Photo: Julia Volk

Why do you shake after birth?

It is actually very common and normal to shake like this after birth. When the body moves a mother's blood to her core, her arms and legs get shaky to warm themselves. Even though this is a hormonal response to the birth, and the mother isn't actually cold, a warm blanket can really calm the shaking.

tvc.org - Is it normal to shiver after childbirth? - Vancouver Clinic

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Q: Should women be worried if they get the chills after giving birth?

The first minutes after having a baby are priceless as a woman watches her baby unfold in her arms. Often mothers gently touch their precious newborn with their fingertips, hardly believing this little one is real, just inches away. When this lovely falling-in-love is interrupted by a woman’s body shaking, sometimes very intensely, she and her family can be very worried. Some women have even wondered if they are having a seizure. It is actually very common and normal to shake like this after birth. When the body moves a mother’s blood to her core, her arms and legs get shaky to warm themselves. Even though this is a hormonal response to the birth, and the mother isn’t actually cold, a warm blanket can really calm the shaking. Having someone lay their forearm gently across a mom’s upper chest, kind of shoulder-to-shoulder, can also reduce the shakiness. Some new mothers worry about being able to hold their baby while they are so shaky. Usually if their partner is beside them watching the baby as well, the baby is secure on the mother’s chest. The care provider and nurse will also be checking if the baby is okay. Shaking after a baby is born may last just a few minutes to an hour or so. Once a warm blanket is placed on the new mother, and she is reassured that it is normal, her support people can help her relax back into the sweet minutes that are her baby’s first hour, lying skin-to-skin, warm and content.

—Patty Kartchner, CNM

Patricia Kartchner earned a master of science in nursing with a specialty in midwifery from Oregon Health & Science University. She enjoys being a trusted guide for women during pregnancy and childbirth.

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Can you get a tummy tuck during C-section?

Behzad Parva, advises against it. C-sections and tummy tucks both come with risks, and combining these surgeries could increase a woman's potential for complications, including bleeding, infection and poor healing.

parvaplasticsurgery.com - Can I Get a Tummy Tuck During My C-Section? - Parva Plastic Surgery

Can I Get a Tummy Tuck During My C-Section?

May 12, 2020

Pregnant mothers who are scheduled to deliver their baby via cesarean section may have concerns about how their abdomen will look after surgery. Since a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is intended to address changes caused by pregnancy and childbirth, it would seem that a c-section and tummy tuck could be performed during the same procedure. Sometimes referred to as a “C-tuck,” this combination may sound ideal, only requiring one operation instead of two, but our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Behzad Parva, advises against it. C-sections and tummy tucks both come with risks, and combining these surgeries could increase a woman’s potential for complications, including bleeding, infection and poor healing. In addition, Dr. Parva typically recommends patients wait at least six months after their delivery to consider a tummy tuck (or longer if breastfeeding). Women need ample time to recover from their pregnancy and delivery, and to focus on bonding with their newborn baby. Dr. Parva says this period also allows the abdominal skin to contract back to baseline and the individual to return to their pre-pregnancy weight. Undergoing a tummy tuck too soon after pregnancy can result in unsatisfactory results, since the body continues to change over the course of several months. If you are considering a tummy tuck after your c-section, schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to learn if you are a good candidate.

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