Physical Changes
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, you will need to talk to your doctor about things your spouse will experience as her body starts to recover from the pregnancy:

- She will have spotting or bleeding, like a menstrual period off and on for up to six weeks.
- Your spouse might also experience swelling in her legs and feet. She can reduce swelling by keeping her feet elevated.
- She should try to drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruits and vegetables if she is feeling constipated
- Cramping is common, especially if she is breastfeeding. Her breast milk will come in within three to six days after her delivery. Even if she is not breastfeeding, she can have milk leaking from her nipples, and her breasts might feel full, tender or uncomfortable.
- Make sure your partner follows her doctor's instructions on how much activity, like climbing stairs or walking, she can do for the next few weeks.
- Doctors usually recommend that the new mother abstain from sexual intercourse for four to six weeks after birth. Before resuming sexual intercourse, your spouse should talk with her doctor about her plan for birth control since she can become pregnant again. Breastfeeding alone does not protect anyone from getting pregnant again.

Regaining a Healthy Weight and Shape

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, both pregnancy and labor can affect a woman's body. If your partner is trying to lose some additional pregnancy weight, make sure she does it in a healthy way and consults her doctor before she starts any type of diet or exercise plan.

If she wants to diet and is breastfeeding, it is best to wait until the baby is at least two months old. During those first two months, your spouse's body needs to recover from childbirth and establish a good milk supply. Then when she starts to lose weight, she should try not to lose too much too quickly. This can be harmful to the baby because environmental toxins that are stored in the mother's body fat can be released into her breast milk. Losing about one pound per week (no more than four pounds per month) has been found to be a safe amount and will not affect the milk supply or the baby's growth. The new mother can safely lose weight by consuming at least 1800 calories per day with a well-balanced, nutritious diet that includes foods rich in calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6, and folate. Diets in which she consumes less than 1500 calories per day are not recommended at any point during breastfeeding.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this can put her at risk for a nutritional deficiency, lower her energy level, and lower her resistance to illness.

Infant Safety

It has been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that infants be placed to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as crib death. SIDS is defined as the sudden and unexplained death of a baby less than 1 year of age. There are some things that you can do to make your baby safer according to the AAP:

- The baby should always be placed on his or her back to sleep, even for naps. This is the safest sleep position to reduce the risk of SIDS for a healthy baby. You can place your baby on a firm mattress, for example - in a safety-approved crib. It has been shown through research that placing a baby to sleep on soft mattresses, sofas, sofa cushions, waterbeds, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces raises the risk of SIDS.
- It is advisable to remove soft, fluffy, and loose bedding and stuffed toys from your baby's sleep area. You should make sure to keep all pillows, quilts, stuffed toys, and other soft items away from the baby's sleep area.
- Everyone who cares for your baby should know to place your baby on his or her back to sleep and about the dangers of soft bedding. You can make sure of this by talking to child care providers, grandparents, babysitters, and all caregivers about SIDS risk. Every sleep time counts.
- Your baby's face and head should stay uncovered during sleep. Blankets and other coverings should be kept away from your baby's mouth and nose. Dressing the baby in sleep clothing is the best way so no other covering can be used over the baby. If any other covering is used, one can make sure that the baby's feet are at the bottom of the crib, the blanket is no higher than the baby's chest, and the blanket is tucked in around the bottom of the crib mattress.
- Smoking must not be tolerated around your baby. Remember not to smoke before or after the birth of your baby.
- Make sure your baby does not get too warm during sleep. Your baby's room should be kept at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult. Too many layers of clothing or blankets will overheat your baby.

Some mothers often worry about the baby rolling over during the night. However, the risk for SIDS is reduced when your baby is able to roll over by herself. Most babies are not able to turn over from their backs to their stomachs, during what is considered the time of greatest risk, 2 to 4 months of age.

Getting Rest

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the first few days at home after having the baby are a time for rest and recuperation for your spouse, physically and emotionally. She needs to focus her energy on herself and on getting to know the new baby. Even though she may be very excited and have requests for lots of visits from family and friends, she should try to get as much rest as possible. Don't expect her to keep the house perfect. You may find that all the new mother can do is eat, sleep and care for the baby. And that is perfectly okay. Teach her to pace herself from the first day that she arrives back home. Get her to try to lie down or nap while the baby naps. Keep her from trying to do too much around the house. Be sure to help her and tell her not to be afraid to ask for help with cleaning, laundry, meals, or with caring for the baby.

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