For the first 48 hours you should not be left alone.
Stay in your pajamas for a few days. It will remind you and your family that you are still recovering.
Blood loss will be fairly heavy in the first 12 hours after birth. If you soak 2 large pads in one half hour, call your doctor or midwife immediately. Measures to remedy or prevent excessive blood loss are: nurse the baby or do nipple stimulation, massage your uterus firmly, like your nurse, midwife or doctor after your birth - you should be able to feel it contracting and hardening (in order to be effective you have to massage firmly enough that it hurts). Also, remember to massage your uterus before you get up out of bed.
You should urinate within the first 12 hours and have a bowel movement within 48 hours after delivery. Eating foods high in fiber - fruits, veggies, bran - and drinking plenty of water will help these systems function better.
Remember to start your kegel exercises soon after delivery. This will help with the healing process by increasing circulation and bringing muscles together. Kegels can also help the elimination processes return to normal. Continue doing them the rest of your life to help maintain proper bladder control.
When urinating, use a squirt (peri) bottle filled with warm water. This will help to dilute the urine and cleanse the perineum. Just pat dry with toilet paper or drip dry.
Lochia is the vaginal discharge from the uterus following birth and it can last for several weeks. Similar to a menstrual period in appearance, it progresses from a red, heavy discharge for the first week or so, to a brownish or pinkish discharge for a couple of weeks, to a light yellow or white discharge. For some women this process only lasts a couple of weeks but for others 5-6 weeks is normal. You should not have intercourse at least until you are at or through the final stages of your discharge or until you feel you are ready.
Don't lift anything heavier than your baby for at least six weeks. If you have small children, sit down first and then let them climb onto your lap. Avoid stairs as long as possible. If your bleeding increases or turns
