Why Post-Delivery & After Birth Obstetric Care is Important

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While the term postpartum generally refers to the first six weeks after childbirth, post-delivery and after birth obstetric care may carry on much longer than those first few weeks. This period of time is a time to celebrate and connect with your new bundle of joy, but also a time to focus on healing and to take care of yourselves post-childbirth. At OBGYN Specialists of Columbus, we provide the women of the Chattahoochee valley total obstetrician care conveniently in one location.

Here are three things (that may seem small, but are HUGE) to remember during those first weeks post-delivery.  

Things to Remember During the Post-Delivery Stage

Adjusting to motherhood after childbirth, whether it is your first pregnancy or you have multiple children, may be challenging. Like every pregnancy, no postpartum and afterbirth experience is alike. That’s why post-delivery care is so important to not only the mothers but the baby’s health as well. We know this may sound crazy, but every other mother and doctor will tell you to rest. Seriously, do it. The female body goes through so many emotional and physical changes during the growing and birthing of a baby that often those six weeks postpartum your body is extremely fatigued and needs rest.

Firstly, ask for help! Asking for help during those first few weeks from your partner or family can be so valuable. If you can rest and focus on feeding your baby and taking care of yourself, your recovering may be easier. Secondly, sleep when the baby sleeps. This is something many new mothers hear and disregard. Your newborn will wake to feed anywhere from every two to three hours, but mostly they will be sleeping. Take that time to rest your body and your mind.

Nutrition is also a key factor to remember during the post-delivery and afterbirth period. For nine months a woman is feeding not only herself but a growing child inside. Often many women put their nutrition on the back burner after delivery, focusing solely on the newborn’s needs. However, concentrating on your own nutrition and maintaining a balanced diet will give you more strength to deal with those long nights. Whether you choose to breastfeed your baby or not, staying hydrated is also very important to your overall health and nourishment. 

Individualized Postpartum and Obstetric Care in Columbus, Ga

We understand that the postpartum stage may be a little overwhelming, after all, your body has just created a new life (or lives). Taking care of yourself during this time is crucial and we are here to walk you through every step of the process, from your first positive pregnancy test to your last postpartum visit and everything in between. At OBGYN Specialists of Columbus, we pride ourselves on the individualized postpartum and after delivery care, we provide all our patients.

Contact our office today if you have any questions or concerns about your post-delivery appointment. 

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What You Need to Know About Preeclampsia

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Becoming pregnant may be an exciting moment in a woman’s life but it can also bring along various health risks. Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy that often requires premature delivery to prevent serious life-threatening complications both for the mother and for the baby. Consequently, significant health care costs are associated with preeclampsia. 

Here are several things you should know about this pregnancy complication:

Who is at Risk?

Preeclampsia affects 2-8% of all women’s pregnancy worldwide. Usually, it occurs after 20 weeks gestation (somewhere in the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters) but can occur up to six weeks postpartum (after delivery).  In rare cases, it can occur earlier than 20 weeks. Maintaining proper prenatal care is imperative for the detection of preeclampsia as well as maintaining a healthy pregnancy for mothers. You may be at higher risk for preeclampsia if:

  • You’ve had preeclampsia in pregnancies
  • Pregnant with twins or multiples
  • Suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney issues
  • Family history of the disorder
  • Are 35 or older
  • Have a BMI of 30 or higher

Preventing Preeclampsia: What works?

One strategy for preventing preeclampsia is the use of low-dose aspirin. Low dose Aspirin (81mg) started after the first trimester has been shown to reduce the risk of preeclampsia in high-risk women. Since not all women who develop preeclampsia have preexisting risk factors the question remains if low dose aspirin benefits even low-risk patients and would it be cost-effective. 

A recent study published in the August edition of  Obstetrics and Gynecology supports the use of low dose aspirin, even in women who have no risk factors for preeclampsia.  While further studies are warranted to directly compare outcomes with universal aspirin versus aspirin treatment restricted to high-risk patients it is reasonable to use low-dose aspirin in those women who would like to initiate such a preventative strategy.

OBGYN Specialist Prenatal Care

Let OBGYN Specialists of Columbus put your mind at ease during your pregnancy. Turn to our knowledgeable obstetric team and trust that Dr. Ruthann Rees will walk you through your pregnancy. Contact our office today if you’re interested in finding out more about our prenatal care services.

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