Navigating the Essential Six-Week Postpartum Checkup

Are you fascinated by all the aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood that often go unspoken? Welcome to the "Asking for a Pregnant Friend" podcast, your go-to source for taboo, intriguing, and essential topics surrounding motherhood. Based on the book of the same name, our podcast delves into the lesser-discussed areas of pregnancy, birth, and mothering with expert interviews, personal stories, and all the TMI details from your host, Bailey Gaddis.

In this episode, we focus on one of the most crucial exams new mothers face: the six-week postpartum checkup. Learn what to expect during this vital visit, from physical exams to mental health assessments. Discover why this appointment is key for confirming your physical and emotional well-being and get tips on preparing for the checkup. We'll also discuss postpartum birth control options, the importance of mental health screenings, and when it's safe to resume sexual activity.

Join us on this journey into the beautiful underbelly of making, growing, and raising babies. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and comment to keep this valuable content coming your way!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Are you someone who is fascinated by all the pregnancy, childbirth,
and motherhood stuff few people talk about because they're too embarrassed?
If so, welcome to the motherload of all things taboo, or at least really wild and interesting.
The Asking for a Pregnant Friend podcast is based off the book of the same name

(00:21):
and dives in to all of the pregnancy, birth, and mothering topics that make
many people blush or scratch their heads.
I do all the boring research so you don't have to and bring you interviews with
the leading experts in the topics I cover.
I also share all the things about myself, Bailey Gaddis.

(00:43):
I'm all about TMI.
You'll also hear stories from brave women who gave permission to have their
stories shared. So come along, my friend, on a journey into the beautiful underbelly
of making, growing, and raising babies.
Music.

(01:09):
One of the most important exams that women have on the journey of welcoming
a baby into this world is the six-week postpartum checkup.
And I'm speaking of the checkup for the mom, not the baby.
And this exam is so important not only to confirm your physical health,

(01:32):
but your mental health as So what can you expect?
Okay, so a physical exam is one of the major aspects of this six-week postpartum visit.
So of course, they'll check your vitals, your weight, your blood pressure, your pulse.
They'll feel your abdomen, you know, to make sure that your uterus has shrunk

(01:55):
back down, just making sure, you know, all your organs are in the right place.
And if you had a c-section, they're going to check the incision site.
If you had an episiotomy, if you had a vaginal tear, they'll also check that
incision site, make sure the stitches have fully dissolved.

(02:16):
If you had stitches or just made sure the skin is healed up,
if you did not have the stitches, you will get a breast exam to make sure there's
no lumps, tenderness, any strange breast discharge.
Of course, at this time, you can also let them know if there's anything,
if you're breastfeeding, if there's anything wonky going on with that.
However, I do recommend seeing a lactation specialist if you really are having breastfeeding issues.

(02:41):
You will also have a vaginal exam.
So they will inspect your genitalia, including the perineum,
making sure that everything is healed up.
They will do a speculum exam. If you need a pap smear, if you're due for one,
they will do that at this time.
But even if you're not, they're still going to check your vagina,
your cervix to make sure there wasn't any injury during during childbirth and

(03:07):
then they're also manually going to check your your thyroid glands to help to
make sure that they're a normal size.
If they're not that can be the cause of some hormonal irregularities this is
also just a good time for you to share how you've been feeling if you've been
having any strange physical symptoms that you're curious about.

(03:31):
So I really recommend keeping a list of all of the questions you come up with
leading up to that six-week visit so you can make sure that you don't forget
them and you get all of your questions answered.
With that said, if you have something that's like really pressing,
something that you're really concerned about before that six-week visit,
you definitely want to call and let your care provider know.

(03:53):
You don't just hold that in until the six-week visit. And this is usually the
visit where the care provider will let you know if you are cleared to have sex again. And...
Pro tip, even if you're physically ready to have sex, if you are like,
I'm not emotionally ready, I'm not mentally ready, you don't have to tell your

(04:18):
partner that you got the go-ahead.
I feel like a little white lie in this regard is fine. You can tell them,
they think that my vagina needs a little bit more time to heal.
I'll let you know when I'm cleared to have sex.
But if you are ready to like jump back in the sack, this is also a good time
to talk with your care provider about birth control options.

(04:39):
So if you're breastfeeding, they're not going to want to put you on a combination
birth control pill because the hormones in those pills or in a hormonal IUD
can mess with the milk production.
So one thing you could do is what's called a mini pill. It's the progesterone only pill.
This is a pill where like you have to take it at the exact same time every day or else it won't work.

(05:04):
You know, even if you like take it accidentally 12 hours later than you did
the day before, then you could potentially ovulate.
So you have to be really, really careful with this one. When I was on it,
I also had a lot of breakthrough bleeding. So it doesn't work great for everyone.
Obviously, condoms are a great option. And if you're not breastfeeding,
you can really do whatever type of birth control you want.

(05:27):
Okay, something else that is really important during this visit is checking
in about your your mental and emotional health so they a lot of care providers
they give you like a questionnaire that you need to fill out.
But and i know it can feel uncomfortable for some people to share you know about
their emotions but it can be really really important to let your care provider

(05:50):
know if you know you've been feeling really depressed really anxious if you've
been having ocd symptoms you know because even if you think, oh,
this is probably just like a normal postpartum symptom,
you might be experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety or OCD or something else.
So it's really, it's for your own benefit to let your care provider know all

(06:13):
of it so that you can get proper support.
All right. If you need any immunizations, anything like that,
this can also be a good time to do that if that's something that you are supportive of.
And then with exercise, this is also a great time to ask your care provider,
what kind of exercise can I start doing? What am I cleared for?

(06:35):
All right, if you have any questions about this or anything else related to
pregnancy, childbirth, early motherhood, let me know in the comments.
If you can like, subscribe, comment, that would be so incredibly helpful.
That will allow me to keep providing this content for you guys. All right. Love you.
Is pregnancy or early motherhood making you feel other than?

(06:58):
Is it triggering all sorts of weird emotional and physical stuff you are sure
no one else is going through?
If so, get your copy of Asking for a Pregnant Friend, 101 Answers to Questions
Women Are are too embarrassed to ask about pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood.
This book is like the modern day Dear Abby for pregnant women and new moms who

(07:21):
want to get straight yet loving answers to the pregnancy, birth,
and mothering questions they're too afraid to ask, those questions that make you blush.
You can get your copy of Asking for a Pregnant Friend on Amazon or from Barnes
& Noble, Target, and everywhere else books are sold.
Music.