Welcoming a new baby into your family is an exciting time, but the physical transition after childbirth can feel overwhelming. Your body undergoes rapid changes as it recovers from pregnancy and delivery.
At Salem Women's Clinic, Inc. in Salem, Oregon, we're here to guide you along this journey. Our team, led by board-certified gynecologist Elizebeth Rose Harmon, MD, FACOG, provides comprehensive postpartum care to help you understand what to expect during your recovery.
The seven most common postpartum changes include hormonal drops, night sweats, breast engorgement, baby blues, intense worry, ongoing fatigue, and temporary bladder leaks.
1. Hormonal drops
Your estrogen and progesterone levels plunge rapidly after you deliver your baby, triggering many of the physical and emotional shifts you experience.
Night sweats are a natural reaction to those dropping hormones, and they most commonly peak during the first two weeks after giving birth.
Your breasts may become painfully swollen as your milk comes in, but you can find relief by breastfeeding frequently and using warm washcloths before feedings and cold washcloths afterward.
It’s normal to feel tearful or overwhelmed at first, but if these feelings persist, they could point to postpartum depression, which can begin anytime during the first year.
While you should expect to experience some worry, intense anxiety isn’t part of the baby blues and requires clinical evaluation.
Caring for a newborn takes a toll, but we can help you manage persistent fatigue to ensure your postpartum recovery stays on track.
Many women experience temporary leaking or urinary incontinence after childbirth as the pelvic floor muscles heal.
Your recovery from childbirth takes time, but you don't have to navigate it alone. According to the CDC, safely resuming regular aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity can significantly shorten your recovery.
However, monitoring your health is critical during this vulnerable window. More than half of all pregnancy-related deaths happen after a baby is born, making postpartum checkups essential.
We encourage you to listen to your body and reach out to our team at Salem Women’s Clinic whenever you have questions. Whether you need help managing physical discomfort or emotional transitions after giving birth, we're here to support you.
To schedule an appointment, contact our office by phone or online today.