Postpartum Care

Postpartum care is care for the mother in the weeks after delivery — a period often less attended to than pregnancy itself, yet when most maternal deaths happen. Good postpartum care supports physical recovery, emotional health, breastfeeding and family planning.

Warning signs — dial 112 or go to hospital

• Heavy vaginal bleeding — soaking a pad every hour, passing large clots.
• High fever, foul-smelling discharge — possible endometritis.
• Severe headache, blurred vision, swelling, fits — pre-eclampsia can happen after delivery.
• Breathlessness, chest pain, fast heartbeat, fainting — rule out clots, heart strain.
• Severe one-sided leg pain or swelling — possible deep vein thrombosis.
• Severe perineal or wound pain, redness, pus — infection.
• Mental health crisis — thoughts of harming self or baby — urgent.
• Inability to urinate.

Routine postpartum visits

• In India's health system, ASHA and ANM do home visits at specific days after delivery (Day 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42) — make the most of these.
• Clinic/hospital review at 6 weeks — general recovery, BP, thyroid, breastfeeding, family planning.

Physical recovery

• Bleeding (lochia) for up to 6 weeks — lightening over time.
• Perineal stitches/caesarean wound — keep clean and dry; seek review for redness or pus.
• Breast engorgement, cracked nipples — usually resolve with good latch; ask for help early.
• Constipation and piles are common — fluids, fibre, stool softeners as advised.
• Start walking early; more structured exercise around 6-8 weeks, earlier for caesarean with Health Expert approval.
• Sex can resume when comfortable — usually after bleeding has stopped; contraception starts before sex, not after a period.

Nutrition

• Continue iron-folic acid and calcium.
• Extra 500 kcal/day if breastfeeding; adequate protein and fluids.
• Balanced diet: dal, eggs, milk, curd, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fruits.
• Many traditional postnatal diets work; avoid any that cut out important food groups (iron, calcium, protein) in the name of "confinement rules."

Emotional health

• Baby blues (first 2 weeks) settle with rest and support.
• Persistent low mood, anxiety, or concerning thoughts — see a Health Expert (see Postpartum Depression page).
• You are not alone. Ask for help with sleep, cooking, older children.

Family planning

• Space the next pregnancy at least 2 years for maternal and baby health.
• Breastfeeding is not a reliable contraceptive on its own — pregnancy can happen before the first period returns.
• Safe options while breastfeeding: condoms, progesterone-only pill, Copper-T, DMPA, implants, vasectomy for partner. ASHA/government centres provide most of these free.