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YGOPH
All Services
25 services & programmes
Obstetrics & Maternity
Labour ward open 24/7
Gynaecology
Consultations & surgery
Paediatrics
From birth to 15 years
After nine months of waiting, your baby is finally here. Everyone’s attention naturally turns to the newborn, but the weeks after childbirth, known as the postnatal period, are also a crucial time for the mother. Your body is recovering, your emotions may be intense, and you are learning to care for a new baby. Here is our advice for a healthy recovery.
Rest, eat well and let your body heal
- Sleep when your baby sleeps, and accept help from family and friends with household tasks.
- Eat varied, nourishing meals with vegetables, fruit, beans, fish, meat or eggs to rebuild your strength.
- Drink plenty of clean water, especially if you are breastfeeding.
- Continue any iron supplements prescribed by your midwife or doctor.
- Avoid heavy lifting in the first weeks, particularly after a caesarean section.
Bleeding. Vaginal bleeding after birth is normal. It is heaviest in the first days, then gradually becomes lighter and paler, and can last up to six weeks. Change your pads regularly and wash your hands before and after.
After a vaginal birth. If you had a tear or stitches, keep the area clean and dry by washing gently with clean water. The discomfort usually eases within a couple of weeks.
After a caesarean section. Keep your wound clean and dry, follow the dressing instructions you were given, and attend your appointment to have the wound checked. Holding a pillow against your abdomen when you cough or laugh can ease the pain.
Breastfeeding and your emotions
Breast milk is the ideal food for your baby, and breastfeeding also helps your womb return to its normal size. We recommend starting within the first hour after birth and breastfeeding exclusively, with no water or other food, for the first six months. Feed your baby on demand, day and night. If you have sore nipples or painful, hard breasts, or if you worry that your baby is not getting enough milk, ask our midwives for help: most problems can be solved with a good latch and a little support.
Your emotions matter too. Many new mothers feel tearful, anxious or irritable in the first days after birth. These “baby blues” usually pass within two weeks. If sadness, exhaustion, loss of interest or worrying thoughts last longer or become intense, it may be postnatal depression, a common and treatable condition. Talk to your midwife, your doctor or our psychological support unit. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Family planning and your six-week check-up
Waiting at least two years before your next pregnancy protects your health and your baby’s. You can become pregnant again even before your periods return, so talk to us about family planning before you leave the maternity or at your six-week visit. Several methods are safe while breastfeeding, including implants, IUDs, progestogen-only pills and injections.
Don’t miss your six-week check-up. At YGOPH, we see mothers and babies about six weeks after birth. We check your recovery, your blood pressure and your wound, talk about family planning and answer your questions. It is also the time for your baby’s first vaccinations at six weeks. Under the national chèque santé, postnatal care for mother and baby is covered up to 42 days after delivery; ask our admissions office how this applies to you.
Come back immediately if you have
- heavy bleeding, such as soaking a pad in an hour, or passing large clots;
- fever, chills or foul-smelling vaginal discharge;
- a severe headache, blurred vision or convulsions;
- redness, swelling, pus or increasing pain around your wound or stitches;
- pain, redness or swelling in one leg, difficulty breathing or chest pain;
- thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
Our maternity team is here for you after the birth, not just before it. For advice or a postnatal appointment, book online, call (+237) 670 607 278 or visit our Obstetrics & Maternity page. Share this article with a new mother you know.
