Many, if not most, women have pains and aches that continue for a short period of time after birth. There are several causes of pains and aches after birth. Most of these go away on their own without you having to do anything, but there are things you can do to lessen the pain or make it last for a shorter time.

Realizing and accepting that pain after birth is a big possibility is important because it helps cope better with it. The following are some methods you can do to deal with pain after birth.

Medication

The process of giving birth can be tiring, and so it is normal for new mothers to feel aches all over her body. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help you cope with this in the first few days after birth. Make sure you talk to your doctor first before taking any medication. Pain relievers are also helpful to deal with headaches that may arise from hormonal changes.

Ice

Vaginal birth can cause or tearing or lacerations in the area between the vagina and the rectum, which can be very painful in some cases. Applying an ice pack to the area can be greatly helpful in reducing the pain you may be experiencing.

Breastfeeding

If you are planning on breastfeeding your baby, you should also know that it can also help you reduce breast swelling, pain, and tenderness caused by engorgement. Engorgement occurs when your milk comes in and excess amounts are stored in the breasts. If you are not planning on breastfeeding your baby, you can use warm packs to reduce the tenderness and pain until your body stops producing milk. Using a breast pump can be useful for those who want to breastfeed and their baby is refusing to nurse at the time, but using it if you do not plan to breastfeed can only worsen the problem because it can stimulate your body to produce more milk.

Breastfeeding can also help with postpartum contraction that occur as your uterus is regaining its pre-pregnancy size. Breastfeeding actually stimulates the uterus to contract and cause pain, but increasing the frequency of feeds helps alleviate contractions.

Eating Healthy

Eating a healthy and balanced diet ensures you have all the nutrients your body needs to repair itself, which helps you recover more quickly. Additionally, ensuring your diet has fiber-rich fruits and vegetables can help you relieve constipation and all the pain that comes with it.

Hair Dryer

Using a towel to dry the area where birth tears and lacerations occurred can be painful and may even slow recovery, and not drying it at all can give rise to infection. You can use a hair dryer set on cool and on the lowest setting to dry the area.