Pregnancy Info

When it comes to postpartum pain and pain relief the latter is what most women are in desperate need of after giving birth to their newest addition. Postpartum pain and pain relief can easily be achieved in several different ways. Ultimately it is a good idea to know what to expect before you get to this situation.

There are a lot of problems with postpartum pain experienced by women everywhere after they give birth. A lot of the postpartum pain has a lot to do with the kind of labor the woman had, how many babies she delivered and if she has been pregnant before. First-time moms are often at a higher risk of postpartum pain because the experience of labor is so foreign to their body unlike women who have previously given birth. However, in most cases of childbirth the mother goes home feeling some postpartum pain. Women that have cesarean sections are most often at the highest risk of postpartum pain after having a major abdominal surgery to deliver the baby. When planning for this post partum pain and pain relief it is important to first consult with your doctor. If you had a c-section, your doctor is likely already prescribing you some kind of medication for the postpartum pain. However, pain medications must be taken as prescribed by the doctor. When it comes to all kinds of postpartum pain and pain relief, there are certain ways to alleviate postpartum pain without prescription medication. This is especially important for breastfeeding mothers.

Postpartum Pain

Moms with a traditional vaginal child birth might experience a different kind of postpartum pain like back aches and cramping from your uterus contracting back to it's pre-baby size. Some moms that received the epidural shot during labor also report having some back pain postpartum. This can be an on-going issue of the epidural was given incorrectly or in an off manner. You might simply experience pain in your joints and muscles from the stress of caring for a newborn. Women that have c-sections are obviously likely to have postpartum pain. The toughest part here is dealing with the pain but not being able to take a prescription pain medication if you are breast feeding. In this situation, make sure you explore your postpartum pain relief options with your doctor.

Postpartum Pain Relief

Most new moms or moms that have just given birth want to know how long the pain is going to last. In most cases, it really depends on the mother, her lifestyle, work out frequency and eating habits. It is also important to try and get as much sleep as possible. For some new moms though, getting enough sleep is often a lucky feat for those mothers able to achieve this goal. For moms that are breastfeeding, pain killers are generally not an option because they can be dangerously passed to the baby through the breast milk. This is why it is important to figure out a few natural ways to eliminate pressures on your healing body that can create unnecessary aches and pains. 

There are a few things you might want to consider to help alleviate the postpartum pain you experiencing:

• Establishing an exercise routine if your doctor has cleared you for exercise. This will likely take longer for women that had c-sections.
• Assess your posture. If you find yourself slumping or putting too much undo stress on your tailbone, it is likely you are going to experience or agitate lower back pain, which seems to be one of the most common complaints of postpartum pain.
• Use a heating pad on the affected area.
• Take a hot bath and allow your joints and aches and pains to soak.
• If heating doesn't help, you might want to try a cold compress instead. This is especially good to keep in mind if there is swelling.
• Invest in a massage. Your muscles are likely knotted and tight from the stress of having a newborn and from your likely lack of sleep. 
• Learn relaxation tricks like meditation and relaxing physical practices like yoga. 
• Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of potassium to help your joints and muscles heal.
• It is okay to take an over-the-counter pain pill like ibuprofen or Tylenol. However, only take as much as is recommended and don't take more often than directed on the bottle. If you find these are not helping, you may want to consult your doctor or health care professional. Make sure he or she knows if you are breast feeding or not. 
• Physical therapy might be necessary for some moms that have on-going issues with back pain and other muscles strain.
• Chiropractic care is also often very helpful for many moms in dealing with their consistent back problems. 

You might want to consider going to your doctor for further help if the postpartum pains are not going away despite trying any of the above-listed ideas. If the pain is steadily getting worse, or if you find swelling, tingling or numbness in any of the injured areas, be sure you consult your doctor or health care provider right away. 

Sources: babycenter.com