The first visit after childbirth: what to know.

The first visit after giving birth

In the first weeks following the birth, in addition to dedicating herself to the newborn, the woman must become familiar with her "new" body : accept the changes and listen to the problems , and then face them during the first visit , with a doctor or a midwife who will be able to guide her in this enriching but not always easy phase of self-rediscovery .

The first visit after childbirth: when it should be done

The first postpartum visit usually takes place after 40 days . Of course, it can be anticipated if necessary, by evaluating individual situations.

What's it about

It can consist of an obstetric or medical examination , based on the woman's experience and birth. If the birth was caesarean or medicalized , a medical examination is carried out with surgical evaluation or the problems deriving from a possible intervention. If the birth was physiological , a visit by an obstetrician is possible, who will assess the situation of the pelvic floor and the well -being of the woman as a whole.

The first visit after natural childbirth

In the 40 days following the birth, the new mother must listen to her body and understand how it is changing . In fact, in post partum, the knowledge that a woman naturally has of her own body changes , and it is necessary to become aware of it. It is necessary to learn to recognize the pelvic floor, to understand what is the anatomical change that follows the vaginal birth. All this not only with regard to urination , for example, but also with respect to the sexual sphere: for centuries, in the past, women have been "silenced" on this subject, which was perceived as a sort of taboo, as if it were not important. . On the contrary, immediately after childbirth a rediscovery of one's body is essential , from all points of view. It is necessary to learn to understand which physiological changes must be accepted and which ones may require rehabilitation or other types of intervention . All this, today, is faced in the first visit after childbirth, to which the woman must arrive, precisely, with the right awareness , in order to make the most of it. The puerpera will also be able to talk about how she relates to the desire for family progression, so if she thinks she wants to get pregnant again or if she wants to choose contraception , and what kind.

The first visit after the caesarean section

Cesarean delivery in itself is a surgical procedure , therefore, even if it is not mandatory, a medical-surgical evaluation is recommended as the first visit after childbirth. The goal is to observe the physiological recovery of the abdominal wall and the regularity of scarring . Then we proceed with the same assessments that are made following a physiological birth. The woman who has had a caesarean section will have to explain the reason for which it was performed: at times it can be para-physiological , at other times linked to urgent reasons or even for a maternal neonatal pathology . In this way it will be possible to better understand the overall state of well -being of the woman. The doctor who will follow you during this visit can also recommend some physical exercises and the correct dynamics to the new mother to help the complete rehabilitation of the abdominal wall.