Discharge Instructions

Continue taking your prenatal vitamins until you finish your current prescription. If you are breastfeeding, continue to take the prenatal vitamins until you stop breastfeeding. Ibuprofen will usually be enough to take care of the afterbirth and episiotomy pain. You can take Ibuprofen every eight hours. You may also be given a prescription for pain medication. If you are breastfeeding, do not take any other medications without contacting your pediatrician, the hospital lactation nurse, or our office to ensure the medication is safe. Diischarge orders

Stitches

The stitches will dissolve on their own. Use a sitz bath one to three times a day to keep the area clean. Keep the area dry to promote healing. The area will be tender for several weeks.

Bleeding

You may bleed off and on from the vagina for up to eight weeks. The flow will be heavier when you are standing or more active. If you are bottle-feeding, your normal period usually starts six to eight weeks after delivery. If you are breastfeeding, you may not have a period while you continue to breastfeed.

Sexual Activity

No sexual intercourse, douching or tampon use for six weeks after delivery. This allows your vaginal area and episiotomy to heal properly.

Bowel Movements

It is best to have a bowel movement at least every other day. Drink 6-8 glasses of fluid, and fruits and vegetables to help. You may take Colace or Surfak (over the counter medications) as a stool softener on a daily basis. Milk of Magnesia may also be used for severe constipation. Do not use an enema or suppository unless directed by your doctor.

Breasts

If you are breastfeeding: It usually takes two to four days for your breast milk to come in. Keep your nipples and breasts clean and dry. Wear a good support bra. Call the office if you notice redness, heat, fever greater than 101degrees F or pain in the breast.

If you are bottle-feeding: Wear a good support bra at all times, even to bed. It may be helpful to bind your breasts with a wide ace wrap. You may also use ice packs to ease the discomfort. Avoid heat or stimulation to the breasts for the first few weeks.

Exercise

You may begin walking within one to two weeks after delivery. Start slow and work up to walking two miles per day by six weeks after delivery.

General Activity

If you have had a vaginal delivery, do not lift more than 10 pounds for one week or more than 25 pounds for four weeks. If you have delivered by cesarean section, do not lift more than 10 pounds for six weeks.

Driving

Do not drive for one to two weeks after a vaginal delivery and for two weeks after a cesarean section. Do not drive while taking narcotic pain medication.

Contraception

If you are breastfeeding, your options include: condoms, Depo Provera, a Mirena IUD, or a progesterone-only pill. Breastfeeding alone is not an effective option for birth control. If you are bottle feeding, you also have the options of regular birth control pills although they should not be started until six weeks after delivery. If you are planning tubal ligation for six weeks postpartum, please call the office when you are dismissed from the hospital to schedule your routine postpartum visit and surgery. You will need to speak to the doctor’s nurse for the surgery to be scheduled and for all the required paperwork to be completed in time.

Postpartum Office Visit

Please contact the office for an appointment for your postpartum check-up. After a vaginal delivery, you will need to be seen six weeks after delivery. If you had a caesarean section, you will need to be seen two weeks and six weeks after delivery by your doctor. If you are sent home with staples in place, you will also need a nurse appointment for staple removal as directed by your doctor.

Reasons to Call the Office

You may contact our office with any problems or questions you may have after dismissal from the hospital. If at any time you have a fever of over 101 degrees, problems with your breasts, excessive redness, pain or discharge from your incision, please contact the office immediately.