Moms usually experience worry, pain, exhaustion, and other issues in the weeks following their baby’s birth. You are not alone if you are facing difficulties. OB-GYN doctors can assist mothers with these issues during a postpartum checkup. Don’t be embarrassed to seek assistance since you and your family will benefit from treatment and care during your postnatal checkup.
Postpartum checkup: What is it?
A postpartum checkup with an ob-gynecologist is an important way to ensure that new mothers stay healthy. A postpartum checkup is a visit with your doctor or midwife following the birth of your baby to see how you’re doing physically, mentally, and emotionally.
This crucial “fourth trimester”—the time after delivery when a new mom’s health is at its finest—is an opportunity to set the foundation for a new mom’s best health now and in the future.
Doctors and mothers can address concerns early with postpartum checks. Your doctor will help you ensure that you are healing well during your postpartum checkup.
Postpartum checkup: What to expect?
Your doctor will evaluate you to ensure that you’re recovering physically as planned and ask questions about how you’re adjusting to life with a new baby. Your postpartum examination should be thorough. It will include the following:
- A complete physical examination
- An examination of pregnancy-related issues (such as gestational diabetes)
- Concerns about your emotional health
- Infant nutrition and nursing are discussed.
- Coming up with a birth control strategy that works for you
- Re-examination of preventative health checks, including vaccines and cancer screenings where needed
Regular checkups can provide you and your ob-gyn with a comprehensive picture of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
The postpartum checkup is an excellent opportunity to discuss any medical concerns you may have had prior to or throughout your pregnancy.
Thyroid, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other issues may be among them. It’s critical to keep track of these issues to evaluate if you need to continue treatment. Here’s what to expect and important reasons why you need a postpartum checkup:
1. Physical exam
During your physical examination, your doctor will:
- Take your weight and blood pressure readings.
- Take a look at your stomach. She’ll check your incision if you had a c-section and feel your belly to make sure there’s no soreness
- Take a look at your breasts. Lumps, discomfort, redness, cracked nipples, and irregular discharge will all be on her radar.
- Examine your vaginal and cervix using a speculum. She will examine any bruises, scrapes, or tears to determine if they’ve healed. She will also perform a Pap smear during the speculum exam if you’re due for one.
- Perform an internal pelvic exam to check your uterus for proper shrinkage, feel your cervix and ovaries for any issues, and assess your vaginal muscle tone. She might also perform a rectal examination.
- Examine your external genitalia, particularly your perineum. She’ll check to see if you had an episiotomy and if it’s healed.
This way, you can ensure that you are healthy and your body is healing properly after giving birth.
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2. Mental health check
Because your mental health is equally as essential as your physical health, you may expect to discuss it throughout your appointment.
You may feel uneasy or unsure at first but remember that this is a secure environment for sharing. As part of a broad talk about your mental health and well-being, you will be asked about your mood.
It is critical to do a thorough postpartum depression screening. If your provider remains silent, make sure your concerns and inquiries are addressed.
While feeling blue after the birth of your child is normal, feelings that last longer than two weeks may indicate a more serious problem.
3. Postpartum glucose test
An oral glucose tolerance test will be performed if you have gestational diabetes mellitus throughout your pregnancy to confirm that your glucose levels have returned to normal.
4. Cancer screenings
Cancer screenings can include:
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Cervical cancer
You should resume your cervical cancer screenings as soon as possible. This entails taking cervical cells and examining them under a microscope (commonly known as a “Pap smear”), as well as testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. These checks can be done as soon as two weeks after delivery.
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Breast cancer
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During the postpartum clinic appointment, a breast exam will be performed, which can aid in the detection of breast cancer. Plan to resume your recommended breast cancer screening schedule if necessary. If you’re above the age of 40 or if you’re at a higher risk, you may need yearly mammography.
5. Birth control options
Several birth control methods available may be explored to assist you in deciding which is best for you. Keep in mind that, especially if you’re bottle-feeding your infant, your fertility can recover fairly quickly.
Even women who are exclusively breastfeeding can ovulate again after a few months. Waiting until your first period to take birth control may be too late, as you may have started ovulating before then, which means you could become pregnant before you even realize you’re fertile again.
It’s best to wait one and a half years between pregnancies to give your body enough time to recover and prepare for your future child.
You may still be experiencing aches and pains from pregnancy or childbirth, and you may be curious about how your body has changed.
You may also have concerns about your labor and delivery, as well as postpartum difficulties like as nursing, exercise, sex, and employment. It’s a good idea to write down any questions you’d like to ask as well as any other topics you’d like to address.
How many postpartum checkup is required?
You should have several postpartum checkups if possible. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now recommends that new mothers see their ob-gyns several times in the first 12 weeks following giving birth.
Depending on your circumstances, you may just have one or two doctor’s appointments after giving birth, or you may have more.
Most women who deliver vaginally have their postpartum visit 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth. If you’ve had a C-section, you’ll almost probably be asked to come back sooner to have your incision checked. A postpartum visit should be scheduled within 12 weeks of the baby’s birth.
Within three weeks, you should have your first checkup. That appointment allows your ob-gyn to get a sense of how you’re doing and offer early assistance with any issues you’re having.
If you had high blood pressure during pregnancy, you should see a doctor 3 to 10 days after giving birth to get a checkup. Then, as needed, more appointments should be scheduled before a final checkup around 12 weeks after the baby is born.
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Don’t miss your postpartum checkup.
You may believe you have good reason to skip. Maybe you’re in good shape and don’t need anything else on your to-do list. Instead of an in-person visit, you can request a phone or video call with your ob-gyn.
This is a much more popular option than before the coronavirus outbreak. If you have an in-person appointment, find out if you can bring your newborn or other children with you.
What matters is that you have care, whether it’s online or in person, for your own and your baby’s health now and in the future.
Even after the postpartum period, maintaining your health requires regular ob-gyn visits. Because the danger of pregnancy-related issues does not go away once the baby is born, it is important to maintain medical attention.
Your ob-gyn should make sure you’re ready to continue your treatment with routine appointments before your last postpartum checkup.
These visits can provide you with continuous assistance with any issues you may have, as well as provide an opportunity for ongoing screening and prevention of any health problems.
If you have a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death, you should see your obstetrician for a check-up. It’s essential to seek emotional assistance as well as ensure that your body is healing. You may also require more tests to establish whether you are at risk for future pregnancies.
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