During & After Childbirth

You’re all set to welcome baby into the world. While you’ve done a lot of prepping and planning, it’s important to understand what can happen during labor and after baby is born. Things may not follow your birth plan exactly, and that’s okay. Your care team will be there to help you with any obstacles, letting you focus on your health, your baby's health and the miracle of bringing life into the world.

How Your Body Prepares for Labor

A women’s body is designed to give birth. Your pelvis, muscles and hormones all converge and work together to bring your baby into the world. Indeed, a miracle. Labor usually begins about two weeks on either side of your delivery date.

Signs of Labor

The way labor starts varies from woman to woman, but it typically includes:

Bloody show: a small amount of mucus discharge from the vagina.
Contractions: The uterus contracts again and again to help the cervix open (dilate) and to thin (efface). These contractions move your baby through the birth canal.
Water breaking: This is the rupture of the amniotic sac in the uterus.

Get More Resources
Download our printable guide on labor and much more related to pregnancy. English Spanish

Postpartum Care for Mom

The postpartum period — 12 weeks following labor and delivery— is an important time for your health. Your body will go through many changes as you recover. Your care plan will vary depending on the type of delivery you had. You may experience cramping during this time or a change in your bowel movements.

Signs of Postpartum Complications

Most women recover without any problems, but if there are injuries or complications inform your provider right away. They will know your health history best, and can refer you to a specialist when necessary. Some of these problems show up right away, and others do not. Be aware of these warning signs of complications:

Chest pains
Trouble breathing
Seizures
Bleeding that is soaking through one pad per hour, or blood clots the size of an egg or larger
Feeling light-headed

Postpartum Depression & Signs

Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth. Women with postpartum depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety and exhaustion that may make it difficult to complete daily care activities for themselves or for others.

Trouble concentrating
Crying more often than usual for no apparent reason
Feeling moody, sad, hopeless or anxious
Thinking about harming yourself

Your provider can help you with postpartum depression, which can include counseling and talk therapy or medications.

Postpartum Wellness Program

At our urogynecology specialty clinic, our experts can help with common issues women experience following childbirth:

Wound breakdown
Accidental loss of gas and stool
Urinary incontinence
Third and fourth degree obstetrical tears
Obstetrical fistulas
Postpartum urinary retention
Pain with intercourse
Pelvic pain

Talk to your provider for a referral or reach out to our urogynecology clinic.

Breastfeeding

Some new parents choose to formula feed. Others choose breastfeeding. No matter the choice, fed is best.

Many new moms choose breastfeeding because research shows that mother’s milk contains a unique and powerful combination of nutrients important for infant health. Mother’s milk supports growth and development as well as boosts the baby’s ability to fight infection. It is easy to digest and can promote overall health of the baby’s digestive system.

Tips & Resources

Learn quick breastfeeding tips for new others in this brief, helpful video – and check out more tips below.

Getting Started

It’s a good idea to try breastfeeding in the hospital as soon as you can with a nurse or lactation consultant on hand to help. It can be a bit tricky as first so having someone there to support you is important.

Positioning

Try to use your first few days with your baby to get your breastfeeding position and attachment right.

Having Patience

Like anything new, breastfeeding takes time and patience. Ensure that you’re relaxed because if you’re stressed, your baby will sense it and may also become stressed. If you baby becomes distressed, take a break and try again later.

Healthy Eating & Lifestyle

Pregnant moms realize that they need to eat healthy because they're eating for two. It's important to extend that postpartum if you're breastfeeding. Avera experts can help reduce the complexity and confusion about diet and environment with these resources:

Donate Extra

The Avera Milk Collection Depot allows you to donate your milk to help other mothers and newborns. You can call 877-891-5347 for more information.

Infant Safe Sleep Tips

Each year, 3,400 infants die of sleep-related causes such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s important to follow safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Safe Sleep Guidelines for Infants

Put baby to sleep on his or her back at all times.
Use a firm, flat sleep surface.
Do not put soft objects in the sleeping area. This includes loose bedding, pillows, nonfitted sheets and blankets.
Avoid smoke and nicotine exposure.
Infants should sleep on a separate surface than parents, but in close vicinity the first six months after birth.
Avoid overheating.

Get More Tips.