Postnatal Complications

Postnatal complications can arise from a delivery. Here are some common postnatal complications:

Hashimoto Hypothyroid Postpartum

Hashimoto Hypothyroid Postpartum (HHP) is a condition of the thyroid that can occur after pregnancy. In HHP, the white blood cells attack the thyroid. Once your baby has been born, you can become hyperthyroid (have an overactive thyroid) and loose weight quickly, the thyroid then becomes hypothyroid (underactive), resulting in symptoms such as:

Hyperthyroidism

• tiredness
• irritability
• palpitations
• anxiety
• weakness

Hypothyroidism

• lack of energy
• lethargic
• dry skin

However, as these are common symptoms most new moms suffer from, the condition can be missed. However, if you feel something is not right, do request for a blood test. If this problem is not identified when it should be, it can persist and occur again in your next pregnancy the pregnancies after.

RELATED: Reduce the risks of fatal birth-related complications

Misalignment of the pelvis after pregnancy

Many women have been known to have a shift in their pelvis after the birth of a child. It is not rare yet terribly painful and often ignorantly shoved aside as backache. There are many reasons that lead to this such as the following:

• Large baby
• Small pelvic dimensions
• Fatty tissue and obesity
• Narrow pubic arch
• Poor posture

Many women have turned towards chiropractors to take care of this problem and in Singapore, there are special chiropractors assigned to take care of women during and after pregnancy. Pelvic misalignment can persist for years and cause extreme discomfort if it’s not taken care of.

RELATED: Pregnancy Concerns: Pelvic Pressure

Postpartum fever

It is not uncommon to be running a temperature after the birth of your baby. Shortly after Sarah Jessica Parker gave birth to her son, the "Sex and the City" star developed a postpartum fever. The fever lasts for more than 24 hours within the first 10 days after delivery. It is not life-threatening but it can bring about serious infections. There are many reasons for a fever to appear, such as the following:

• Deep vein thrombosis
• Pelvic abscess
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism
• Thyroid
• Urinary tract infections
• Wound Infection

Consulting a doctor

The doctor will check for the following:

• Uterine tenderness, suggesting a uterine or endometrial source
• Breast tenderness and redness, suggesting mastitis
• Perineum tenderness and redness, suggesting wound infection
• Wheezes and breathing difficulty, suggesting a respiratory source such as pneumonia or pulmonary embolism.
• Calf tenderness, suggesting deep vein thrombophlebitis

RELATED: Postnatal doctor visit

Postpartum vaginal discharge (Lochia)

Postpartum vaginal discharge, or lochia as it is known as, is a discharge that contains mucus, blood and placenta tissue. If everything is normal, the discharge will lessen and what you will be seeing is discharge that is watery and pink around 4 days after the delivery. By the tenth day onwards, the discharge should be white or yellowish-white. It will take around 2 to 4 weeks to stop. If the discharge continues longer or is heavier, consult a doctor immediately.

READ: 5 Complications that can be dangerous during labor and delivery

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore