Taking Care of Mom

You will need plenty of rest, good nutrition, and help during the first few weeks after your baby is born.

You have a lot of choices when it comes to birth control. Some methods don't need a healthcare provider's visit. But others, like oral contraceptives, are available only by prescription.

Nap when your baby naps. Take warm, shallow baths several times a day if you had stitches after delivery. Wear a supportive bra and use warm compresses to help with milk letdown.

Tubal ligation is a permanent form of birth control in which a woman's fallopian tubes are tied or blocked. This keeps the egg and sperm from connecting and so prevents pregnancy.