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Mom's Postpartum Health

Why New Moms Need Doctor Visits Too

By Renee Roberson

Women who have delivered by C-section may have to follow a different protocol than women who had vaginal births. "Most obstetricians request to see their C-section patients about two weeks after the operation," Dr. Nardone says. "This visit is intended to inspect the wound for infection and proper healing, remove any exposed stitches, staples or steri-strips if necessary and address any questions or issues the patient may have. Then they usually return for a full postpartum exam four to six weeks later."

Welch says that some doctors use staples on a C-section incision, while others use dissolvable stitches. It's typically up to the operating doctor on what will be used. If a patient has been given the kind of stitches that dissolve, they may not have to return to their practitioner until six weeks postpartum, as long as signs of an infection do not occur.

So what exactly can a woman expect at that first postpartum visit?

"We generally do a breast exam, abdominal exam to make sure the uterus is returning back to normal, look on the outside of the perineum, particularly if stitches had to be used, and make sure the cervix is back where it should be," Welch says. "We also ask questions about urination and bowel movements, and look for signs of postpartum depression."

While having more children is probably the last thing on a woman's mind after giving birth, the subject is usually one that comes up at the postpartum visit, if not sooner.

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