After childbirth it is recommended that the woman use a postpartum absorbent for up to 40 days, as it is normal for bleeding to be eliminated, known as "lochia", resulting from the trauma caused by childbirth in the woman's body. In the first days, this bleeding is red and intense, but over time it decreases and changes color, until it disappears 6 to 8 weeks after delivery. Better understand what lochia are and when to worry.
During this period it is not recommended to use a tampon, it is more indicated to use a tampon, which must be large (nighttime) and have good absorption capacity.
The amount of absorbents that can be used at this stage varies greatly from one woman to another, but the ideal is to change the absorbent whenever necessary. In order to avoid mistakes, it is recommended that the woman take at least 1 unopened package inside her maternity bag.
How to do intimate hygiene in the first days
In order for the woman to feel safer, she should wear a large cotton panties, as she used during pregnancy, and to avoid infections it is important to always wash your hands before changing the absorbent.
The woman can clean the intimate area only with toilet paper after urinating, or if she prefers, she can wash the external genital area with water and intimate soap, drying with a dry and clean towel afterwards. It is not recommended to wash the region of the vagina with the vaginal duchinha because this changes the vaginal flora favoring infections, such as candidiasis.
Wet wipes are also not recommended for frequent use, although it is a good option to use when you are in a public bathroom, for example. Regarding epilation, it is not recommended to apply razor daily, because the skin will become more sensitive and irritated, complete epilation of the vulva region is also not recommended as it favors the growth of microorganisms and causes greater vaginal discharge, facilitating the appearance of diseases. .
When does menstruation return?
Menstruation may take a few months to return after the baby is born, being directly linked to breastfeeding. If the mother exclusively breastfeeds the baby in the first 6 months, she can go through this period without menstruation, but if she adopts the milk from the bottle or if she does not breastfeed exclusively, the menstruation may return in the following month. Find out more details about what menstruation looks like after childbirth.
Warning signs to go to the doctor
It is recommended to go to the doctor if during these 40 days you have symptoms such as:
- Pain in the lower belly;
- Have vaginal bleeding with a strong and unpleasant smell;
- You have a fever or reddish discharge after two weeks after giving birth.
These symptoms can indicate an infection and therefore a medical evaluation is needed as soon as possible.
Whenever a woman breastfeeds in these first days, she may experience a small discomfort, like a cramping, in the abdominal region, which is due to the decrease in the size of the uterus, which is a normal and expected situation. However, if the pain is very severe or persistent, it is necessary to inform the doctor.
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Bibliography
- EEUSP. Promoting the health of women in the postpartum and newborn . 2016. Available in: . Accessed on 11 Feb 2019
- Silva, Leila Rangel et al. Postpartum nursing: detecting the knowledge of puerperal women for self-care and care of the newborn. RESEARCH MAGAZINE: CARE IS FUNDAMENTAL ONLINE. 2327-2337, 2012
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