Ultimate Guide: All of Your Postpartum Recovery Questions: Answered

By Dr. Samantha Spencer

Apr 2, 2024

This content has been Medically Reviewed in accordance with our Editorial Policy.

What Are The Primary Postpartum Health Considerations?

Most people are aware that there are some risks for both mama and baby during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. But many people come to us with questions about maternal mortality and complication statistics. These concerns are valid—the stats can be scary!—but it’s important to consider these statistics in context.

When considering your risk for developing any pregnancy or postpartum-related complications, first consider your current health status. If you are healthy, there is a lower chance of any complications.

To be clear, these complications are rare. They can happen, but for the vast majority of moms, they simply don’t. In most cases, there is no need to be afraid or concerned. Instead, it’s best to educate yourself so you can recognize any warning signs.

Here are some of the health concerns that could arise during the postpartum period:

Hemorrhage

This is severe bleeding through the vagina. It may look and feel similar to an extremely heavy period.
Hemorrhage may occur immediately after delivery or as late as 12 weeks after giving birth.
It can occur after vaginal delivery or C-section.
While some bleeding after birth is normal, significant, heavy blood loss is not. If you’re concerned that you’re bleeding too heavily, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider and seek emergency medical attention. Without care, the bleeding may become uncontrolled and life-threatening.

Infection

Because all childbirth involves some trauma to the mother’s body, this naturally increases the risk of contracting an infection.
The risk is slightly higher for those who give birth via C-section.
If you have other risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you have a slightly higher risk of developing infections after birth.
If small infections are left untreated, they can spread and lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition in which your body’s immune system turns on itself.
Fortunately, most infections are very treatable!

Heart-Related Problems

Potential heart-related complications include postpartum preeclampsia, stroke, blood clots, or heart failure.
Women who have experienced heart complications with a previous pregnancy may be at a higher risk of developing them again, so it’s important to discuss your previous pregnancies with your current healthcare team.

Mental Health Issues

Many new parents experience “the baby blues” — feelings of sadness, anxiety, and overwhelm—in the early days and weeks after giving birth. These feelings should naturally decline within two weeks.
In some cases, postpartum moms experience more complex postpartum mental health complications. These can include postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, or postpartum rage.
If you think you’re experiencing one of these conditions, don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to your healthcare provider for help.

Warning Signs

What warning signs should you look for? Call your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

A persistent fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit
Difficulty breathing
Chest pain
Coughing up blood
Intense headaches
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Heavy vaginal bleeding after arriving home

How do you know if your postpartum vaginal bleeding is normal or “heavy”?

A good rule of thumb: If you need to change your pad more than once per hour, that’s a sign to call your doctor.

Postpartum Bleeding

Regardless of how you deliver your baby, you’ll likely experience postpartum vaginal bleeding for up to 6 weeks after delivery. Many people notice bright red bleeding, much like a period, for about a week after giving birth. This period-like bleeding slowly tapers off in the weeks after delivery.

Over the following weeks, the blood will become darker and duller; eventually, it will turn yellow or white. However, many postpartum moms still experience “spurts” of brighter blood—this is completely normal!

IMPORTANT: Call your healthcare provider if you experience heavy bleeding or if you need to change your pad more than once per hour at any time during your postpartum period.

Early Recovery

The “early recovery” period occurs during the first 2–6 weeks postpartum. As the name implies, this is the early stage of healing from pregnancy and birth. During these first few weeks, your body needs rest. Regardless of how you delivered, look out for the following symptoms:

Increased vaginal bleeding
Feelings of heaviness in the pelvis
Increasing pain — it’s normal to have discomfort and soreness around your delivery site, but it should decrease a bit every day
Significant changes in the appearance of your incision site (if you had a C-section or stitches used to close vaginal tears), such as:
- Increased redness, especially if it’s spreading or streaking in the surrounding skin
- Increased warmth at/around the incision or stitches
- Foul-smelling or oddly colored discharge from a healing site
- Bleeding from a healing site that had previously stopped bleeding

How Does Recovery Differ Between Vaginal Births and C-Sections?

Hospital Stay

Vaginal birth in a hospital: Expect to stay at least 24–48 hours. This allows your medical team to monitor for postpartum complications.
C-section: Expect to stay at least 3 nights. A C-section is major abdominal surgery and requires close monitoring for infection or other complications.

Vaginal Tears

If you delivered vaginally, you may have experienced a vaginal tear or received an episiotomy. Even if you had a C-section, you may still have a vaginal tear—this can happen if you pushed before surgery, or in the case of twins or triplets where one baby was born vaginally.

Incision

If you had a C-section, you’ll need to care for your incision. Your doctor will provide specific instructions, but here are common guidelines:

Gently rinse the incision daily with warm water and mild soap
Pat the area dry with a soft towel
Follow your provider's advice on whether to keep it covered or exposed to air

Pain & Lifting

Because a C-section involves your abdominal muscles, give yourself time to recover before resuming normal activity.

Ask for help with household chores from your partner, friends, or family
Avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby for the first few weeks
Consult a pelvic physical therapist to learn how to move and lift safely

Postpartum Edema

Postpartum edema (swelling) is when your body retains excess fluid after birth. This swelling usually appears in the hands, feet, and ankles, making your skin look puffy or stretched.

What Causes Postpartum Edema?

Hormones: Pregnancy hormones dilate your veins. After birth, your body needs time to flush the extra fluid.
Leftover fluid from pregnancy: Your body stored water to support your baby and uterus. As both shrink, fluid release can be slow, especially in the lower body.
IV fluids during delivery: C-sections, multiple births, or medication (e.g., Pitocin™) often require IVs, which add to the swelling.

How Long Does Postpartum Edema Last?

Usually, the swelling improves within a week as your kidneys flush the extra fluid. However, heat and long days on your feet may increase it temporarily.

Every mom is different. Some eliminate swelling quickly, others take more time. If swelling worsens or lasts longer than a week, call your provider.

Tips to Manage Swelling

Stay hydrated to support kidney function
Move gently — walking helps circulation
Compression stockings may reduce ankle and leg swelling

Compression Socks for Pregnancy & Postpartum

Compression socks are a great tool for reducing extremity swelling caused by postpartum edema. Some postpartum people find that compression socks also help reduce discomfort caused by the swelling in their lower legs and ankles.

You might find that you sweat more or urinate a lot in the days after giving birth—this is normal! Your body is working hard to get rid of all the excess fluid. Though it seems counterintuitive, staying well-hydrated will help your body with this process: drink a little more water than you need to quench your thirst. Hydration is particularly important if you’re breastfeeding. Try to drink a glass of water with each meal and each time you feed your baby.

When is Postpartum Edema a Problem?

In most cases, postpartum swelling is nothing to worry about and is merely an inconvenience for new moms. It should only be a concern if it increases significantly and/or you begin experiencing pain.

In the first 6 weeks after delivery, contact your doctor right away if you have persistent swelling in combination with any of the following symptoms:

A new or sudden increase in swelling
Swelling in just one part or on one side of your body
One leg is warm, red, and painful (sign of possible DVT)
Severe headache, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light
Nausea and vomiting
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
New, rapid weight gain

Note: Severe edema can be dangerous and is associated with postpartum preeclampsia.

How Does Postpartum Swelling Affect Breastfeeding?

Postpartum swelling from IV fluids in labor can lead to excess breast swelling, which may interfere with breastfeeding. If your baby is struggling to latch, try reverse pressure softening. A lactation consultant can teach you this and help resolve other latch issues.

Can I Take Water Pills?

Prescription diuretics (water pills) are strongly discouraged during pregnancy. After pregnancy, they may help with swelling, but always ask your doctor before taking them.

Episiotomy

An episiotomy is an incision in the perineum (between the vagina and anus) to make room for baby’s head during delivery. They are no longer routinely recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. You should be informed and give consent beforehand.

Episiotomy Healing & Self-Care

Healing usually takes several weeks. Sutures dissolve on their own within 6–8 weeks. Keep the incision area clean and dry, and avoid the following for at least six weeks:

Tampons
Sexual intercourse
Douching*
Activities that may disrupt healing or stitches

*Douching is unnecessary and risky unless prescribed by a doctor.

Cleaning and Care

Change pads every 2–4 hours
Use a peri-bottle with warm water after peeing or pooping, then pat dry gently
Avoid scented soaps or perfumed products in the area
Eat a fiber-rich diet to reduce constipation and straining
Ask your provider about stool softeners if needed
Walk daily to stay gently active

Pain Management

Use ice packs during the first 24 hours — 15–20 minutes, 3–4x/day
After 24 hours, alternate warm and cold compresses
DIY tip: freeze a soaked menstrual pad to use as a cooling compress
Use a sitz bath with warm water to soothe the area
Ask your doctor about pain relief (ibuprofen, benzocaine spray, etc.)
Use cushions or donut pillows to relieve pressure when sitting

Worrisome Symptoms

Contact your provider immediately if you experience:

Fever or chills
Severe perineal pain
Bleeding from the incision site
Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Always attend follow-up visits with your OB or midwife, and don’t hesitate to call if you have concerns before your appointment.

Common Questions

When can I have sex again? Most doctors recommend waiting six weeks. But listen to your body—if you don’t feel ready, that’s totally okay. If sex is still painful after healing, ask about pelvic physical therapy.

Will I need an episiotomy next time? Not necessarily. Having one once doesn’t mean you’ll need one again. Your healed scar won’t “tear open.”

What are my options? Talk with your OB-GYN or midwife before your due date about their approach to episiotomies and what situations may call for one.

Compression Garments

We mentioned earlier how helpful compression garments can be. Here’s a breakdown of the types we recommend:

Maternity Support Band: Supports your belly as it grows and relieves strain on your back.
Compression Socks: Help manage postpartum swelling and improve leg circulation.
Postpartum Compression Garment: Designed to support your abdomen, pelvis, and hips as you recover. They may also reduce pain and provide gentle pressure to aid healing. Bonus: many insurance providers cover them!

Pelvic Health and Bladder Function

Most of us don’t think about our pelvic health very often. We let our pelvic floors work as they’re designed—automatically managing our bladder, bowel, and sexual functions. However, carrying and birthing a baby creates new challenges for the pelvic floor, and this can lead to dysfunction. Pregnancy and the postpartum period are valuable opportunities to check in with your pelvic health and set yourself up for long-term wellness.

When you consider all the things your pelvis does for you, it’s worth investing the time to support its recovery after major events like pregnancy and birth.

Why Is Pelvic Health Important?

“Pelvic health” refers to your gastrointestinal, urinary, reproductive, and sexual health. When the pelvic floor isn’t functioning properly, it can cause issues with any of these systems, as well as lead to pain, discomfort, and limited mobility or athletic performance.

Pregnancy and postpartum recovery place intense strain on your pelvic structures. The good news? Nearly all pelvic floor problems caused by pregnancy or delivery are treatable.

Basic Pelvic Anatomy

The pelvic girdle is made up of several bones connected by seven joints. During pregnancy and birth, this bony structure shifts to make room for your growing baby—and it can take up to 12 months to return to its original alignment.

The pelvic floor is a collection of muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, and nerves that form the base of the pelvis. It supports the bladder, intestines, rectum, and reproductive organs. Healing and restoring your pelvic floor after childbirth is essential to support those organs and allow you to move without pain.

How Can I Improve My Postpartum Pelvic Health?

Pelvic floor physical therapy is the #1 recommended treatment for postpartum pelvic issues. A qualified pelvic floor therapist can assess your unique situation and help restore proper function.

You’ve probably heard about Kegel exercises, but they’re not a cure-all. While they can help some people strengthen weak pelvic muscles, they can actually worsen symptoms for others—especially those with a tight or overactive pelvic floor.

In fact, up to 50% of women perform Kegels incorrectly, even when they believe they’re doing them right. This is why it’s wise to schedule at least one pelvic PT session after birth, even if you’re symptom-free—just to get a professional evaluation and personalized guidance.

Home Biofeedback Devices

Bluetooth-enabled biofeedback devices have become popular for training the pelvic floor at home. These are inserted into the vagina like a tampon and track your muscle contractions and relaxations in real time via an app on your phone. They provide visual feedback and help you learn how to engage the right muscles correctly.

Important: Don’t use any internal device until your healthcare provider confirms your vaginal tissues have healed and it’s safe to resume internal activity (like using tampons or having sex).

Before purchasing a biofeedback tool, it’s strongly recommended to consult a pelvic physical therapist to see if it’s right for your situation and goals.

Pelvic Floor Exercises

In addition to kegels, you can exercise your pelvic floor and the neighboring muscles in other ways. For maximum efficacy, perform three sets of 10–15 reps of the following exercises daily: