Postpartum Period

Postpartum - the period of time after you give birth

About.com guide and childbirth educator Robin Elise Weiss advises you to call your doctor or midwife if you have any of the following signs after giving birth:

• You have bleeding that soaks a pad every hour for two hours.
• You have a foul odor coming from your vagina.
• You have no bleeding whatsoever.
• You feel like your uterus is swelling or getting larger.
• You have a fever of 101 or higher.
• Your pain doesn't get better or you are still in pain after you run out of pain medication.
• You have swelling, redness or discharge from your cesarean incision or episiotomy site.
• Pain in your abdomen that gets progressively worse.
• Problems urinating including inability to urinate, burning while urinating, or extremely dark urine.
• You have any type of visual disturbance.
• Severe headaches.
• You have flu like symptoms.
• Pain or redness in one or both of your breasts.
• Pain, warmth or tenderness in your legs.
• Frequent nausea and vomiting.
• Problems breathing. (Call 911)
• Signs of postpartum depression.

If you have questions about your newborn or need breastfeeding advice, you may continue to call WeeCare even after delivery.