Your health after birth

Information

Pregnancy and childbirth put a great strain on your body and it will take time to recover, particularly if you have had a difficult labour or a Caesarean section. You may have been ill after having your baby, or you may suffer from a common range of minor ailments and infections that affect new mothers.

• In hospital, the physiotherapy department will offer you information on postnatal exercises.
• Many maternity hospitals offer postnatal exercise classes. Contact your hospital to see if they offer a class.
• Your public health nurse will be able to supply you with details of local postnatal exercise classes;

If you have had a normal delivery, you will then have a check-up after two weeks and then after six weeks. This will be carried out either by your GP or by the hospital if you had your baby in hospital. Your GP/hospital doctor will discuss any health problems with you and may take a cervical smear.

For some women, breastfeeding is established easily, but others find it takes longer to get comfortable. Some find that the demands of a young baby and a new lifestyle make them feel low and, sometimes, depressed. This is quite normal after having a baby and help is available. You will find the following documents useful:

• Breastfeeding
• Postnatal Depression

You can find information on healthy eating during and after pregnancy on the Irish Nutrition and Dietitic Institute website