Postpartum symptoms: What’s normal and what not to ignore

Throughout pregnancy your body changes to support and nurture the baby growing inside. Your hormones change your uterus expands and your core muscles expand to make room.
After you give birth your body begins the process of reverting to its prepregnancy condition. How long does this process last? And what can you expect during this process?
Many postpartum symptoms are normal and harmless. However there are postpartum symptoms not to ignore too. Its important to know the difference between them.

Postpartum bleeding
Light bleeding or spotting is very common for about four weeks after delivery. This is your body getting rid of the extra blood and tissue that supported your baby in your uterus.
The bleeding is heavier for the first few days but should decrease after that. At first you may soak an extra thick maxi pad every day.
The blood should resemble menstruation blood in color and odor at first. It starts out as dark red possibly even with clots. It should get lighter in color until it stops. The bleeding can get a bit heavier after periods of activity.
If the amount of bleeding doesnt decrease after the first few days you may have a postpartum hemorrhage. Heavy bleeding soaking a pad every hour for instance could also be a sign of postpartum hemorrhage. These are postpartum symptoms not to ignore. You need immediate medical care.
A postpartum hemorrhage can occur as early as the day after labor or several weeks later
Postpartum cramping
Unfortunately cramping doesnt end with the delivery of your baby. It typically continues for a week or two after giving birth as your uterus returns to its prepregnancy shape.
Your uterus has to go from the size of about a watermelon back down to the size of about a pear and that involves cramping Dr. Foster said. Your muscle cramps back down to its normal nonpregnant uterine size.
Postpartum back pain
Your back may hurt after delivery. This is usually lingering soreness from delivery which is physically demanding.
You may be sore at the spot where you were given an epidural. You may be sore from lying flat on your back for hours during delivery. And the muscle straining of delivery can cause soreness in your back too.
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is the most common pregnancy complication. Its a mental illness believed to be caused by the drastic change in your hormones when pregnancy ends.
This condition might go away on its own after a few weeks. It could also