Postpartum Care & Recovery in Spanish Fork

What Does Postpartum Care Include With Dr. Oldham?

Postpartum care at the Spanish Fork office covers the physical, emotional, and reproductive health needs of mothers during the first twelve weeks after delivery. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that postpartum care be an ongoing process instead of a single six-week visit, and Dr. Oldham follows that model by scheduling an initial check-in within three weeks of delivery and a thorough exam at six weeks. The early visit focuses on wound healing (perineal or cesarean incision), breastfeeding concerns, pain management, and mood screening. The six-week visit includes a pelvic exam, blood pressure check, contraception counseling, and a review of any lingering symptoms like pelvic floor weakness or persistent bleeding.

Postpartum recovery continues inside the same primary care relationship that covered prenatal care, which means he already knows the patient’s pregnancy complications, mental health history, and delivery details. That continuity eliminates the handoff gap that occurs when a hospital-based OB delivers the baby and a separate provider handles the follow-up. In Spanish Fork, where many mothers also bring their newborns to Dr. Oldham for well-baby visits, both appointments can be scheduled back to back on the same day.

How Does Dr. Oldham Screen for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety?

Dr. Oldham screens every postpartum patient for depression and anxiety using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at the early check-in and again at the six-week visit. The EPDS is a ten-question validated tool that takes about five minutes to complete and flags scores above a threshold that warrants further evaluation. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that roughly one in eight women experiences postpartum depression, and the rate may be higher in communities where mothers hesitate to report symptoms. Dr. Oldham normalizes the screening by explaining that mood changes after delivery have a biological basis and that screening is a standard part of every postpartum visit, not a response to something the patient said or did.

Mild to moderate postpartum depression responds well to SSRIs that are compatible with breastfeeding, combined with behavioral strategies like structured sleep schedules, daily outdoor activity, and social support planning. For severe cases or patients with suicidal ideation, Dr. Oldham arranges same-day referral to a behavioral health specialist and follows up within one week. He also screens the partner or support person informally during the visit, because paternal postpartum depression affects an estimated 8 to 10 percent of fathers and can compound the mother’s symptoms if both parents are struggling.

What Does Physical Recovery Look Like After Vaginal and Cesarean Delivery?

Dr. Oldham manages the physical recovery from both vaginal and cesarean deliveries, and the timeline and concerns differ for each. After a vaginal delivery, Dr. Oldham checks perineal healing at the early visit, assesses whether any lacerations are closing properly, and evaluates for signs of infection. He discusses normal lochia (postpartum bleeding) patterns, explains that bleeding typically tapers over four to six weeks, and flags heavy bleeding or clots larger than a golf ball as reasons to call the office immediately. Pelvic floor weakness is common after vaginal delivery, and Dr. Oldham recommends Kegel exercises starting in the first week and refers to pelvic floor physical therapy when symptoms like urinary leakage persist beyond six weeks.

The cesarean incision is examined at each postpartum visit, checking for redness, drainage, separation, or signs of infection. He advises patients to avoid lifting more than the baby’s weight for the first two weeks and to gradually increase activity based on pain levels. Most cesarean patients can return to driving within two weeks and resume exercise by six weeks, but Dr. Oldham individualizes the timeline based on healing progress. Because he managed the prenatal care, he knows whether the cesarean was planned or emergent, whether there were complications like adhesions or excessive bleeding, and how those factors affect the recovery trajectory.

What Contraception Options Does Dr. Oldham Discuss After Delivery?

Dr. Oldham discusses contraception at the six-week postpartum visit, though he introduces the topic during prenatal care so patients can make an informed decision before delivery. Options include long-acting reversible contraception (IUDs and the implant), which can be placed at the six-week visit in the Spanish Fork office; progestin-only pills, which are safe during breastfeeding; combined oral contraceptives, which Dr. Oldham initiates after six weeks in non-breastfeeding patients; the depot medroxyprogesterone injection; and barrier methods. Dr. Oldham explains the effectiveness rates, side effect profiles, and return-to-fertility timelines for each option so the patient can choose based on her family planning goals. For patients who want an IUD placed, Dr. Oldham performs the insertion at the six-week visit, which avoids a separate appointment and takes advantage of the slightly dilated postpartum cervix.

Dr. Oldham finds that Spanish Fork families often have clear preferences about child spacing, and those preferences guide the contraception conversation. A mother planning another pregnancy within a year may choose a barrier method, while a mother who knows she is done may request a long-acting method. Dr. Oldham does not assume a preference based on age or family size. He presents the full range of options and lets the patient decide, because contraception decisions are personal and the physician’s role is to inform instead of direct.

How Does Dr. Oldham Support Breastfeeding During the Postpartum Period?

Breastfeeding is evaluated at every postpartum visit because feeding success in the first six weeks predicts whether mothers continue to breastfeed through the AAP-recommended first year. At the early check-in, he assesses nipple pain, engorgement, and the baby’s latch if the infant is present. When mothers report persistent pain or low milk supply, Dr. Oldham examines for mastitis (breast infection), checks the baby for tongue-tie, and refers to a local lactation consultant for hands-on support. He also reviews medications the mother is taking to confirm they are breastfeeding-compatible, because some common prescriptions like certain decongestants can reduce milk supply.

Mothers who choose formula feeding receive the same level of attention. He reviews formula preparation, discusses responsive feeding cues, and ensures the baby’s weight gain is on track. In his experience in Spanish Fork, mothers feel most supported when their physician provides evidence-based guidance without judgment about the feeding method they chose. That approach builds the trust needed for mothers to raise other sensitive postpartum concerns, from painful intercourse to mood changes, that they might not bring up with a provider they feel judged by.

When Should a Postpartum Patient Call Dr. Oldham’s Office Urgently?

Dr. Oldham gives every postpartum patient a list of warning signs that require an immediate call or an emergency room visit. Those red flags include heavy bleeding that soaks more than one pad per hour, fever above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, redness or opening of a cesarean incision, calf pain or swelling (which may indicate a blood clot), severe headache with vision changes (which may signal postpartum preeclampsia), and thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Postpartum preeclampsia can develop up to six weeks after delivery, even in patients who had normal blood pressure during pregnancy, and Dr. Oldham checks blood pressure at every postpartum visit for that reason.

Calling the office is always appropriate when something feels wrong, even if the symptom is not on the printed list. The Spanish Fork office triages postpartum calls as urgent and schedules same-day visits when needed. Dr. Oldham has found that clear communication about warning signs at the first postpartum visit reduces both delayed care (mothers ignoring a dangerous symptom) and unnecessary ER visits (mothers going to the emergency room for normal postpartum changes that could be managed in the office).

How Does Dr. Oldham Coordinate Postpartum and Newborn Care in the Same Office?

Dr. Oldham manages the mother’s postpartum care and the newborn’s well-baby visits in the same practice, which creates a coordination advantage that separate providers cannot match. When a breastfeeding concern arises, Dr. Oldham evaluates both the mother’s breast and the baby’s latch and weight at the same visit. When a mother screens positive for postpartum depression, Dr. Oldham considers how her mood may be affecting the baby’s feeding and sleep and adjusts the care plan for both patients. The front desk schedules postpartum and newborn visits back to back so the mother makes one trip instead of two, which matters in a community like Spanish Fork where families often have other young children at home.

The shared office chart flags family-level concerns. If the newborn is gaining weight slowly, he checks whether the mother’s milk supply is affected by her medications, mood, or recovery. If the mother reports severe fatigue, he considers whether the baby’s feeding pattern is contributing to sleep deprivation that worsens her recovery. That whole-family view is possible because Dr. Oldham functions as the primary care physician for both mother and baby, and it produces better outcomes than fragmented care split across an OB, a pediatrician, and a mental health provider who do not share a chart.

Does Insurance Cover Postpartum Visits With Dr. Oldham?

Dr. Oldham bills postpartum visits under standard evaluation and management codes, and most of the 30+ insurance plans accepted at the Spanish Fork office cover these visits as part of maternity care. The Affordable Care Act requires marketplace and employer-sponsored plans to cover maternity and postpartum care as an essential health benefit, which means the initial postpartum check-in and the six-week thorough visit are typically covered with no additional cost beyond the standard copay or coinsurance. Medicaid covers postpartum care for 12 months after delivery in Utah, which ensures low-income mothers maintain access to Dr. Oldham’s office for mood screening, contraception, and ongoing recovery management.

Procedures performed during postpartum visits, such as IUD insertion or treatment of a wound complication, may generate a separate charge depending on the insurance plan. The front desk verifies coverage and explains any expected out-of-pocket costs before the visit so patients are not surprised. Families without insurance can ask about self-pay rates when scheduling.

How Do I Schedule a Postpartum Visit With Dr. Oldham?

Frequently Asked Questions About Postpartum Care