience unintended pregnancy are at increased risk of depression for at least 12 months postpartum. The results of the study were published in BJOG.
... read more »
Preventing Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy
Clinical researchers have shown that hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and subclinical thyroid disorders have dangerous effects on pregnant women and the cerebral development of the fetus.
... read more »
Mothers of NICU Newborns Lacking Privacy
Despite smaller patient numbers and secluded environments, neonatal
intensive care units (NICU) are not the best places for breastfeeding
mothers, according to a new study from researchers at the Frances Payne
Bolton School of Nursing.
... read more »
New Mother Selma Blair Opens up About Postpartum Hair Loss
Selma Blair, 39, best known for her roles in 90's classics like CruelIntentions, is not holding anything back about her new role as a mother. The star and mother of 4-month old Arthur Saint, became an instantfan-favorite of mothers everywhere after candidly opening up about herpostpartum hair loss.
... read more »
Psychosocial Correlates of Exclusive Breastfeeding
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests at least six months of
breastfeeding to ensure optimal health and well-being for every infant,
though a small percentage of mothers breastfeed for this length of time.
... read more »
What Happens in the Delivery Room After Labor is Over?
All women, no matter who they are, go through the same general
process after labor, as long as the birth was uneventful from a medical
perspective. The cord is clamped and cut and baby is placed on your
chest.
... read more »
Is My Baby Allowed in the Room for My Entire Hospital Stay?
Barring any complications
during labor and delivery, infants are allowed and encouraged to stay
in the room with mom during the entire hospital stay. Having baby nearby
is crucial to early bonding and breastfeeding, if applicable.
... read more »
Extra Pregnancy Care Training Needed to Improve Safety
According to a study published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality,
additional education can reduce the risk and occurrence of adverse
outcomes during and after pregnancy.
... read more »
Effectiveness of Immediate Post-Birth IUD Insertion
Immediate birth control is a choice many women in western cultures
choose to prevent pregnancy in the months and years after giving birth,
but birth control pills and other similar options are not always
available to women in other countries.
... read more »
Baby-Friendly Hospital Accreditation and Breastfeeding Rates
A recent review of breastfeeding rates at one and four months postpartum
in mothers who gave birth at BFHI (Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative) hospitals reveals the initiative has
little impact on overall breastfeeding rates.
... read more »
New Postpartum Pregnancy Avoidance Protocol
The postpartum period can be a confusing time for some women in terms of pregnancy prevention. Breastfeeding can lengthen the time between birth and first menstrual cycle, but ovulation may occur before that first cycle, increasing the risk of pregnancy during the immediate postpartum period.
... read more »
Risk of Urinary Incontinence One Year Post-Delivery
Researchers from Copenhagen University have published a study in the International Urogynecology Journal on the effect of first-time vaginal birth on stress urinary incontinence and/or mixed urinary incontinence.
... read more »
Practical Checklist for Labor Day Preparation
Before the time comes to rush off to the hospital, you need to think
about preparing for labor, not just packing for your hospital stay.
... read more »
How Soon After Birth Does Fertility Return?
There is no definitive answer to this question. Some women ovulatewithin a few weeks of giving birth and other women don't ovulate formore than one year.
... read more »
Lower Sexual Interest in Postpartum Women
After giving birth, women often report having lower sexual interest. It is often accepted as just being a part of giving birth and moving from pregnant woman to new mom. The revelation could help women feel less negative about looming sexual interest.
... read more »
Methylergonovine During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
All about methylergonovine and pregnancy/breastfeeding. Is it safe to use during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding?
... read more »
When to Return to Work After Giving Birth
Many women fight with the idea of when to work after giving birth. They’ve spent the majority of the last 40 weeks thinking about the baby, preparing for baby, and eventually leaving work to give birth and recover from delivery.
... read more »
Postpartum Hemorrhoids
As many as half of all pregnant women get hemorrhoids during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester. If you have had hemorrhoids prior to getting pregnant, you are more likely to develop them during pregnancy.
... read more »
Newborn Care Practices and Health Seeking Behavior
Although the details of the research are limited, a new study out of
Gujarat, India shows a direct connection between socioeconomic status
and medical care sought and received by pregnant women and newborns.
... read more »
Hospital Discharge Following Pregnancy Should Be Individualized
Many women are discharged from the hospital after birth based on insurance or hospital protocol. As long as mom and baby are healthy and ready physically to return home, the discharge is ordered.
... read more »
Serena Williams' Postpartum Complications
Just 10 months after giving birth to her baby daughter, new mom Serena Williams is set to play the final game in Wimbledon. Williams had a grueling labor and delivery, and life-threatening postpartum complications.
... read more »
Can I Get Pregnant the First Week After Giving Birth?
For the first six to eight weeks after giving birth to my first, second, third and fourth children, I did not want ANYTHING to do with sex.
... read more »
Breastfeeding as Birth Control - Not a Good Idea
Breastfeeding is not a good birth control and it does not effectively prevent pregnancy. Once you resume sexual relations after delivery, there is a good chance you could get pregnant.
... read more »
When To Expect Your Menstrual Period After Giving Birth
A regular Menstrual Period or Bleeding after Birth and Delivery Of The Baby usually come when you start ovulating again. This can last between 3-9 months on average. Breastfeeding may or may not prolong that time.
... read more »
4 Postpartum Pains and How to Relieve the Pain
Just because labor is over and you’re holding the cutest baby on earth doesn’t mean the pain of pregnancy is over. Pregnancy and labor pains are taken over by postpartum pains almost immediately after giving birth.
... read more »
Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises For Urinary Incontinence
Health professionals working with women in the post-partum period should ask about symptoms of incontinence to ensure assistance is offered to those experiencing urinary incontinence
... read more »
Exercise is Healthy for Pregnant Women
Physicians should recommend low to moderate levels of exercise to their pregnant patients, even if they have not exercised prior to pregnancy.
... read more »
50% of Mothers Who Start Breastfeeding Quit Within 6 Months
The Centers for Disease Control has published the 2010 edition of the Breastfeeding Report Card. Behind the report card is the Healthy People 2010 Target.
... read more »
Waiting to Clamp the Cord Proves Beneficial
According to the Neonatal Resuscitation program, doctors should delay umbilical cord clamping a minimum of one minute if no immediate medical attention is needed
... read more »
Post-Pregnancy Workouts to Get Rid of that “Baby Fat”
One of the most common complaints I hear from my friends after they have
their baby is that they can’t get rid of those extra pounds packed on
during pregnancy.
... read more »
Waiting Out the Umbilical Stump
Let’s face it – the umbilical stump is gross. Yes, seeing your baby all slimy right after birth is a magical moment. It’s natural and you feel a special connection with him or her, so you can easily look past the otherwise grotesqueness of the situation.
... read more »
You’ll Need a Do Not Disturb Sign
I’ve heard of pregnant women telling people to hold off for an entire
month before coming in troops to check out the little one. As it turns
out, turning people away might be an excellent idea.
... read more »
What to Do About Breast Engorgement
It’s perfectly normal for your breasts to be especially large and tender right after your birth. However, there is another fairly common condition you might be experiencing if your breasts feel hard, swollen, and uncomfortable. In this case, you’re likely engorged.
... read more »
How to Minimize Bloodshot Eyes after Labor
Assuming you don’t need a cesarean section, delivering your baby will be one of the most strenuous and tiresome experiences you will ever go through. No matter how much you mentally and physically prepare for the big day, your body will be strained.
... read more »
Your Baby Needs a Masseuse as Badly as You Do
Infant massages actually have countless benefits. While your baby doesn’t have knots in his back from stress at work or strained muscles from a long jog, a massage can do a lot to relax your baby.
... read more »
Diastasis Recti and Pregnancy Abdominal Muscle Separation
Diastasis of the recti abdominal muscle (DRAM) separation is a separation between the left and right side of the rectus abdominis muscle, which covers the front surface of the abdomen.
... read more »
Fish Oil Ineffective Treatment for Postpartum Depression
The Journal of American Medical Association has published a study
claiming fish oil is an ineffective postpartum depression treatment,
despite other studies finding the treatment to be highly effective.
... read more »
