Postpartum Care with Birth Center Stone Oak
The postpartum period can be overwhelming no matter who you are. The right care can make a significant difference in your journey of motherhood and helps you to get through this period easier. Postpartum care provides physical and emotional support to new mothers and families after childbirth.
How many postpartum visits do I have?
Postpartum care is different for each pregnancy, but the schedule often looks like this: We provide a home visit within 24 to 36 hours after you leave the birth center. Then, for first-time mothers, the visits are scheduled for one, two, and six weeks. For mothers that have given birth before, the initial visit is at two weeks, then at six weeks. More appointments can be scheduled for those that need more help during this time.
What happens during a postpartum appointment?
The idea of postpartum care appointments is to evaluate a mother’s physical and emotional health after delivery. The midwife makes recommendations and suggests changes that can help your and your baby’s health improve on both fronts.
Here’s what a postpartum care appointment usually entails:
- An assessment of physical health: this includes a general health exam with some basic questions regarding how you feel, how well you have been eating, and how you’ve been sleeping.
- Assess the mother for any post-delivery complications: complications such as urinary retention or constipation are common after birth. We advise remedies that can help.
- An assessment of the mother’s emotional and mental well-being: this includes looking out for signs of postpartum depression or baby blues.
- Evaluation of breastfeeding technique and providing support where needed.
- Providing advice and strategies regarding birth control and family planning. Our team can recommend birth control solutions according to your health and advise when you can get started.
- Provide advice to mothers on how they can improve their health and take better care of their babies.
- Discussing supplements and medications for nutrition supplementation.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding your health or your baby’s, you can bring them up during these appointments. Your midwife will address these concerns and advise you on how to deal with them accordingly.
What if I require additional support?
While postpartum visits deal with a specific set of issues, we understand that some mothers need additional help.
For those who are experiencing emotional difficulties, we can refer them to mental health experts. They can provide counseling and support to identify and prevent symptoms of depression.
We have a list of postpartum doulas trained to care for mothers after delivery. We can refer you to them should you require one.
We also provide breastfeeding support to mothers, but some mothers require extra support. In these cases, we refer them to lactation consultants.
Why is postpartum care important?
Here are some reasons why postpartum care is essential:
- Aids physical recovery of the mother and health of the baby
- Ensures the mother’s emotional well-being
- Encourages bonding between the mother and the baby
- Provides breastfeeding support for mothers
- Provides support for the partner and family adjusting to the new family dynamics after having a baby
To learn more about our care, send us a message!