the road to recovery

How to help your mind and body heal after childbirth

What you can do Breastfeed! Nursing increases the production of oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates the uterus to contract; this helps speed the uterus’s return to normal size and reduce bleeding.
    If the cramping is unbearable, your doctor may recommend taking an over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol or Advil for a few days.
    Some people also swear by chamomile tea. “It’s caffeine-free and seems to relieve cramping,” says Barbara Hughes, C.N.M., F.A.C.N.M., director of Aurora Nurse-Midwives at The Medical Center of Aurora in Aurora, Colo., and a spokeswoman for the American College of Nurse-Midwives. “We give it to our patients when they’re still in the recovery room and urge them to drink it in the days and weeks following delivery.”