What to expect

Postpartum bleeding is called lochia. It happens whether you had a vaginal birth or a cesarean because the placental site inside the uterus is healing.

In general:

• the first 1–2 days can feel like a heavy period

• bleeding should gradually lessen

• colour often shifts from bright red to darker red, brown, pink, yellowish, or whitish

• some bleeding/discharge may continue for several weeks

• bleeding may increase after doing too much

An increase in bright red bleeding after activity is often your body saying: Not yet. Slow down.

What helps:

• use maternity pads or postpartum underwear at first

• change pads regularly

• use light-coloured pads so you can see the amount and colour

• rest if bleeding increases

• stay hydrated

• empty your bladder often

• avoid tampons or menstrual cups until cleared by your care provider

Call your care provider urgently or seek emergency care if:

• you soak through a pad in an hour

• blood is gushing or running

• you pass repeated large clots

• clots are larger than a golf ball

• you feel faint, dizzy, weak, clammy, or confused

• bleeding suddenly becomes much heavier

• bleeding smells foul or offensive

• you have fever, chills, or increasing pain

What to expect

After your baby and placenta are born, your uterus keeps working. It contracts down to reduce bleeding from the place where the placenta was attached. These cramps are called afterbirth pains.

They can feel like:

• menstrual cramps

• tightening in the belly

• early labour-like waves

• stronger cramps during breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can intensify cramping because oxytocin helps milk flow and also tells the uterus to contract.

Afterbirth cramps are often stronger with second or subsequent babies. They usually improve over the first few days.

What helps

• heat pack on the lower belly

• emptying your bladder regularly

• slow breathing

• rest

• pain relief as recommended by your care provider

• preparing comfort tools before feeding if cramps are strongest during feeds

Seek help if

Reach out if cramping is severe, worsening, one-sided, or comes with:

• fever

• foul-smelling bleeding/discharge

• dizziness

• heavy bleeding

• feeling unwell

What to expect

After a vaginal birth, your vulva and perineum may feel swollen, bruised, tender, stretched, numb, or sore — even if you did not tear. If you had a tear, stitches, episiotomy, vacuum, forceps, or a long pushing phase, you may need more time and support.

Around day 3–5, healing tissue may feel more itchy, tight, stingy, or achy. This can be normal, but it is also a good time to pay attention.

What helps

• rinse with water in the shower

• use a peri bottle while peeing

• pat dry gently

• change pads often

• avoid sitting directly on the sorest area for long stretches

• lie on your side or recline when possible

• use a wrapped cold pack for swelling

• take pain relief as recommended

• begin tiny, gentle pelvic floor “wake up” movements when comfortable

• rest more than you think you need to

Seek help if

Call your care provider if you notice:

• increasing pain instead of gradual improvement

• worsening swelling

• spreading redness

• pus or weeping from the wound

• wound edges opening

• fever

• foul smell

• severe pain with sitting, peeing, or pooping

• inability to control urine or stool

• a heavy dragging or bulging sensation that worries you

What to expect

A cesarean is major abdominal surgery and birth at the same time.

You are healing layers of tissue while also recovering from birth, caring for a newborn, and possibly beginning breastfeeding.

Pain relief is not a failure. It can help you move, breathe deeply, feed your baby, sleep, shower, and reduce your risk of complications.

What helps

• take medications as prescribed or recommended

• keep the incision/dressing clean and dry

• avoid waistbands that rub the incision

• hold a folded towel or pillow over the incision when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or pooping

• roll to your side before getting up

• accept help lifting baby

• move gently and regularly

• avoid overdoing stairs, lifting, or household tasks

• rest often

Seek help if

Call your care provider if you notice:

• fever or chills

• increasing pain

• redness, heat, swelling, or spreading tenderness around the incision

• discharge, pus, bleeding, or bad smell from the incision

• the wound opening

• severe abdominal pain

• foul-smelling vaginal bleeding/discharge

• feeling generally unwell

Seek urgent care for chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, severe pain, one-sided leg swelling/pain, or heavy bleeding.

What to expect

Whether you had a vaginal birth or a belly birth, your pelvic floor and core have been through a major transition. Pregnancy itself changes your pelvic floor, abdominal wall, posture, breathing, pressure system, hips, and back. Birth adds another layer — whether baby came through the pelvis or through an incision.

What helps

• go slowly

• avoid rushing back to exercise

• notice pressure, heaviness, pain, leaking, or doming

• reconnect gently with breath and pelvic floor awareness

• consider a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment for both vaginal and cesarean births

Seek help if

A pelvic floor physiotherapist can be helpful if you notice:

• leaking urine or stool

• heaviness, dragging, or bulging

• pain with sitting, walking, sex, or bowel movements

• scar tenderness or numbness

• abdominal doming or pressure

• persistent pelvic, hip, back, or tailbone pain

• fear of moving your body

• uncertainty about returning to exercise

See Postpartum Resource Directory for local therapists in Whitehorse.

You do not need to wait until something is “bad enough.”

What to expect

No one wants to talk about this, but everyone wonders about it.

After birth, your pelvic floor, bladder, urethra, vulva, perineum, bowels, and belly may feel very different. The first pee may feel strange, numb, stingy, or disconnected. The first poo is often more mentally intimidating than physically terrible. A useful mantra: It probably will not be as bad as I think.

What helps with peeing

• use a peri bottle while you pee

• pee in the shower if that feels easier

• stay hydrated so urine is less concentrated

• lean forward or backward depending on where it stings

• take your time

• keep the peri bottle full and ready

• try to pee regularly, even if you do not feel a strong urge

What helps with pooping

• drink lots of fluids

• eat nourishing, fibre-rich foods

• use stool softeners if recommended

• put your feet on a small stool

• breathe out instead of forcing

• take your time

• support your vulva/perineum with folded toilet paper or a clean pad if needed

• use counter-pressure with a towel or pillow if you had a cesarean

Reach out if

• you cannot pee

• peeing burns severely or you suspect a UTI

• you cannot control urine or stool

• you have severe pain with bowel movements

• you have not had a bowel movement after several days and feel uncomfortable

• you have a third or fourth degree tear and are unsure what is normal

• you feel heavy bulging, dragging, or pressure that worries you

What to expect

In the first two weeks, your body is working incredibly hard. You may be:

• recovering from birth

• healing tissue

• shrinking your uterus

• making milk

• sleeping in fragments

• regulating hormonal shifts

• learning your baby

• emotionally processing the birth

You are not “doing nothing.”

What helps

Aim for warm, nourishing, easy-to-digest foods as much as possible:

• soups

• stews

• broths

• oats

• eggs

• lentils

• beans

• meat or other protein-rich foods

• cooked vegetables

• healthy fats

• one-handed snacks

• warm drinks

• lots of water nearby

Support people can help by keeping water full, preparing food, bringing snacks, and making sure you are fed before they ask to hold the baby.

Seek help if

Reach out if you cannot eat or drink, are vomiting, feel faint, are losing too much blood, or feel too overwhelmed to meet your basic needs.