We finalise our care after the first week. More information about our care during this time can be found in the brochure ‘After the 1st week’. This means the care for you and your baby will be passed back to your family doctor. After the 1st week your doctor will be responsible for any medical matters concerning you and the baby.
Webinar
Our colleague Tineke van den Akker, in collaboration with the JGZ, gave a Dutch webinar about the first period after childbirth. The webinar will answer questions you did not even you know you had! Watch the webinar here.
Paediatric Health Centre
The Paediatric Health Centre (Part of the JGZ) will take over the care for your child. They can help with questions about (breast) feeding, health and parenting. On this website you can find details of your local Paediatric Health Centre. Here you can weigh your baby; the centre will usually have specific times for this. Ask for more information at the health centre or the representative who will visit you at your home after the postnatal period.
Pelvic floor and pelvic pain
During the first 6 weeks after childbirth, your body goes through a great deal of recovery. A few weeks following the birth it is important to exercise your pelvic floor muscles. Under the brochures & links header on our website you can find information about pelvic floor recovery and the relevant exercises. You can also find a brochure containing tips for relieving back and pelvic pain.
Full recovery
Although most of the recovery takes place during the first 6 weeks after the birth, it does not mean you’re ‘done’ after 6 weeks. Full recovery after childbirth can take up to a year. The rate of recovery varies for each woman. Please consider that many (physical) activities are still impossible during this time, may feel different or need to be undertaken at a slower pace. This is completely normal. If you expect too much of yourself too soon, this can cause disappointment. Be especially careful with jumping and running during the first 4-6 months. It is better to wait a little longer in order to avoid problems.
Pink cloud or not?
Because you are busy caring for your newborn, the changes in your life, hormones and your body is still recovering, you can feel different mentally as well. Women regularly experience low moods and 10% of women develop postnatal depression. The most important thing is not to ignore these feelings but rather face them and share them with the people close to you. If you feel you still need help, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or seek support in another way. Helpful advice: not everyone experiences the ‘pink cloud’ and even if you do, you will not feel like this all the time. It is completely normal not to experience joy continuously and to also have moments where you are struggling. You can read more about this in the brochure ‘where is the pink cloud’.
