Pregnancy Health

After Childbirth: Continuing to Care for Yourself in the Postpartum Period

Sep 11, 2026

5 min read

By Amy Agarwal, MA. Medical Reviewer(s): Ashley Wright, RN

Bringing your baby home is an exciting time. But this time can also be overwhelming. You’re balancing big changes in your new life with your newborn, but your body is continuing to go through big changes, too.

During the 12 weeks after you give birth, which is called the postpartum period or the fourth trimester, your body is recovering from being pregnant and from childbirth. And, while your body is recovering, you’re also dealing with new responsibilities, with sleepless nights, and with hormonal and emotional shifts. Thinking about self-care may seem like an impossible luxury at this time, but it needs to be a major priority. It is not about being selfish, it’s about being strategic for the long-term health and well-being of your family.

In the US, 87 to 94% of new moms report a health problem during the fourth trimester (Columbia University) and 53% of pregnancy-related deaths occur between one week and up to a year after delivery (Dembosky). This is why it is so important to take care of yourself after your baby is born.

In this blog, we will explain common postpartum health issues and explore how you can identify potential health issues early so you can get the care you need.

Understanding the Postpartum Period

During the postpartum period, your body is shifting from supporting your pregnancy to recovering from childbirth and returning to your pre-pregnancy body. This is a big deal and some health complications can occur suddenly and get worse quickly if left untreated, so continuing to monitor your health is critical. Below, we explain the most urgent physical health issues, other common physical conditions, as well as mental health conditions that can occur during this time.

Urgent Health Complications

The three most urgent complications, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), relate to bleeding, blood pressure, and infection. These conditions can quickly worsen, so if you notice any signs of these, it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Bleeding: In the first few weeks after childbirth, your uterus will contract to its pre-pregnant size. It is normal to have some vaginal bleeding and discharge while this is happening. However, if your bleeding becomes so heavy that you are soaking through one or more pads in an hour, or if it continues for more than 6 weeks, you may have a serious condition called postpartum hemorrhage. Postpartum hemorrhage usually occurs right after delivery, but it can also happen any time up to 12 weeks later. Contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing this type of heavy or long-lasting bleeding.

Blood Pressure: Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure, is a common complication related to pregnancy. But while preeclampsia often begins during pregnancy—postpartum preeclampsia can start or continue after you give birth. Left untreated, preeclampsia can cause seizures, stroke, and/or organ damage or failure. That is why it is important to monitor your blood pressure and other symptoms (including upper or lower belly and shoulder pain, nausea or vomiting, persistent headaches, respiratory issues, swelling and sudden weight gain, and vision changes). If your blood pressure is 140+ mm HG systolic or 90+ mm Hg diastolic, contact your healthcare provider.

Infections: Pregnancy lowers your body’s ability to manage infections and childbirth increases your risk of infection. Endometritis, which is a serious infection of the uterine lining, can cause your body to become septic or go into shock, and it can cause organ damage or failure. Add in “is”Endometritis usually occurs within a week of childbirth, but it can also happen for up to six weeks. Urinary tract infections and infections in the perineal area (the area between your vagina and your anus) or at the site of the Cesarean incision are also common. Fever, fatigue, pain in a particular area (like at the site of your incision or in your belly), and abnormal discharge (foul-smelling and/or discolored) are all signs of potential infection. If you have any of these, contact your healthcare provider so they can examine and treat you.

Other Common Physical Conditions

While the following conditions are not immediately life-threatening, they can have a big impact on your recovery and well-being.

Problems with Urination and Bowel Movements: Urinary and bowel problems are common during the postpartum period. You may leak pee, have trouble passing stools (constipation), or have hemorrhoids (bumps around your anus that can be itchy or painful). Physical therapy can help you manage these issues.

Pain: Pain in the belly, back, perineal area, or at the incision site of a Cesarean section are all common in the fourth trimester. Managing this pain is important for supporting your overall recovery, well-being, and ability to care for your baby.

Breast Issues: After delivery, your breasts will fill with milk—whether or not you decide to breastfeed. As a result, your breasts may become swollen, hard, painful, and even infected. And, if you are breastfeeding your nipples can become cracked, sore, and bleed. Learn more about preventing and managing breastfeeding issues in our previous blog, How to Prepare for Breastfeeding Before Your Baby Arrives.

Other Issues: You are also at risk for other health issues—such as anemia, blood clots, and thyroid problems—during the fourth trimester.

Mental Health Conditions

Mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy, but are often left untreated. It is important to know when you need to talk to a professional.

The "baby blues," are most common, affecting up to 85% of new moms in the US (Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance). If you have the baby blues, you may feel sad, overwhelmed, or both—but this should only last for a few days and then stop without any treatment. If you feel this way for more than two weeks, you should contact your healthcare team.

Postpartum depression is much more serious, lasts longer than the baby blues, and often requires medication and/or counseling. If you have postpartum depression, you may feel anxious, ashamed, helpless, or hopeless. It may be harder for you to do the things you used to do every day (like eating or sleeping) or you may stop finding joy in activities that used to make you happy. You may even have thoughts about harming yourself or your baby, and in rare cases, this depression can lead to suicide.

In the US, postpartum depression rates have doubled—from 9% to 19%—between 2010 and 2021 (Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health). Part of this increase may be because of better health services around identifying this condition, but this increase still highlights an urgent need for mental health support. If your depression lasts for more than two weeks, or if you experience any of the symptoms described here related to postpartum depression, get help right away.

The Importance of Postpartum Monitoring: Example Case Studies

Identifying and getting treated for postpartum conditions early can prevent them becoming serious and even fatal. The following illustrative case studies show how tracking symptoms can ensure healthy outcomes.

Vaginal Discharge and Cramps

Case: After a routine vaginal birth, Maya experienced what she thought was normal vaginal discharge and cramps. After nearly a week of foul-smelling discharge, her cramps got more painful and she had a high fever. Maya had been tracking her symptoms daily, and when she reviewed her logs, she noticed that her symptoms were getting worse. She called her healthcare provider, who instructed her to come to the health facility immediately and tested her for endometritis. Because Maya identified her problem early, her provider was able to treat the infection before it became serious.

Lesson: Abnormal discharge, pain in the belly and/or cramping that won’t go away, and fever are all signs of infection. Tracking these symptoms regularly can help new moms tell the difference between regular discomfort and issues that may require urgent medical care. And, having a record of these symptoms can make it easier for you to explain your situation to your healthcare provider and can help your healthcare provider better diagnose and treat you.

Emotions that Overtake Routine Activities

Case: George and his wife, Mary, were thrilled to be having their first child. A few days after coming home from the hospital, George found his wife crying. She explained that she felt overwhelmed, but quickly returned to her normal self. This happened again and again for a couple more weeks, but they both thought this was just the "baby blues” that they heard about from friends. But, after more than a month, Mary became crankier and George noticed she was barely sleeping or eating. Mary then told George that didn’t feel like she was bonding with their baby, which made her feel guilty and hopeless. George helped Mary realize that talking to their doctor could help. Mary’s doctor connected her with a counselor who diagnosed Mary with postpartum depression and helped her access therapy and medication to treat her condition.

Lesson: When emotions start to affect basic activities, like eating and sleeping, professional help is critical. Tracking mood and logging eating and sleeping routines can help families and healthcare providers tell the difference between the “baby blues” and postpartum depression or another mental health condition that needs professional support.

How Tracking Your Health Can Help

Postpartum conditions cannot always be prevented, but you can reduce your risk of these conditions becoming serious or even fatal by seeking care early. This is one reason why attending all of your scheduled postnatal care appointments is important. However, your body is changing rapidly at this time, and many of these changes happen between those postnatal appointments, which is why tracking your health yourself is also critical.

Digital monitoring tools, like the BobiHealth app, can help you easily track your symptoms and know when something may be wrong. And let’s be honest, between baby brain and sleepless nights, you need something to be easy. Also, when you have a clear record of your health, you can share the information with your healthcare provider so they can give you the best care possible.

Tracking Key Health Data with BobiHealth

BobiHealth’s pregnancy platform—which goes beyond kick counts, weight gain, and contraction timers—already makes tracking a variety of vitals and symptoms easy. While the app was initially designed to support better pregnancy health, many of the features are also useful for tracking postpartum health issues. For instance, the BobiHealth app offers:

Blood Pressure Tracking: Blood pressure is one of the most important vitals to track, as high blood pressure is a sign of preeclampsia, which can occur during pregnancy and after childbirth and which can lead to dangerous complications.

Temperature Tracking: A fever is often a warning sign of an infection, such as endometritis, which is a serious complication in the postpartum period.

Symptom Reporting: There are a variety of common recovery symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding and discharge, fatigue, pain and discomfort (including in the belly, back, breast, and more), problems urinating and with bowel movements, and other issues can be signs of a serious postpartum health complication.

Mood Tracking: Mental health is a critical component of overall health and well-being, especially during recovery, and tracking your mood regularly, makes it easy to see when a single bad day turns into a pattern of anxiety, depression, or similar.

BobiHealth’s New Postpartum Dashboard

Our latest update adds a new postpartum dashboard, which allows new parents to track their newborn’s health information alongside the new mom’s own health information. While mom’s health tools seamlessly carry forward from the pregnancy dashboard, the postpartum dashboard adds new features to help you easily log, track, and share your baby’s day-to-day essentials.

Baby Health and Growth Log: Track your baby’s physical health and development by logging key metrics like weight, height, and basic vitals over time. These trends provide quick peace of mind and help you monitor early progress between checkups.
Baby Sleep Log: By logging when your newborn sleeps, the app can help you identify their sleep pattern. This can help you plan your own rest periods, because rest is key for your physical recovery and your mental health.
Baby Feeding Tracker: Whether breastfeeding or formula feeding, this tracker allows you to log the amount, frequency, and duration of feedings. This information is important for tracking your baby’s growth and development. If you’re breastfeeding, this can also help you understand and manage breast issues.
Baby Diaper Change Log: Tracking diaper changes alongside feeding can help make sure your baby is hydrated and feeding enough.

Baby Medical Appointment Schedule: Track past and upcoming pediatric visits, vaccination dates, and health checkup notes in one central hub. Keeping appointment details handy ensures you never miss a milestone and makes sharing information with your baby's doctor seamless.

Understanding What Digital Health Trackers Can and Cannot Do

Being able to identify health issues early and quickly seek medical care can be lifesaving. Digital tools can help you identify an issue and help you explain what you’re experiencing with your healthcare provider who in turn is able to give you the customized care you need. And, when you know about risks and warning signs, you are able to make better decisions for yourself and your family. BobiHealth’s health tracking tools, educational resources, and other integrated features makes this easy.

However, it is important that you enter your vitals and symptoms consistently and correctly. It is also important to remember that while digital health tools can help you identify symptoms of potential health issues during your pregnancy and in the postpartum period, they cannot prevent all possible conditions and complications, and they do not replace the need for routine visits with your healthcare provider.

Being able to track your health at home is particularly helpful if you are not able to get to your healthcare provider easily, for instance if the nearest health facility is far away or if you have trouble taking time off work or getting transportation to the health facility. But the app does not replace the need to see your healthcare provider regularly. Use the app in combination with your routine postnatal appointments so that together, you and your care team can make the best decisions for you and your family.

Plan for the Postpartum Period Now

The postpartum period is a vital time for your recovery and your baby's growth. Whether you just gave birth or you’re still looking forward to the big day, BobiHealth is here to help. With simple tracking tools and the information that you want on demand, you can easily watch out for signs and symptoms of complications throughout your pregnancy and recovery while also staying on top of your baby’s health and development.

Save this article now and share it with your partner. Then, download the BobiHealth App and start monitoring your health today.

Useful Terms

Here are definitions of a few terms we use in this blog. It may be helpful to read these definitions so you know what they mean if your healthcare provider uses these words with you.

Endometritis: Endometritis is an infection of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus. This infection commonly occurs after a Cesarean section or a long labor. Common signs include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, fevers or chills, pain in the belly or pelvic region, and pain during sexual intercourse. Endometritis can be treated with antibiotics but can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

Perineal area: The perineal area is the area between your vagina and your anus. The skin and tissue beneath in this area are important parts of your pelvic system supporting urination and bowel movements, sexual activity, and childbirth. During childbirth, this area stretches and can tear or may be cut to allow for delivery, which makes it vulnerable to infection.

Postpartum depression: Postpartum depression is a common health problem. A person with postpartum depression may feel sad, worried, or numb after having a baby and they may struggle to care for their baby or for themselves. In some cases, people with postpartum depression have thoughts of harming themselves or their babies. This can be very scary, and it is important to talk to a mental health professional who can provide medication and/or therapy to help.

Postpartum hemorrhage: Postpartum hemorrhage is continuous and/or severe vaginal bleeding that can occur after childbirth. It usually happens immediately after delivery, but it can also happen anytime in the postpartum period. While some bleeding is normal, if this bleeding becomes so heavy that you are soaking through one or more pads in an hour, or if it continues for more than 6 weeks, contact your healthcare professional immediately.

Postpartum period or the fourth trimester: The 12 weeks after you give birth is called the postpartum period or the fourth trimester. During this time, your body is recovering from being pregnant and from childbirth. While in this recovery period, you remain at risk of a variety of physical and mental health complications, so continuing to take care of your body and your mind is crucial.

‍Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a health condition that can happen during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum. Preeclampsia happens when your blood pressure is too high and can lead to dangerous complications. Read our blog, What You Need to Know About Preeclampsia, to learn more.

Urinary tract infection (UTI): A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection of any of part of the urinary system, such as the bladder, kidney, and urethra. Common signs of a UTI include pain or a burning feeling when peeing and feeling a need to pee all the time. UTIs can be treated with medication, and they can become serious and affect a pregnancy if they are not treated.

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