During pregnancy, your body goes through significant changes and continues to adjust after giving birth.

When you arrive home from the hospital with your newborn baby, it can be easy to focus on the baby and forget about your need for continuing, or post-partum, care. It is important for you to take care of yourself during the postpartum period to ensure that your body has a full recovery.

Being in good health helps a mother care more effectively for her baby. And good health includes good mental health. As many as 15% of new mothers experience postpartum mood disorders, including postpartum depression (PPD). Anchorage Women’s Clinic has an on-site licensed counselor available to help women during pregnancy and after delivery.

The postpartum period generally lasts about six weeks. Individuals’ experiences can differ, particularly regarding mood swings and depression, which may occur as long as a year. The type of care a woman receives after giving birth depends on the route of delivery. Typically, a follow-up exam is needed six weeks after a vaginal delivery or two weeks after a C-section.