The midwife visits at home
In the first week after giving birth, the midwife will visit your home several more times. It is common for us to visit you soon after you have given birth at home or have come home from the hospital after a hospital birth.
Control of the mother
Every day the position of the uterus will be checked. During this check the uterus will also be checked to see if it is contracting properly. If there are any problems, the maternity nurse will contact the midwife. The maternity nurse also measures your temperature and pulse daily. A high temperature and rapid pulse can be signs of an infection.
Control of blood loss
It is normal to lose a lot of blood in the first few days after giving birth; this is also known as the maternal purge. This blood loss is because there is a wound where the placenta was stuck in the uterus. The flow may be a little wider than during your period. You may also lose clots. This is all very normal. After the delivery, you will be checked to make sure the blood loss is not too much. The maternity nurse will keep an eye out for any signs of infection. The midwife will be notified if there are any peculiarities.
Checking the sutures
When you give birth normally, you may experience some tearing or cutting and require stitches. It is important to check that the wound is healing properly. This also applies to the wound from a cesarean section. The maternity nurse checks this daily.
Control of the breasts
After giving birth, your body will start preparing for breastfeeding. Even if you have chosen to breastfeed artificially, your breasts will go through certain developments.
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For some parents, the birth and postpartum period is not at all rosy. A dark cloud sometimes hangs over this time. This can have very different causes. It is often a combination of physical, psychological and social factors. You have restless nights with much more lack of sleep. But whatever the reason: it’s nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, it is very important and good to talk about it and share your less pleasant feelings and thoughts.
Out of balance for a few days? Or gloomy for longer periods of time?
More than half of maternity women suffer from maternity tears, the well-known Baby blues. It usually disappears on its own after a few days. Some women are somber, irritable, anxious or dejected for longer periods of time. As a young mother, you may develop depression after giving birth, also called postpartum depression. Such depression can last for weeks, months or sometimes even longer. Good help is then important, for the mother in the first place, but also for the whole family.
Maternity Tears
Newly given birth, just became a mom, you cry easily and are irritable, you have mood swings, headaches. You sleep badly and you have less appetite. More than half of all maternity women suffer from this: we more often speak of maternity tears or the baby blues. Usually this feeling disappears again after the first week. Postpartum tears can be a precursor to postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression
When everyone who comes for a maternity visit says, “how nice” and “well enjoy it,” as a maternity woman, you may not dare say that it’s disappointing or that you don’t feel good about yourself. One in ten women who feel gloomy after giving birth develops postpartum depression. That’s a lot. Let’s talk about it honestly. We’re here for you!
Ring the bell, because you don’t have to feel this way. With psychological symptoms, it is very important to intervene early. Do you notice symptoms in yourself, your partner or a mother in your close circle? Discuss the problem as soon as possible. Talk about it with your family, with us or with your doctor.
Anna
Salverda
obstetric - coach - team pink/team blue - specialisation: centering pregnancy
The gynecologist will transfer care to a primary obstetrician for the maternity period, if you are under the control of the gynecologist on medical grounds and need to give birth in the hospital. Usually there is no reason to stay in the hospital after delivery. You can register with us preferably as early as possible during your pregnancy for this aftercare. We will plan an introductory meeting and tell you what the care looks like. We guide you during your postpartum period and are there for you if there are any problems, complications or questions. We work with a maternity nurse for this, who will do the daily check-ups.
