Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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We are very sorry that your baby has died. We want to support and help you during this very sad and difficult time for you, your partner, and your family.
We know that you may not be thinking about your own care right now. However, looking after yourself is an important part of getting better. This page gives you some helpful information about how your body may recover. If you have any questions, please talk to your midwife.
How long you stay in hospital will depend on what you need. We hope you will be able to stay in the Bereavement Suite, where your partner can stay with you. You will also have access to a phone and some private facilities.
After you go home, your community midwife will usually visit you to check how you are doing.
- In the first 2 days after the birth, your bleeding will be red and quite heavy. You will likely need to change your sanitary pads every 2 to 4 hours.
- The bleeding will slowly get lighter and change colour. It will become less red over about 7 to 10 days.
- You may notice heavier bleeding when you start to move around more. This is normal as long as it becomes lighter again quickly and does not flow like water.
- If you pass any large blood clots, please try to keep them in a plastic bag so your midwife can check them. Large clots are about 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) wide.
- The bleeding may carry on, in different amounts, for 3 to 4 weeks. Speak to your GP if it lasts longer than this, stays heavy, or becomes bright red again.
Your perineum is the area between your vagina and your back passage (anus). It may feel sore and bruised after birth, whether you have stitches or not.
If you have stitches, they will dissolve on their own. This usually takes 7 to 10 days. By this time, the area should be healing.
These tips can help you care for yourself:
- Always wash your hands before and after going to the toilet or changing your pads.
- Change your pads at least every 4 hours.
- As the bleeding gets lighter, you can use thinner pads.
- Have a bath or shower every day.
- Use plain (non-scented) soap or just water to wash.
- Wash from front to back if you can, using running water.
- Gently pat the area dry with a towel just for this area.
- Wear disposable pants or cotton underwear to help keep the area cool and dry.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes.
- You can take pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen (follow the instructions on the packet). Ask for stronger pain relief if you need it.
- You can add a small amount of lavender or tea tree oil to your bath if you like (no more than 8 drops in total). Mix it first with milk, oil, or a small amount of spirit (like gin or vodka) before adding it to the bath. It may help you feel more relaxed, even though it doesn’t speed up healing.
- You may find cooling gel pads helpful when you get home. These are kept in the freezer and worn for 30 minutes at a time, then removed for 30 minutes before using again. They can help reduce swelling and make sitting more comfortable. You can buy them from some pharmacies and baby shops. They are not used in hospital because there are no freezers available.
- A valley cushion may help if it is uncomfortable to sit. You can hire one for home use from the National Childbirth Trust. A soft cushion may also help, but do not use an air ring, as it can reduce blood flow to the area.
- If you have grazes that sting, try pouring water over the area while you pass urine. You can use a clean jug with warm water while sitting on the toilet. A new, clean plant spray can also be used.
- You can also try sitting the other way round on the toilet and leaning forward. This may help direct the urine away from the sore area.
Things to avoid
- Do not use scented products in your bath until the area has healed.
- Do not add salt to the water, as it does not help healing.
- Do not use a hairdryer to dry the area.
- Piles (also called haemorrhoids) are common after giving birth. They usually get better within a few weeks. Creams or medicines can help, and your midwife or GP can advise you.
- Opening your bowels after birth may feel a bit scary, but it is very unlikely to harm your stitches. You may find it helpful to gently hold a pad or tissue against the area for support.
- Try to eat healthy foods and drink plenty of fluids. Fruit and fibre can help stop constipation.
- If you have not opened your bowels after 2 to 3 days, you can use a laxative. Keep using it until your bowel habits return to normal.
- Some pain medicines (like codeine) can make constipation worse.
- Try to pass urine regularly. This helps your womb shrink back to normal and can reduce bleeding. It also helps you regain control of your bladder.
- Try to go to the toilet every 3 to 4 hours so your bladder does not get too full. It is normal to pass a lot of urine after giving birth.
- Doing pelvic floor exercises at least 3 to 4 times a day will help you regain control more quickly.
- Try to eat healthy foods to help your body heal.
- Your breasts may feel full, heavy, and swollen when your milk comes in. Sometimes doctors give medicine to help stop this.
- To feel more comfortable, you can use chilled savoy cabbage leaves. Wash them and keep them in the fridge. Gently press or prick the leaves, then place them over your breasts, avoiding the nipples. Leave them on for about 20 minutes, then change them. Repeat until your breasts feel better. Pain relief can also help.
- You may feel pains in your lower tummy for 2 to 3 days. These are called “afterpains” and happen as your womb shrinks back to normal. They can feel stronger if you have had children before. Pain relief may help.
- Your ankles may swell after the birth. This is normal and should get better after about a week.
- Sometimes varicose veins can become sore after the birth. If you are worried, speak to your GP.
- Very rarely, your calf (lower leg) may become swollen and very painful. This could be a serious problem. If you notice this, contact your midwife or GP straight away.
- Heavy bleeding that starts suddenly or does not slow down.
→ Call 999 straight away. - Feeling very faint, dizzy, or having a fast heartbeat.
→ Get medical help. - Fever, shivering, tummy pain, or bleeding that smells unpleasant.
→ Contact your midwife or doctor. - Bad headaches with blurry vision, feeling sick, or being sick, especially in the first 3 days after birth.
→ Contact your midwife or doctor. - Pain, redness, or swelling in one leg, or feeling short of breath or having chest pain.
→ Contact your midwife or doctor urgently.
It is important to do gentle exercises to help your pelvic floor and tummy muscles get stronger again. These muscles have stretched during pregnancy and birth. Doing these exercises can help stop backache, improve your posture, and help your body feel stronger. They can also help your breathing and blood flow.
You should avoid more active exercises, like running or swimming, until after your postnatal check-up.
Your community midwife will usually visit you the day after you leave hospital, between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm. Before you go home, your address and phone number will be checked.
The visits will be planned around what you need. If you are going out, please let your midwife know.
Your midwife is there to check that you are well and to support you in the early days.
It is also a good idea to make an appointment with your GP soon after your loss. They can offer extra support and any follow-up care you may need.
You will also be given a hospital appointment with your consultant. At this visit, you can talk about your loss and discuss the results of any tests.
You may feel very tired. Your emotions may go up and down. You might feel sad, angry, or wonder “why did this happen to me?”
These feelings are normal after losing a baby. You are not alone, and there are people and groups who can help you. Their contact details are at the back of this leaflet.
Things that may help you:
- accept help when it is offered
- rest when you can
- keep meals simple
- try not to have too many visitors at once
If you feel that you cannot cope, it is important to ask for help. Talking about your feelings can help. You can speak to your community midwife or your GP.
After giving birth and your loss, contraception may not feel important right now. However, it is useful to remember:
- your body can start releasing eggs again soon after birth
- you can become pregnant again, even if you only have sex once
- you may want to wait until you have had your test results before trying for another pregnancy.
You can talk to a healthcare professional about contraception before you leave hospital if you wish.
Some types of contraception are not suitable straight after birth, so you should speak to your GP about 3 weeks after the birth if you want to use prescription methods.
There is no right or wrong time to start having sex again. Go at your own pace and do what feels right for you. If you are still having problems during sex after 3 months, speak to your GP.
Most of the advice in this leaflet still applies, but there are a few extra things to remember:
- your midwife will give you advice on how to care for your wound and dressing.
- do not lift anything heavy for the first few weeks. Wait until after your postnatal check-up before lifting heavier items.
- your womb may take a little longer to go back to its normal size. It may take a few weeks before your tummy feels flatter again.
- it is still important to do your postnatal exercises. Even though your pelvic floor was not stretched during birth, it was still affected by pregnancy. Gentle exercise may also help ease discomfort after your operation.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Maternity service.
About this information
Service:
Maternity
Reference:
M/065
Approval date:
8 May 2026
Review date:
1 May 2029
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.