Dr. Duan Tao: It is not necessary to have a check-up 42 days after delivery. It doesn't matter a few days earlier or a few days later. Some people say that all the children are born, as if everything is normal. Why do you have to have a postpartum check-up?
Of course, this is not mandatory. Some mothers, as mentioned above, feel that their bodies have recovered well and there is no need to go to the hospital specially. Some mothers also expressed their willingness to have a postpartum check-up, which can make themselves and their families feel more at ease.
In fact, if you come to check, the doctor still has many questions to communicate with the mothers.
After 42 days postpartum examination, obstetricians should do the following examinations:
1, birth canal examination: Understand the cervical condition, see if there is lochia, if there is perineal lateral incision, it depends on the wound healing, and press the fundus to understand the involution of uterus.
2, check the abdominal wound: if it is a cesarean section, but also check the healing of the abdominal wound.
During the 42-day postpartum examination, obstetricians should communicate with their mothers as follows:
1, breastfeeding: encourage exclusive breastfeeding for 4-6 months, then continue breastfeeding and gradually add complementary food. If there is a problem with breastfeeding, you can further consult a breastfeeding consultant. If there is breast discomfort, it can be further treated by a breast doctor. Not every obstetrician can handle breast discomfort and breastfeeding, but breastfeeding consultants and breast doctors are more professional.
2. When can you resume sexual life: Sexual life can be resumed if lochia is completely clean, but it is best to use condoms, because it is still possible to ovulate and get pregnant before menstruation resumes.
3. When will menstruation come: For most breastfeeding mothers, menstruation will not come during breastfeeding, but a few mothers will come during breastfeeding.
Can't you breastfeed when you have your period? You can also continue breastfeeding without affecting the quality of breast milk.
Does vaginal bleeding mean menstruation a few days after postpartum lochia is clean? Not necessarily. Wait a month or so to see if there will be any bleeding similar to menstruation again. If you come again, it will be menstruation. If you don't come, it is vaginal bleeding, not menstruation.
4. When can I get pregnant again: If this is a natural delivery, I can get pregnant at any time in theory, but it is generally recommended that the child get pregnant after 1 year old. First, the body can rest and recover. Second, after the child 1 year-old, he can put it down and let the child go by himself, instead of holding it in his arms all day.
If this is a cesarean section, it is generally recommended to get pregnant at least after 18 months (10.5 years), because if you get pregnant again after 18 months, the tension of the lower part of the uterus can be restored by more than 80%, and the risk of uterine rupture after vaginal delivery (VBAC) will be significantly reduced.
5. When can you resume exercise: After natural delivery 1 month, you can resume regular activities, mainly walking; After 2 months, you can resume general exercise, including brisk walking; Most pre-pregnancy exercises can be resumed after 3 months. If it is cesarean section, it can be postponed for 15-30 days on the basis of natural delivery.
Because everyone's physical recovery is different, when to resume exercise and how much exercise is mainly based on physical comfort.
The pediatrician should also examine the baby during the 42-day postpartum examination:
Because newborns can't talk, our doctors sometimes joke that neonatologists are a bit like "veterinarians". They can't ask the baby's medical history, but only adults. If the mother doesn't take care of the children by herself, you'd better bring your mother-in-law who is responsible for taking care of the children.
1, general inquiry: including home status, crying, nursing, defecation, getting sick, getting vaccinated, etc.
2. Physical examination: including general state, skin, physical activity, cardiopulmonary auscultation, abdominal palpation, vulva observation, targeted examination according to parents' questions, and investigation of serious organ diseases.
3. Physical measurement: including weight, length and head circumference. After returning to China, evaluate the baby's physical growth during this period and judge whether there are nutritional problems, feeding problems or hidden diseases.
4, feeding guidance: including asking what formula to feed besides breastfeeding, listening to the problems found by parents during the feeding process and answering them. At the same time, ask about urination and defecation to help judge whether feeding is fully tolerated and whether the formula of milk powder is appropriate.
5. Jaundice monitoring and stool color judgment.
6. General health guidance.
7. Whether the hearing screening has passed or not, and whether it needs to be reviewed.
This is a set of detailed inspections and exchanges. For busy hospitals and doctors, the process may be faster and the questions more concise.
It is suggested that mothers prepare questions in advance, so that they don't have to be so confused, and the speed of seeing a doctor will be accelerated, so they don't have to spend so much time for the time being.