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Written by: Favour Francis | Reviewed by: Dr. Ortega Ogomigo
Introduction
You sit on the edge of the bed, the morning sun spilling across the floor. Your baby sleeps peacefully, but you cannot say the same for yourself. Your back aches, a strange heaviness pulls at your insides, and when you try to laugh at something small, a sudden leak down there makes you freeze.
‘Is this supposed to go away?’ You whisper under your breath. Friends and relatives have said that once the baby is out, everything will be fine. Yet here you are, weeks after giving birth, feeling like your body belongs to someone else.
Here’s the thing: you are not weak, nor have you done anything wrong. Childbirth is not just the end of pregnancy; it is the start of a new chapter for your body. For some women, the story of recovery is quick. For others, it could take a while, testing patience, strength, and courage in ways no one talks about.
To help you understand better, this article will cover two major areas that every Nigerian mother should know about after childbirth:
- Common health problems following childbirth, and why they happen.
- How postpartum health issues can be managed safely at home, and when it is time to speak with a doctor.
Common Health Problems Following Childbirth and Why They Happen
More than changing the size of your stomach, childbirth affects muscles, blood levels, hormones, joints, and even the brain. While some women recover quickly, others notice certain symptoms refusing to go away. This isn’t necessarily a result of a weak system, but because recovery after delivery is a gradual repair process.
Here are some of the common ones many mothers quietly live with:
1. Urine leakage
Urine leakage, medically called urinary incontinence, is one of the most common effects of vaginal delivery. This small leak often happens unexpectedly, sometimes while laughing with friends, chasing after your toddler, jumping during exercise, or even coughing.
This problem is very common, as studies from the Nigerian Institute of Health have found that about 1 in every 4 to 2 in every 5 mothers in Nigeria experience urine leakage after delivery, especially within the first year.
But why does postpartum urine leakage happen?
You see, during delivery, the muscles supporting the bladder stretch like elastic beyond their normal limit. Sometimes they return to full strength, sometimes they don’t, especially after a long labour, tearing, or delivering a big baby.
So, because other mothers who snap back easily say, ‘it happens to everyone’, many women accept it as permanent, and try to live with the discomfort. But it isn’t supposed to be. Urine leakage can be greatly improved with proper pelvic floor exercises and guidance, even months after childbirth.
2. Pelvic Organ Prolapse (A heavy or “falling” feeling in the vagina)
Many mothers in Nigeria describe it as sitting on a small ball or feeling a dragging weight low in the pelvis, especially after standing for a long time or doing chores like cooking or washing. Some notice it more when lifting their baby or walking around the house. It can feel uncomfortable, and sometimes even painful, making daily tasks a little harder than before.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse happens when the muscles that hold up the womb, bladder, and bowel become weak after delivery. So, instead of keeping everything in place, the organs press downward, which leads to that heavy or ‘falling’ sensation.
Funny enough, many women assume it is an infection, or say their body is ‘not yet tight’. But in reality, it is a physical support issue, which health experts have confirmed several times. The earlier it is noticed and treated with exercises or medical guidance, the easier it is to manage and relieve discomfort.
3. Persistent back and waist pain
Many mothers blame this pain on an epidural, but that’s not usually the cause. While it’s normal to feel some soreness at the epidural site, that normally fades after a few days. Even women who don’t have an epidural often experience lower back pain, medically called Postpartum Musculoskeletal or Pelvic Girdle Pain. It often starts during pregnancy and continues even after delivery.
During pregnancy, hormones soften the joints so the pelvis can open for birth. After delivery, those joints don’t immediately tighten again, leaving them unstable. Then, everyday movements make it worse, like:
- carrying the baby mostly on one side
- bending repeatedly during bathing or chores
- sitting or breastfeeding in one position for long periods
The body starts compensating for this instability, and the lower back ends up bearing the stress. Many Nigerian mothers rely on pain balms or hot water massages for months, sometimes years, when simple guided exercises from a healthcare professional could fix the problem at its root.
4. Postpartum Anaemia
Here, you wake up already exhausted, and small activities like climbing stairs or sweeping make your heart race. Dizziness comes suddenly, and you may feel weak most of the day.
In many homes, this is brushed off as the stress of motherhood. But after delivery, blood loss can keep iron levels low for a long time, leading to some mothers remaining anaemic for months without knowing. So, if you feel constantly exhausted months after delivery, it could be due to postpartum anaemia.
And because caring for a newborn is already tiring, these signs blend into everyday life, and mothers are then forced to live with them.
5. Mood changes that don’t go away
Everyone expects a few emotional days after childbirth. But many are not aware that these emotions can extend into weeks or even months. Instead of joy, a mother may feel:
- unusually angry
- constantly worried that something bad would happen
- disconnected from the baby
- overwhelmed for no clear reason
This does not make you a bad mother in any way. In fact, the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, in an article, showed that about 1 in 5 mothers experiences significant postpartum depression or other mood disorders, yet many never seek help because they fear being judged as ungrateful or ‘not strong enough for motherhood’.
Society often misses the fact that this is not a character issue. After delivery, hormone levels can drop while sleep disappears. The brain needs time to rebalance and, many times, it needs support to get there.
6. Postpartum Hypertension
Some women develop high blood pressure during pregnancy (gestational hypertension), and after delivery, they may feel completely fine, so they assume the problem has ended. But in some cases, it doesn’t fully go away.
Months later, it may show up as frequent headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, or unusual fatigue. Because the pregnancy is already over, it can be difficult to link the symptoms back to blood pressure.
Doctors in Nigeria have observed that many mothers stop checking their blood pressure after delivery. This stems from the common belief that once the baby is born, the body will quickly return to its old state. But the body may still be adjusting, and some conditions need monitoring beyond childbirth.
In all, childbirth does not damage the body; it only stretches it beyond its usual limits. Most of these health issues are manageable when detected early. They become serious mainly when they are ignored for too long.
How Postpartum Health Issues Can Be Managed Safely at Home
Many postpartum changes improve with simple, consistent care. The key is knowing what you can handle safely at home, and what needs medical attention.
What Can Be Managed Safely at Home:
1. Urinary Incontinence
If the leakage is small and happens only when coughing or laughing, pelvic floor exercises (often called Kegel exercises) can help strengthen the muscles.
How to perform the Kegel exercise
- Tighten the muscles you would use to stop urine.
- Hold for a few seconds.
- Relax and repeat several times a day.
Improvement takes weeks, so consistency is important.
2. Postpartum Musculoskeletal
For this, simple posture adjustments can make a big difference. A few things to consider:
- Avoid carrying your baby on only one side.
- Sit upright while breastfeeding, with back support.
- Bend your knees instead of your waist when lifting.
Gentle stretching and guided exercises from a health professional are more effective than relying only on balms or massage.
3. Mild Fatigue
If tiredness is not severe, start with:
- Eating iron-rich foods (greens, beans, liver, red meat).
- Staying hydrated.
- Resting whenever possible.
If symptoms improve with nutrition and rest, it may just be recovery. If not, a simple blood test may be needed.
4. Emotional Changes Within the First Two Weeks
Mood swings in the early days after delivery are common.
So, for this, try:
- Talking openly with someone you trust.
- Sleeping whenever the baby sleeps.
- Accepting help with chores.
If emotions begin to ease within two weeks, it is often part of normal adjustment.
When Is It Time to Speak with a Doctor About Postpartum Health Issues?
Once you notice any of the following, please consult a doctor:
- Urine leakage that worsens or does not improve after weeks of exercises
- A strong “falling” sensation or visible bulge in the vagina
- Severe back pains
- Dizziness, fainting, or very fast heartbeat
- Constant sadness, anger, fear, or thoughts that disturb you
- Repeated high blood pressure readings
- Severe headaches or blurred vision
If something feels unusual or persists beyond a few weeks, it is worth checking.
From the Desk of KOYO Doctors
Motherhood changes your body in ways that are not always visible or easy to explain. If something feels different, uncomfortable, or simply ‘not like before’, that feeling is valid.
You do not need to have the perfect words before speaking to a doctor. Even if all you can say is, ‘Something doesn’t feel right’, that is enough to start the conversation.
Through KoyoHealthTechNigeria, you can speak with licensed doctors online, ask questions privately, and get guidance without leaving your home. Many times, early advice makes all the difference.
We understand the struggles attached to birthing a baby, so you are not expected to figure everything out alone.
