Postpartum - The After Labor Pain

Everyone prepares you for the pain and discomfort of labor, but what about the pain that comes later? Postpartum pain is not addressed nearly as well and it can come to some women as a less than pleasant surprise. You may expect some pain as the obvious after effect of straining your body or having surgical procedures should they become necessary, but postpartum pain can manifest itself in many ways that you might not expect.

You just spent several hours pushing and possibly holding your body in one position for some time, so muscle soreness is a given. Pain in the back or the buttocks is par for the course, but you might also find yourself experiencing muscle stiffness and soreness in the arms, legs and hips. It may have seemed like you were focusing on one part of your body, but you were engaging the whole thing in this effort - they don’t call it labor for nothing. The use of an epidural or counter pressure on your back during labor can leave you with a backache afterward. Warm showers, massage, stretching and movement can all help relieve muscle aches.

The one obvious place to experience postpartum pain is the buttocks. The area around your vagina will probably feel very tender as it slowly returns to its natural shape after expanding during childbirth. Ice packs can be applied right after the birth to help ease this tenderness and later you may find relief by using a sitz bath or by inserting cooled TUCKS pads into your sanitary napkin.

Changes in hormone levels can result in headaches. In cases where an epidural or spinal anesthetic was used, leakage of spinal fluid can sometimes cause severe headaches. Most headaches can be relieved with relaxation methods and over the counter pain relievers (acetaminophen, not aspirin), but the more severe cases may require you to lay flat on your back for a few days or use caffeine as a treatment.

As your breasts prepare for nursing, they can become overfilled or engorged, causing soreness and discomfort. Breastfeeding usually relieves this feeling or if need be, you can apply warm packs. If you don’t plan on nursing, wearing a tight bra and avoiding stimulation of the breasts will usually do the trick.

Postpartum recovery may be a pain, but it won’t last forever. Just try and relax and do what works for you to ease your discomfort. And remember to always consult with your doctor before taking any medicines.