After Pregnancy
Recovering from Delivery
Congratulations, Mom! Meeting your baby is one of the happiest times in a woman’s life, but it also presents both physical and emotional challenges. It is important to rest and take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. Learn more about recovering from delivery.
Call Mom and Baby Beginnings at 1-830-230-2034 to tell us when you have your child or pregnancy ends. You can also call your local Division of Family Resources (DFR) at 1-800-403-0864.
When to Call the Doctor
You should call your doctor about your postpartum health if you:
- Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above
- Soak more than one sanitary napkin an hour, pass large clots (larger than a quarter), or if the bleeding increases
- Had a C-section or episiotomy and the incision becomes very red or swollen or drains pus
- Have new pain, swelling, or tenderness in your legs
- Have hot-to-the-touch, reddened, sore breasts or any cracking or bleeding from the nipple or areola (the dark-colored area of the breast)
- Your vaginal discharge becomes foul-smelling
- Have painful urination, a sudden urge to pee, or are unable to control urination
- Have increasing pain in the vaginal area
- Have new or worsening belly pain
- Develop a cough or chest pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Have bad headaches or vision changes
- Become depressed or have hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, or any thoughts of harming your baby
Postpartum Checkup
Learn more about rewards for you and your baby.
Make sure to schedule a visit with your doctor 2-6 weeks after delivery. Your doctor will make sure you are recovering physically, see how you are doing emotionally, answer questions and address any needs you might have.
- Check your weight and blood pressure
- Check your belly for tenderness and your incision if you had a c-section
- Examine your breasts
- Inspect your external genitalia for healing from birth
- Do a speculum exam to check your vagina and cervix
- Do an internal exam to check that the uterus has shrunk appropriately
- Discuss how you are doing emotionally
- Discuss birth control options
- Discuss when it is safe to start having sex again
- Discuss when it is safe to get pregnant again
- Discuss when it is okay to return to work
Postpartum Depression
About 80% of women experience the “baby blues” which are feelings of sadness or mood swings in the first few days after childbirth. Changing hormone levels are thought to be the cause of the baby blues. Once these hormones even out the blues will get better. This usually takes about a week. If these feelings persist for longer than 2 weeks, talk with your doctor to determine if postpartum depression may be the cause of your low mood. Learn more about postpartum depression.
Infant Scales
Has your baby been in the NICU? We know that some high-risk infants need routine weight monitoring for the first few weeks or months. These weight checks can be vital for their continued health. Checking your baby’s weight is one of the easiest ways to make sure your baby is growing properly. It can also help show if there are health issues early. We offer home infant scales to eligible members. Please talk to your care manager or call Member Services at 1-844-607-2829 (TTY: 1-800-743-3333 or 711) to see if you are eligible and to learn more.
Follow Up Care for Your Baby
Don’t forget that it’s important to make sure you’re taking your baby to all of their well-baby visits. Follow up care is key for keeping your baby healthy. Call your baby’s provider to learn when they should go for a well-baby visit. You can also earn rewards when your baby completes these visits.
Women’s Health
Family Planning and Birth Control
You need to take time to heal your body between pregnancies. It is best to wait 18-24 months before getting pregnant again. The most effective birth control methods are long acting and reversible. This is called LARC (long-acting reversible contraception).
Benefits of LARC:
- Prevents pregnancy 99% of the time
- Easy, low-maintenance and convenient
- It can be inserted right after after childbirth, even while still in the hospital
- It does not interfere with breastfeeding
- Can last up to 10 or more years
- Does not affect your ability to get pregnant again
- Easily removable
- Supports healthy birth spacing and healthy pregnancies
- Safe for women of all ages
Types of LARC
LARC options are Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) and birth control implants. There are many types of options. CareSource covers a wide range of family planning services and medications. Please see your benefit grid for Healthy Indiana Plan or Hoosier Healthwise. You can also learn with our Find my Prescriptions tool.
You can learn more about your choices for LARC at the links below.
- LARC (Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive): Overview (clevelandclinic.org)
- Birth Control Method: Hormonal IUD & Copper IUD | ACOG
Do you think LARC might be the right choice for you? Do you want to learn more? Call your provider to set up a visit to talk about your options. You can find a provider at findadoctor.caresource.com.
Learn more about LARC and other birth control options with the resources below. Condoms are the best way to prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
- Contraception Explained
- STIs
- Home – PATH4YOU
- Contraception | Reproductive Health | CDC
- Birth control methods | Office on Women’s Health (womenshealth.gov)
- LARC Flyer (dhd10.org)
- Educational Materials | Beyond the Pill (ucsf.edu)
- Choose the Right Birth Control
Member Services: 1-844-607-2829 (TTY: 1-844-743-3333 or 711), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.