Postpartum Care

What is postpartum care?

Postpartum care is the medical support and guidance you receive during the weeks and months after giving birth. This care focuses on your physical recovery from childbirth and monitors for potential complications. 

Your provider also supports your emotional adjustment to parenthood and addresses concerns about feeding and caring for your newborn. Postpartum care typically begins within the first week after delivery and continues for several weeks or months as needed.

At The Birth Center of New Jersey, your midwife provides personalized postpartum care that addresses your individual recovery needs and helps you feel confident as a new parent.

What does postpartum care include?

During postpartum visits, your midwife focuses on how your body is healing and how you’re managing as a new parent. Your midwife typically:

• Checks your physical healing, including your uterus, bleeding, and any tears or incisions
• Monitors your blood pressure and screens for postpartum complications
• Evaluates your emotional well-being and screens for postpartum depression or anxiety
• Provides breastfeeding support and addresses feeding challenges
• Answers questions about newborn care, sleep, and your baby’s development
• Discusses birth control options and family planning when you're ready

These appointments give you time to ask questions and address problems as they come up.

When do postpartum care visits happen?

Your midwife schedules postpartum visits based on your individual needs and recovery. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists recommends having contact with your maternal care provider within the first 3 weeks of birth and visiting for a thorough evaluation no later than 12 weeks postpartum.

These checkups allow your midwife to monitor your healing and address any concerns that arise after birth. Based on your recovery, your midwife can also clear you to resume activities like exercise and sexual intercourse.

When should you seek immediate postpartum care after birth?

Certain symptoms require immediate medical attention during the postpartum period. Contact your midwife right away if you experience:

• Heavy bleeding that soaks through a pad in an hour
• Severe abdominal pain
• Fever or foul-smelling discharge
• Painful swelling in your legs
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

For postpartum care that supports your recovery and helps you thrive as a new parent, call The Birth Center of New Jersey or schedule an appointment online.