Baby blues and lactostasis
A week or two after giving birth, when you’ve settled into your home again, you should keep an eye out for two common issues: lactostasis and the baby blues.
Lactostasis is the stagnation of milk in the ducts. The breasts swell and become tender and painful. It can be a vicious circle: it is painful to start nursing, but if you do not, then the milk will remain stagnant, which can lead to inflammation or mastitis. If you experience lactostasis, it is important to continue nursing regularly. You may need to express some milk before starting a feeding session. Usually the problem dissipates in one or two days [1].
Baby blues (also known as maternal blues or transient postpartum depression) is a sharp decrease in mood, tearfulness, and increased fatigue in the second week after childbirth [2]. In the next couple of weeks, it will pass, especially if your partner, family or friends give you the opportunity to get enough sleep, at least occasionally. If symptoms worsen and do not go away by the end of the first month, you are likely experiencing postpartum depression. In this case, you will need the help of support, including specialists.
If you had a vaginal birth
A week after birth, lochia (normal vaginal discharge after birth) should appear reddish-brown, as at the end of menstruation. You can use normal pads and start Kegel exercises, which can help prevent the problem of urinary incontinence after childbirth.
If you have had a cesarean
The scar may still hurt. If the pain is severe, talk to your doctor about what medications you can take while breastfeeding. You can shower normally, but don’t wash or rub the scar. If you notice that the scar has reddened or become infected, then you need to see a doctor as soon as possible [3].
