6 Health Issues Women Usually Face After Child Birth (Post Partum)

Women usually focus on their health only during their pregnancies. Whereas they need more care after the baby is delivered. The tough time period of 9 months pregnancy affects the female body both physically and emotionally. And it takes almost 1 to 2 years to regain body’s normal conditions.

There are many factors due to which women ignore their health issues. For example, women in developing countries like Pakistan do not take balanced diet rather their men are considered superior and take better diet, despite living in a same house. Similarly women want to give their best to their child, that’s why they do not focus on their own health. Another reason is, it is lack of awareness about post partum (after birth) care and there is no proper counseling for post partum problems and their solutions.

Psychological issues are often left untreated and considered as least important. Hence women in our society suffer the most in this time period of her life. And the outcomes of this ignorance come after the age of 35, when the body starts aging rapidly.

There are many health issues which women usually face during post partum period, here are some of the most common issues.

1.Breastfeeding and problems related to it

If you are breast feeding your child, this is one case. Another case is when you cannot breast feed your baby due to any reason. Sometimes after c-section delivery new moms cannot do this task properly and hence baby started taking top feed. Another case is when you are not lactating properly, this produce discomfort in your breast like they become engorged or quite sore. And in this situation the new moms also become emotionally depressed as they are not properly feeding their babies with their own feed which is considered as the best thing in the world.

In another case when you are feeding your baby, you may feel pain during feeding and you may feel swollen breasts. For this you can take warm water shower and ibuprofen pain killers.

Proper lactation counseling should be given by lactation consultants. The proper techniques and methods should be explained by the health professionals. And it should be cleared that if you can not breast feed your baby, it is not the end of this world and you should not feel guilty for it. Try your best to breast feed your baby but do not take this issue so serious that it takes you in the world of depression.

2. Post partum emotional states and post partum depression

Usually, we only know about the post partum depression. But many other emotional states can be seen in post partum women, for example, euphoric, proud, anxious, sad, weepy, lonely, worried, shocked, confident etc. But the most common feeling is being depressed or sad or lonely. According to the research women who are taking medical care, 50% of the women experienced depression for more than 1 year after birth. And women who are not taking any medical care, 30 % of them experienced depression for 3 years after the child birth.

3.Problems Related to Intercourse and Intimacy

After the vaginal delivery of the baby, sometimes the intercourse becomes uncomfortable and painful for upto 2 to 3 months. Both the physical and emotional stress makes the female body unable to the normal intercourse procedure. Usually, the hormones are the reason behind this. Another reason is the diverted attention towards the new born also causes the lack of intimacy.

4.Hair Loss

After 3 months of child birth, the elevated hormones come to the normal level which causes the hair loss. In some women who are not taking proper diet, it becomes worse. But usually, it lasts for few months and stops on its own. Best solution is to take balanced diet and multivitamins.

5.Hemorrhoids and Fecal Incontinence

Hemorrhoids are the varicose veins of the anus; it usually occurs during pregnancy and pops out during labor. It is usually harmless but it is painful. Lack of bowel movement is due to stretching and weakening of pelvic muscles, nerve injury to the sphincter muscles of the anus and tearing during the labor /delivery. This problem persists for few months. Sometimes urine incontinence can also become the major problem after childbirth due to similar reasons.

6.Muscles and joints related problems

During pregnancy the female body undergoes various changes; one of them is a deficiency of minerals like calcium and iron. That is why after the child birth women usually face problems like muscle aches and joint pains. Usually, the wrist and ankle joints ache. And the shoulder and calf muscles show problems. Various reasons are behind these problems such as, hormonal changes, deficiency of some important minerals and vitamins, excessive use of any joint and muscle, etc.

These problems sound common and not very dangerous but they are really hard to face by a woman who is emotionally and physically unstable and trying to fulfill her responsibilities as a mother. Sometimes women face one or two problems stated above, but in many cases, women face many problems at the same time. Our society must understand that a healthy and happy mother can be brought up a healthy and happy child. The woman in post partum state needs support both physically and emotionally. Her partner and other care takers should understand her problems. So proper health care counseling is needed. And proper post partum check-ups should be done.

Hence, it is always best to consult with the best gynecologist in Lahore, Karachi and other main cities of Pakistan from where you belong.

You can also find the best gynecologist in other main cities of Pakistan

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