Your body is going through some major changes and needs time to heal and recover. Be gentle with yourself and allow time for rest and recovery.

When to get help

A small number of people may have very heavy bleeding or signs of infection and may need to be treated by the emergency department.

Call your family doctor or obstetrician or visit an emergency department if you have:

• bleeding much heavier than a regular menstrual period (soaking through a thick maxi pad each hour for more than 2 hours in a row)
• heavy bleeding that continues for more than 1 to 2 weeks
• passed blood clots that are bigger than a large coin
• severe abdominal (belly) pain
• a fever over 38°C (100.5°F) for more than 4 hours after taking acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• discharge from your vagina that does not look normal or that smells bad

Symptoms you may experience

The amount of bleeding you will have after delivery is hard to predict since everyone’s body reacts differently. You may pass clots of tissue in the first week after delivering your baby. This is no cause for alarm.

Vaginal bleeding becomes lighter after 2 to 3 weeks and the colour changes as your uterus heals and returns to pre-pregnant size. Call your doctor if you are still experiencing bleeding after 2 weeks.

You may experience some mild cramping with the delivery for a few days. You may also feel discomfort if you are passing clots.

To relieve minor discomfort, you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). You may find that a heating pad or hot pack on your abdomen helps to relieve cramps. You may have cramps for up to 10 days after the delivery while your uterus returns to its pre-pregnant size.

It can be very upsetting to have breast tenderness or for your breast milk to come in after a neonatal loss, as it may feel like a sad reminder of the loss of your baby.

Breast tenderness is normal. It happens because of a hormonal change and should go away within a few days.

Milk production is different for everyone and can continue for a few days or a few weeks after delivery or your loss. The average time for milk to come in is 2 to 5 days after delivery, but this can be delayed due to the stress of grieving after a loss. If you notice a liquid discharge from your breasts, use an absorbent material inside a snug-fitting bra. Breast discharge should stop within a few days.

You may wish to consider what you want to do with your milk supply. You can choose to limit your milk supply or you can choose to express your milk and donate it. If you want to donate breast milk, contact the NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank. Some families find it comforting to donate breast milk to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for infants who need extra breast milk.

If you choose to limit your milk supply:

• Do not pump or regularly express milk from your breasts. Gently hand express just enough to feel comfortable.
• The pressure and lumpy feel of milk and tissue swelling may be uncomfortable for 3 to 4 days. In some cases, this discomfort can last as long as 10 days.
• You may continue to produce milk for a time after this, but it should not be painful and will slowly be reabsorbed.
• You may notice a few drops of milk occasionally for several months.

To help make yourself more comfortable:

• Wear a comfortable bra that offers good breast support.
• Use cold compresses on your breasts for comfort. Apply a cloth-covered ice pack or bag of frozen peas to your breasts for 10 to 20 minutes, several times during the day.
• Take pain medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).
• Use breast pads to soak up any leaking milk.
• When taking a shower, let your breasts leak to relieve the pressure.
• Avoid heat on your breasts, as this could increase discomfort.

Call Health Link at 811 any time, day or night, to talk with a nurse about breast care.

You may experience nausea and diarrhea, but this is not common. Nausea and diarrhea usually get better within 24 to 48 hours. It does not mean you are allergic to the medicine you were given. If you have nausea, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine for nausea.

Because of a sudden change in body hormones after a delivery, you may feel tired. Feelings of tiredness should decrease within a few days. If they continue, talk with your doctor.

Your body returning to “normal”

You should have a normal menstrual period 4 to 6 weeks after your baby’s delivery. A pregnancy test may stay positive for several weeks after your baby’s delivery as it takes time for the hormones to clear from your system.

You can resume normal activities such as work, school, and driving as soon as you feel ready. You may be eligible for maternity leave. If you are still recovering from childbirth, you may want to consider taking all or part of your maternity leave. Take this time to heal emotionally and physically.

Avoid sex and do not use a tampon or douche for 6 weeks after delivery or until your bleeding stops. See your doctor or midwife before you continue these activities. Once you begin having sex again, you may wish to use birth control until you are physically and emotionally ready for another pregnancy.

Continue with your prenatal vitamins unless you are instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider.​