Postpartum Questions That You Can Ask Your Gynae

10 Questions to Ask During Your Postpartum Visit

After welcoming a new addition to the family, life can get busy and hectic as you try to ease into your new routine. With most of your attention now on the little one, you might think that your 6-week postpartum check-up is unimportant and might even choose to skip it. However, this is far from the truth. It is important to stick to your appointment to ensure that you’re in good health as childbirth can cause serious complications and even death weeks after delivery.¹²

Here are some postpartum appointment questions to ask during your visit:

1. Were there any issues with my delivery I should know about? Will it affect future deliveries?

Your labour and delivery might be a little hazy with all that was going on in the delivery room. Now is the time to have a clearer picture of what went on and if there is anything you should take note of. If you had any labour complications, it would also be helpful to know how it might affect future pregnancies so you can plan for it better.

2. How is my healing? Stitches?

If you had any tears or a c-section, it’s important to know if your stitches are healing up nicely. For a c-section, it might take from 4 weeks to 3 months to heal internally. Your doctor should let you know too if there is an infection or not, and if medication is necessary.

3. Is my bleeding normal?

It’s normal to have postpartum bleeding for up to 6 weeks. What’s not normal is prolonged heavy bleeding, passing clots bigger than an egg or smelly discharge. If your bleeding is still heavy, do remember to keep track of how many pads you soak through in an hour and let your doctor know.⁴

4. Do I have, or am I at risk for pelvic organ prolapse?

The main cause of pelvic organ prolapse is pregnancy and vaginal childbirth, which can weaken muscles of the pelvic floor. Many women will not need to seek treatment, but it’s important to let your healthcare professional know. At your regular check-ups, your doctor or other healthcare professionals will keep track of the problem.⁵

5. Do I need any tests? Any nutrition deficiencies? Health concerns?

If you had any complications during pregnancy and birth, you might want to ask your healthcare professional if you need any medical tests to rule out any lasting changes. While things like gestational diabetes usually resolves after pregnancy, sometimes it doesn’t and will require long term monitoring.⁶ If you were on medication during pregnancy, your doctor might reduce the dosage now or stop it completely.

6. When can I start exercising again?

We know you’re itching to get back into shape, but before you start exercising again, you will need to get the all-clear from your healthcare professional to reduce the risk of any other medical complications. Do also get them to check for diastasis recti, a separation of the abdominal muscles that is common after pregnancy.

7. Is it okay for me to start having sex again? What type of birth control is best?

While there is no definite timeline to how soon you can have sex again, medical professionals recommend waiting for at least 4 to 6 weeks, or at least until your body has healed. You can also ask about the best contraceptive methods after pregnancy for family planning purposes to prevent getting pregnant again so soon.⁷

8. How do I tell if I have PPD?

If you do not feel your best and wonder if you have postpartum depression, do bring it up during your postpartum visit. Your doctor might have a checklist for you to screen if you have symptoms related to postpartum depression and refer you to a therapist should you need further treatment to help you get through it.⁸

9. Why is my vision blurry?

Pregnancy hormones can cause vision changes and you might find yourself with a slight blurry vision for a while. An eye exam is best done after six to nine months postpartum to allow hormones to regulate, but if you have severe vision impairment, do bring it up during your postpartum doctor visit.¹⁴

10. What other symptoms should I take note of?

Pregnancy related complications can still occur any time after birth up till a year postpartum.² It is important to ask your healthcare professional what symptoms and medical conditions to look out for that might be a higher risk for you as getting prompt treatment can help prevent serious complications to your health.

Asking for a follow up

If you are still experiencing any pain or discomfort during this period, it’s perfectly fine to ask for a follow up appointment even though typically this would be your last check up for this pregnancy.

References:

1. https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/pregnant-postpartum-women/index.html
2. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/maternal-deaths/index.html
3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000961.htm
4. https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/maternal-warning-signs/index.html
5. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/pelvic-support-problems
6. https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/diabetes-gestational.html
7. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/a-partners-guide-to-pregnancy
8. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm#postpartum

This article was written by Motherhood.com.my.

DISCLAIMER: The content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Due to unique individual needs, the reader should consult health professional to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader's situation.