Babies Tale

Six weeks after the birth you will return to the hospital or your doctor’s office for a checkup to ensure that your body is returning to normal after the birth. The doctor will feel your abdomen to check that the uterus has returned to its normal size. Your blood pressure and weight will be noted. You will be asked if you have had any unusual bleeding, pain or discomfort. (It is quite common for the lochia-the blood loss after the birth-to continue for more than six weeks. Some women have already had a period by this time.) Any scars from tears or episiotomies will be checked. Your breasts and nipples may be examined if you have problems with breast-feeding.

You may also discuss contraception with your doctor if this has not already been arranged. Women who use a diaphragm will usually have it refitted at the postnatal check. Everything may not have returned to its normal shape and size by this time, so it may need checking again a few weeks later. An IUD can also be refitted at six weeks. It isn’t usually done right after the birth because the uterus is still contracting and may expel the device. If you want to take the Pill, the usual combined estrogen/progestogen pill is not suitable if you are breast-feeding because it affects the milk supply. The mini-pill or progestogen-only pill can be taken within seven days of the birth. Some mothers do not like the idea of taking any drug while breast-feeding, however. Small quantities of hormones do get through to the baby, but there is no evidence to date that this is harmful. Many couples rely on the condom as a temporary measure because it really is an ideal method at this time.

You will have the opportunity to raise any worries you have about your own health or that of the baby, including problems with breast-feeding. You may want to discuss problems you have with sex, especially if you have attempted intercourse and found it painful. It is very common not to have had sexual intercourse till after this postnatal stage. In fact, many women find they need the reassurance of the postnatal check that all is well before they do so.

If you did not have a Pap smear taken earlier in pregnancy, now is a good time to have it done.

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