THE MOST COMMON POSTPARTUM COMPLICATIONS

THE MOST COMMON POSTPARTUM COMPLICATIONS Jul,28,2020

It is normal to experience some amount of discomfort and pain for a couple of weeks post-childbirth. However, if you are experiencing the symptoms for a long time it could be because of an underlying postpartum complication. It is recommended to consult with a doctor at the nearest affordable health clinic if you experience any chest pain, breathing problems, unusual bleeding, and long-term headache or fever that lasts for more than a week after delivery.

It is also important to get in touch with a healthcare professional if you start developing strong negative emotions, such as thoughts about harming the baby/yourself, or experience anxiety and depression. Psychological problems and postpartum depression are common in new mothers and can be treated with the help of antidepressants and psychotherapy. Aside from that, there are many other postpartum complications too which should be addressed as soon as possible, so that they do not lead to any further health issues. Below are some of the most common conditions that women experience after childbirth.

Infection

Vaginal tearing during delivery can happen to all women no matter whether it is their first labor or the second or third one. This happens when the baby passes through the vaginal opening and may need stitches afterward. Also, stitches at the incision site are always required in case of C-section delivery. So if you have stitches after childbirth it is very important to make sure that the site does not get infected.

It is common to experience some pain and discomfort as the tearing or stitching heals but if it becomes intolerable that could indicate infection at the site. Therefore, you should consult a doctor if the pain has suddenly increased, you are experiencing fever, redness, abnormal discharge, or discomfort in urinating.

Constipation or Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is also common in new mothers, usually happening right after childbirth. Although this normally does not lead to other complications it can cause embarrassment, discomfort, and inconvenience. That is why it is advised to follow a few at-home postpartum exercises to deal with your inability to control urination. However, if your condition gets unmanageable you should consult with a doctor at an OBGYN free clinic for timely medical intervention.

It is also normal to experience fecal incontinence because of weakened muscles or an injury to the perineal area during childbirth. The condition usually improves over time and can be managed by wearing menstrual underwear or pads. Likewise, constipation and hemorrhoids are also common postpartum complications. These symptoms can be dealt with on your own by following a healthy diet and staying hydrated. However, if you are experiencing incontinence or constipation for more than a couple of weeks you should talk to your doctor for additional treatments to ease the problem.

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    About the Author

    Dr. Ghassan M. Al-Jazayrly, MD

    A graduate of University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Al-Jazayrly or, as he is colloquially known: Dr. AJ, is an oncologist and hematologist of a Complete Care Community Health Center (CCCHC) with more than 36 years of experience. In recent years, he’s been involved with a non profit organization known as Every Woman Counts (EWC) which provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to California’s underserved populations in order to eliminate health disparities for low-income individuals.

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