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:
- Breast and breastfeeding problems, such as swollen breasts, mastitis, or clogged milk ducts
- Breast pain and tenderness
- Digestive and colorectal problems such as incontinence (both urinary and fecal), constipation, and hemorrhoids
- Discomfort during sex
- Excessive bleeding or high blood pressure after delivery
- Hair loss
- Pain at the incision site if a C-section was performed
- Perineal pain (the perineum is the area of skin and muscle between the vaginal opening and the anus)
- Postpartum depression and/or “baby blues”
- Postpartum infections, most often in the urinary tract and uterus
- Sleep deprivation
- Stretch marks
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginal pain
Signs of infection after birth
Many 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 hour
- Flu-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 discharge
- A red, swollen, or pus-filled C-section incision
- Pain, swelling, or tenderness in your leg, especially if one leg more than the other
- Persistent or increasing pain in the vaginal area
- Breast tenderness or pain that is accompanied by fever, chills, fatigue, headache or nausea, and/or vomiting
- Breasts that are sore and hot to the touch
- Burning or pain with urination
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or depression lasting for more than a few days
- A very high fever (over 100.5 degrees F or 38 degrees C)
- Two blood pressure readings where either number is greater than 140/90
When to seek immediate care
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you:
- Experience sudden and heavy blood loss
- Have a headache with blurred vision or nausea and/or vomiting
- Are unable to care for your baby
- Experience upper abdominal pain or tenderness within 48 hours of delivery along with fatigue, nausea, or vomiting
- Have a severe or persistent headache
- Have thoughts of harming yourself, your baby, or anyone else
- Have hallucinations or manic behavior
- Have chest pain or shortness of breath
It’s always better to be safe when it comes to dealing with your health. If you do have any of the above symptoms, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 for help.
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