The woman's first consultation after childbirth should be about 10 days after the baby is born, when the gynecologist or obstetrician who accompanied her during pregnancy will assess recovery after childbirth and her general health.
Postpartum consultations are important to identify problems such as changes in the thyroid and high blood pressure, helping the woman to recover and facilitating the return to the normal daily routine.
What are consultations for
Follow-up appointments for women after the baby is born are important to detect problems such as anemia, urinary tract infection, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid problems and thrombosis, in addition to assessing breastfeeding and vagina recovery in case of normal delivery, and the points of the surgery, in case of cesarean section.
These consultations also help to identify infections in the mother that may end up being passed on to the baby, in addition to the doctor being able to assess the mother's emotional state and diagnose cases of postpartum depression, when psychotherapy is required.
When to consult
In general, the first consultation should be done about 10 days after delivery, when the doctor will assess the woman's recovery and order further tests.
The second visit occurs at the end of the first month, and then the frequency decreases to about 2 to 3 times a year. However, if any problem is detected, consultations should be more frequent, and it may also be necessary to follow up with other professionals, such as an endocrinologist or psychologist. See also the 7 Tests that the newborn should do.
When to take contraceptives
To avoid a new pregnancy, the woman may choose to take a contraceptive pill specific to this stage of life, which contains only the hormone progesterone, and should be started about 15 days after delivery.
This pill should be taken daily, with no interval between cartons, and should be replaced by conventional pills when the baby starts to breastfeed only 1 or 2 times a day or when the doctor recommends it. See more about what contraceptives to take while breastfeeding.
