Improving your recovery after birth – physiotherapy advice
Immediately after your baby‘s birth |
| After you have given birth we recommend that you follow some simple steps which will improve your postnatal recovery. |
| Rest – lie flat for 30 minutes, twice a day. This will help to minimise discomfort, reduce swelling and take extra weight off your pelvic floor and lower abdominal muscles. |
| Ice – following a vaginal birth or an attempted vaginal birth, ice helps to reduce pain and swelling around the perineum and is crucial in the first 72 hours after the birth of your baby. Ice should be placed inside your pad for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours and can be continued until pain and swelling cease. |
| Compression – firm supportive underwear will help support the perineum and lower abdominals and reduce pain and discomfort. This will also help to start the healing process. Control briefs can be purchased from department stores and should be worn for the first six weeks. As a guide, garments should be two sizes bigger than your pre-pregnancy size. |
| Exercise – pelvic floor and deep abdominal exercises help you return to your pre-pregnancy shape and assist with healing around any stitches you may have. They can be safely started one to two days following the birth of your baby, provided there is no increase in your pain. |
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