How to Take Care of Postpartum Wound: Vaginal & C-Section Delivery

Are there different things you should take note of when it comes to recovering from either vaginal delivery or C-section birth? Well, for a start, if you’ve had a vaginal delivery or c-section, postpartum bleeding may occur up to 6 weeks after delivery. If you have had a vaginal delivery and have suffered a ruptured vagina, you are likely to have an episiotomy.

Due to the different circumstances faced by different moms, it is hard to give one same guideline for everyone to follow. Regardless, there is always some good rule of thumbs that can benefit every mom if followed. Find out what they are below:

Do not strain yourself in any situation

…in any situation! Lifting items, going number 1 or number 2, trying to exercise – no matter what you do, try to not put too much pressure on yourself.

Bowel movements can be difficult a few days after childbirth, and you may find that the urge to walk feels different from before birth. The first postpartum stool in the few days immediately after delivery can be sensitive, and haemorrhoids healed from an episiotomy or sore muscles can make the process painful.    

After childbirth, you begin to expel the superficial mucous membranes that line your uterus during pregnancy. Blood and tissue that lines the uterus during pregnancy will be shed during the birth of your baby.    

Take care of your gut health to ensure soft stool

You may be afraid to damage the stings or fear that defecation will cause more pain in the area. This is especially true if you have been stitched during an episiotomy, which involves surgical incisions in the vagina or anus to widen the vaginal opening during childbirth or tear the area after delivery.    

It is normal not to open the intestine a few days after birth, because the bowel movement must remain soft and easy to carry out so that the stretched muscles of the sewn perineum can heal. If your first bowel movement takes some time after birth, try not to strain or force it, which can upset the perineum or the C-section scar. 

Following a balanced diet can largely contribute to better gut health. Opt for fibre-rich foods to promote healthy bowel movement. There are some confinement herbal drinks and tonics you could drink as well to promote better circulation, but in all cases, moderation is key.   

If you want to exercise, start small

Pregnancy, labour, and vaginal birth stretch and injure the pelvic floor muscles that support the uterus, bladder, and rectum. Occasional contractions (so-called post-natal pain) can occur in the first few days after delivery.

This may cause a prolapsed uterus, whereby your womb could slightly be out of place due to the pressure you put on them during birth. If the condition is not too severe, you could try some exercises but always remember the first point: do not strain yourself too much. Start with what you can handle without issues.    

Reach out for help

If your perineum (the skin area between the vagina and the anus) has been rubbed by your doctor, it may have been torn and sutured during pregnancy, which can make it painful to sit or walk for a while after healing. If you are in more pain, your doctor may perform an episiotomy (a small incision that reduces the risk of tearing and creates more space for the baby). If you experience pain while defecating or feel swelling in the anus, you may have swelling in the veins of your anus or lower rectum (haemorrhoids).    

It is important to seek help if your birth is stressful, painful, or traumatizing. Make sure to stay close to your doctor or ob-gyn and direct your questions about childbirth to them. 

Approximately 10 to 15% of women are affected by depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period, which begins between one to three weeks after birth and one year later. Baby blues can be caused by hormone changes, fatigue, pain from stings or wounds, full breasts that feel flat, and excitement after birth. Remember that your body is still adjusting to the changes that occur after birth, so you know that it is normal to have these kinds of feelings.    

Take your time to heal

This is the most important step of all. Your body needs time to heal, and that time may be longer than expected. Your body took several months to prepare for the birth, and thus will take a long time to recover as well. If you have long-term complications that can allow your body to heal for up to six weeks, you should expect to stay hospitalized for three to four days after giving birth. If you have had a caesarean, a tear, a vaginal delivery or an episiotomy, you can be sore for weeks. 

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No matter what, your body needs its break to regain some energy and be pampered. Leave the chores to other people in the house. If you don’t have many family members around, you can opt for a nanny service like what we provide as a confinement nanny agency Singapore moms choose! You can opt for day time confinement nanny or full-time nanny. At PEM, our confinement nanny can serve you day and night, including helping to take over the nighttime feeding so that you and your spouse can get ample rest and sleep all night long. 

It is important that the muscles that form a deep muscle corset around your body, such as the pelvic floor and deep transverse abdominal muscles, start working as soon as possible so that they support and protect your uterus, bladder, intestine, spine and pelvic joints and help to prevent pain in the perineum and abdomen. If you have stitches from a caesarean birth or a C-section, they heal differently. 

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