Table 2. Physical symptoms experienced during the first 6 weeks and after 12 weeks of childbirth (N=281).
|
|
n (%) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
First 6 weeks |
After 12 weeks |
|
General | ||
|
Fatigue |
120 (42.7) |
26 (9.3) |
|
Back or neck pain |
102 (36.3) |
9 (3.2) |
|
Fever (>37.8°C) |
4 (4.14) |
- |
|
Neurologic | ||
|
Headache |
15 (5.3) |
|
|
Hand numbness or tingling |
17 (6.0) |
|
|
Gynaecologic and breast | ||
|
Decreased desire for sex |
22 (7.8) |
|
|
Nipple irritation |
31 (11.0) |
1 (0.4) |
|
Breast irritation (mastitis) |
|
1 (0.4) |
|
Uterine infection |
2 (0.7) |
|
|
Cardiovascular | ||
|
High blood pressure |
1 (0.4) |
- |
|
Irregular heartbeat |
|
|
|
Respiratory | ||
|
Runny or stuffy nose |
6 (2.1) |
|
|
Sore throat, cough or cold |
7 (2.5) |
|
|
Sinus problems |
1 (0.4) |
|
|
Skin and hair | ||
|
Acne |
8 (2.8) |
|
|
Hair loss |
24 (8.5) |
3 (1.1) |
|
Excessive sweating |
15 (5.3) |
|
|
Rash |
6 (2.1) |
1 (0.4) |
|
Gastrointestinal | ||
|
Constipation |
19 (6.8) |
|
|
Abdominal pain |
1 (0.4) |
1 (0.4) |
|
Haemorrhoids |
1 (0.4) |
1 (0.4) |
|
Decreased appetite |
1 (0.4) |
1 (0.4) |
|
Diarrhoea |
1 (0.4) |
1 (0.4) |
|
|
|
|
|
Physical symptom score |
Mean (standard deviation) |
|
|
1.73 (1.98) |
0.16 (0.41) |
|
|
95% confidence interval of the difference (1.352, 1.081), P<0.001 | ||