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Post-partum - Your Body after Birth
What will your body be like after you give birth? You may have read every book, blog and website about the changes to your body during pregnancy, but many of us are not clued up to what happens to our body after birth. Pregnancy is a time of enormous change to both our physical and emotional selves, and once we have given birth, there are a lot more changes ahead.
Just like during your pregnancy, you may wonder what to expect, what is normal, and how long certain symptoms may last. To give you an idea of what you can probably expect during those first 6 weeks post partum, I have listed a few common symptoms and changes both physical and mental below.
Just like during your pregnancy, you may wonder what to expect, what is normal, and how long certain symptoms may last. To give you an idea of what you can probably expect during those first 6 weeks post partum, I have listed a few common symptoms and changes both physical and mental below.
What’s your body really like after birth?
Nothing can quite prepare you for the first 6 weeks post partum. You have just made it through 9 months of pregnancy, labour and a few exhausting days in hospital, and all you want to do is curl up in bed to sleep and let your body recover, but instead you have returned home with a new baby that requires 24/7 care and a body that feels like it has been hit by a truck.
Whilst you are healing, you need to do whatever you need to, to get by. Breast feed to sleep, co sleep, order take out, hire a cleaner, let your mother-in-law look after the house, just do whatever it takes to allow yourself time to settle into motherhood and give your body a chance to recover.
Most people suggest that the recovery period is around 6 weeks, though it can take a good three months for you to feel anything like your old self. Even one year on, my ankles still click and I swear that my stomach will never be the same, however everyone is different, and everyone will heal differently. The most important thing to remember is that it took nine months to get this way, so give yourself and your body time to heal. Just do whatever it takes to get through the next couple of months, and worry about getting your pre body back later on.
Physically what can you expect after the birth?
For the first week your body will feel like it is made of jelly. Literally!
You will still look 6 months pregnant for quite a while. It takes time for your uterus to shrink back to its normal size, and for your skin to slowly shrink back to normal. You also need to allow time for your body to slowly purge the excess fluids you have been carrying around over the last few months.
At first your uterus will still be sitting above your belly button, though within a fortnight it should be back inside your pelvis and within 6 to 8 weeks, it should be close to its original size.
This process can be quite painful, though for some it can just feel like period pain cramps. If you do experience strong pain, try taking Panadol and using a hot water bottle. In a couple of weeks the cramps should have stopped.
Be aware though that once your uterus has fully contracted you may be left with a soft belly, with loose and flabby skin. Unfortunately only tailored regular exercise and time will help restore your stomach to its former glory.
Your body will ache and your ligaments will be stiff and sore. You may find that your back, shoulders and stomach will be particularly sore. I personally felt like someone had poured concrete into my shoulders the first month.
If you had a vaginal birth then your postpartum area will be stretched, swollen, bruised and very sore for quite a while. Try using cold ice packs, or a specific post partum cream to help soothe the area. And remember to shower two to three times a day to keep the area clean. The swelling should begin to settle down over the first week, and doing your kegel exercises should help speed up the recovery.
If you had an episiotomy or perineal tear during the birth, then you will have some added discomfort ranging anywhere from mild discomfort to intense pain. Try wearing thick maternity pads or sit on a soft or donut pillow to cushion your stitches whilst they heal. You can also use a specific post partum cream to encourage healing, or use an ice pack wrapped in a pad.
The stitches should heal within 10 days and within a few weeks the swelling should go down and you should feel more normal. Though for me, I must say it was a good four months before it all felt the way it should down there and the twinges didn’t stop until 6 or 7 months afterwards. Again, everyone’s experience will be different, and everyone heals differently, so your recovery could be the same, less or longer then someone else’s. If you have any concerns see your Doctor.
If you have had a caesarean, then you can expect some pain around the wound site, and around 6 – 8 weeks recovery time. You are recovering from major abdominal surgery after all!
The clips or stitches should be removed around Day 4, and whilst this procedure shouldn’t be overly painful, it may cause you a little discomfort. Whilst you are healing make sure you keep the wound clean, change the dressings regularly and keep all your Doctor’s appointments.
Whilst the scar will be red at first, it should fade to a faint white line over a few months, and should hopefully eventually be covered by pubic hair. I have heard of some women having acupuncture or using specialised scar creams to help heal and fade the scar tissue.
You will have lochia (post natal vaginal bleeding) for anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks after the birth, and you may pass very large blood clots. I personally was quite shocked to how big some of them were. I was told not to worry unless they were bigger than the size of your palm, but you should always check with Doctor if you think your bleeding is excessive or is not slowing down.
Whilst the blood will start out bright red, it will fade to pink and then white over the coming weeks. Avoid using tampons, for at least 6 – 8 weeks. Use maternity pads instead.
You may have sore or bleeding gums and you may develop a few mouth ulcers. Just keep up your usual dental routine, and consider using a mouth wash or ulcer cream to help any sores heal.
You will lose your hair, and quite a lot of it. Normally you lose around 100 hairs a day, but when you are pregnant, this reduces significantly, so after the baby is born your body starts finally shedding all the hair that is has been hanging on to for the past 9 months. This huge loss of hair can leave many women worrying that they are going bald. But don’t worry this is completely normal, and within 6 to 12 months, your hair will thicken back up and return to normal.
If you have had spotty or pimply skin during your pregnancy, your skin should return to normal, and your old clear and glowing skin should return.
If you have developed pigmentation on your skin, including the linea nigra (that brown line you developed on your stomach during pregnancy – white line for darker skinned ladies), it will begin to fade and should be completely gone within six months.
You may sweat a lot, particularly during the first few weeks. Now that your body no longer needs all that extra fluid you have been carrying around during your pregnancy, it will begin to purge it. You may find that you seem to need to ‘pee’ a lot, or you may just sweat it all out. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t last long, and the good news is that the scales will reflect the loss, which will defiantly make you smile.
Just drink lots of water, pop on a fan and wear loose cotton clothing, all of which will help you feel cooler and more comfortable during this period.
As your milk comes in your breasts may grow and ache a little. During the first three or four days, your body will produce a thick yellow substance called colostrum, which is your baby’s first milk and is jam packed full of antibodies and other nutritiously goodies for your baby. As you begin to produce milk you may feel a tingling sensation similar to pins and needles as your milk ‘let down’ begins, and you will also feel a sharp pain for the first couple of seconds as your baby begins to suck. This is completely normal. And after time the initial stinging when the baby first attaches will disappear.
As your baby learns to feed and your nipples harden up, things will get better. Try using a lanolin nipple cream after each feed, or expressing a little milk onto your nipple and letting your breast air dry. Warm compresses and cold cabbage leaves can also help sooth sore boobs.
If you are unable to breastfeed you may experience some engorgement as your breast swell. Your breasts will be sore and tender for around a week or so, but as the milk starts to dry up your breasts should return to normal.
If you were like most women you may have a few stretch marks. These will fade from a dark red to a silvery grey over time. Try using a speciality stretch mark cream such as Bio Oil, Aloe Vera or other nutrient rich creams to help reduce the itching and promote healing and fading.
If you were unlucky enough to develop varicose veins during your pregnancy, you will be happy to know that in most cases, these should now improve on their own.
During your pregnancy your heart and liver almost doubled in size and your body was pumping around an extra pint or two of blood. During your six week post partum period your organs will shrink back to their normal size and your blood will reduce down to normal. Helping you drop yet another kilo of that baby weight.
You may feel hot, and get a few hot flushes as your body purges excess hormones and chemicals and you begin to return to normal.
Even though you are very tired, you may still have trouble sleeping. Whether it is worrying about your baby, or just the fact that you are completed hyped up about the whole experience, many a weary new mother has had trouble nodding off. The best thing to do, is to just lay quietly and at least rest, or buy a meditation CD which will help you block out all external stimuli and help you relax and hopefully fall asleep.
You could possibly break out in spotty red rashes, particularly around your neck, chest and décolletage area. This is normally due to hormonal changes in your body.
You will probably be absolutely exhausted and more tired than you can ever remember being in your life.
Emotionally what can you expect after birth?
You will feel quite emotional as the hormones begin to settle down in your body and you adjust to your new life, particularly around Day 3. Not the best day for a room full of visitors.
You will have major highs and lows. Expect a lot of tears over nothing, and very little patience.
Be prepared that you may feel lost, confused and out of your depth, but don’t despair; it gets better.
You may feel a little down. The baby blues are quite normal, around 50 – 80% of women will get the ‘baby blues’ and feel a little down during the first month, but if you feel like you want to hurt yourself or your baby, seek help.
You may find yourself forgetful or finding it difficult to concentrate, this is normal, as you are biologically designed to focus on nothing but your baby during the first couple of months. Though some women swear it lasts twenty years or so.
You will feel overwhelming feelings of love for your baby, and may feel very over protective of your child and not want to be away from him or her. If you do not instantly ‘fall in love with their baby’ though, don’t worry, this is also completely normal. Some women find it takes times to develop a bond with their baby, particularly if they have had a very difficult pregnancy or labour.
You may feel that you are on a massive high. Some women are on an adrenaline rush for days if not weeks after their baby is born.
Nothing can quite prepare you for the first 6 weeks post partum. You have just made it through 9 months of pregnancy, labour and a few exhausting days in hospital, and all you want to do is curl up in bed to sleep and let your body recover, but instead you have returned home with a new baby that requires 24/7 care and a body that feels like it has been hit by a truck.
Whilst you are healing, you need to do whatever you need to, to get by. Breast feed to sleep, co sleep, order take out, hire a cleaner, let your mother-
Most people suggest that the recovery period is around 6 weeks, though it can take a good three months for you to feel anything like your old self. Even one year on, my ankles still click and I swear that my stomach will never be the same, however everyone is different, and everyone will heal differently. The most important thing to remember is that it took nine months to get this way, so give yourself and your body time to heal. Just do whatever it takes to get through the next couple of months, and worry about getting your pre body back later on.
Physically what can you expect after the birth?
For the first week your body will feel like it is made of jelly. Literally!
You will still look 6 months pregnant for quite a while. It takes time for your uterus to shrink back to its normal size, and for your skin to slowly shrink back to normal. You also need to allow time for your body to slowly purge the excess fluids you have been carrying around over the last few months.
At first your uterus will still be sitting above your belly button, though within a fortnight it should be back inside your pelvis and within 6 to 8 weeks, it should be close to its original size.
This process can be quite painful, though for some it can just feel like period pain cramps. If you do experience strong pain, try taking Panadol and using a hot water bottle. In a couple of weeks the cramps should have stopped.
Be aware though that once your uterus has fully contracted you may be left with a soft belly, with loose and flabby skin. Unfortunately only tailored regular exercise and time will help restore your stomach to its former glory.
Your body will ache and your ligaments will be stiff and sore. You may find that your back, shoulders and stomach will be particularly sore. I personally felt like someone had poured concrete into my shoulders the first month.
If you had a vaginal birth then your postpartum area will be stretched, swollen, bruised and very sore for quite a while. Try using cold ice packs, or a specific post partum cream to help soothe the area. And remember to shower two to three times a day to keep the area clean. The swelling should begin to settle down over the first week, and doing your kegel exercises should help speed up the recovery.
If you had an episiotomy or perineal tear during the birth, then you will have some added discomfort ranging anywhere from mild discomfort to intense pain. Try wearing thick maternity pads or sit on a soft or donut pillow to cushion your stitches whilst they heal. You can also use a specific post partum cream to encourage healing, or use an ice pack wrapped in a pad.
The stitches should heal within 10 days and within a few weeks the swelling should go down and you should feel more normal. Though for me, I must say it was a good four months before it all felt the way it should down there and the twinges didn’t stop until 6 or 7 months afterwards. Again, everyone’s experience will be different, and everyone heals differently, so your recovery could be the same, less or longer then someone else’s. If you have any concerns see your Doctor.
If you have had a caesarean, then you can expect some pain around the wound site, and around 6 – 8 weeks recovery time. You are recovering from major abdominal surgery after all!
The clips or stitches should be removed around Day 4, and whilst this procedure shouldn’t be overly painful, it may cause you a little discomfort. Whilst you are healing make sure you keep the wound clean, change the dressings regularly and keep all your Doctor’s appointments.
Whilst the scar will be red at first, it should fade to a faint white line over a few months, and should hopefully eventually be covered by pubic hair. I have heard of some women having acupuncture or using specialised scar creams to help heal and fade the scar tissue.
You will have lochia (post natal vaginal bleeding) for anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks after the birth, and you may pass very large blood clots. I personally was quite shocked to how big some of them were. I was told not to worry unless they were bigger than the size of your palm, but you should always check with Doctor if you think your bleeding is excessive or is not slowing down.
Whilst the blood will start out bright red, it will fade to pink and then white over the coming weeks. Avoid using tampons, for at least 6 – 8 weeks. Use maternity pads instead.
You may have sore or bleeding gums and you may develop a few mouth ulcers. Just keep up your usual dental routine, and consider using a mouth wash or ulcer cream to help any sores heal.
You will lose your hair, and quite a lot of it. Normally you lose around 100 hairs a day, but when you are pregnant, this reduces significantly, so after the baby is born your body starts finally shedding all the hair that is has been hanging on to for the past 9 months. This huge loss of hair can leave many women worrying that they are going bald. But don’t worry this is completely normal, and within 6 to 12 months, your hair will thicken back up and return to normal.
If you have had spotty or pimply skin during your pregnancy, your skin should return to normal, and your old clear and glowing skin should return.
If you have developed pigmentation on your skin, including the linea nigra (that brown line you developed on your stomach during pregnancy – white line for darker skinned ladies), it will begin to fade and should be completely gone within six months.
You may sweat a lot, particularly during the first few weeks. Now that your body no longer needs all that extra fluid you have been carrying around during your pregnancy, it will begin to purge it. You may find that you seem to need to ‘pee’ a lot, or you may just sweat it all out. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t last long, and the good news is that the scales will reflect the loss, which will defiantly make you smile.
Just drink lots of water, pop on a fan and wear loose cotton clothing, all of which will help you feel cooler and more comfortable during this period.
As your milk comes in your breasts may grow and ache a little. During the first three or four days, your body will produce a thick yellow substance called colostrum, which is your baby’s first milk and is jam packed full of antibodies and other nutritiously goodies for your baby. As you begin to produce milk you may feel a tingling sensation similar to pins and needles as your milk ‘let down’ begins, and you will also feel a sharp pain for the first couple of seconds as your baby begins to suck. This is completely normal. And after time the initial stinging when the baby first attaches will disappear.
As your baby learns to feed and your nipples harden up, things will get better. Try using a lanolin nipple cream after each feed, or expressing a little milk onto your nipple and letting your breast air dry. Warm compresses and cold cabbage leaves can also help sooth sore boobs.
If you are unable to breastfeed you may experience some engorgement as your breast swell. Your breasts will be sore and tender for around a week or so, but as the milk starts to dry up your breasts should return to normal.
If you were like most women you may have a few stretch marks. These will fade from a dark red to a silvery grey over time. Try using a speciality stretch mark cream such as Bio Oil, Aloe Vera or other nutrient rich creams to help reduce the itching and promote healing and fading.
If you were unlucky enough to develop varicose veins during your pregnancy, you will be happy to know that in most cases, these should now improve on their own.
During your pregnancy your heart and liver almost doubled in size and your body was pumping around an extra pint or two of blood. During your six week post partum period your organs will shrink back to their normal size and your blood will reduce down to normal. Helping you drop yet another kilo of that baby weight.
You may feel hot, and get a few hot flushes as your body purges excess hormones and chemicals and you begin to return to normal.
Even though you are very tired, you may still have trouble sleeping. Whether it is worrying about your baby, or just the fact that you are completed hyped up about the whole experience, many a weary new mother has had trouble nodding off. The best thing to do, is to just lay quietly and at least rest, or buy a meditation CD which will help you block out all external stimuli and help you relax and hopefully fall asleep.
You could possibly break out in spotty red rashes, particularly around your neck, chest and décolletage area. This is normally due to hormonal changes in your body.
You will probably be absolutely exhausted and more tired than you can ever remember being in your life.
Emotionally what can you expect after birth?
You will feel quite emotional as the hormones begin to settle down in your body and you adjust to your new life, particularly around Day 3. Not the best day for a room full of visitors.
You will have major highs and lows. Expect a lot of tears over nothing, and very little patience.
Be prepared that you may feel lost, confused and out of your depth, but don’t despair; it gets better.
You may feel a little down. The baby blues are quite normal, around 50 – 80% of women will get the ‘baby blues’ and feel a little down during the first month, but if you feel like you want to hurt yourself or your baby, seek help.
You may find yourself forgetful or finding it difficult to concentrate, this is normal, as you are biologically designed to focus on nothing but your baby during the first couple of months. Though some women swear it lasts twenty years or so.
You will feel overwhelming feelings of love for your baby, and may feel very over protective of your child and not want to be away from him or her. If you do not instantly ‘fall in love with their baby’ though, don’t worry, this is also completely normal. Some women find it takes times to develop a bond with their baby, particularly if they have had a very difficult pregnancy or labour.
You may feel that you are on a massive high. Some women are on an adrenaline rush for days if not weeks after their baby is born.
The weeks and months after the birth of your baby will hold many changes for a new mother, some will bounce back quickly and others may find it takes months if not years to get back to feeling their old selves.....
Becoming a mother is a wonderful experience though, in the early days it can be difficult finding the time to care for yourself whilst learning to look after your new bundle of joy.
Remember though, that your baby needs you to be strong and healthy to care for them properly. So ask for and accept help, and rest whenever you can.
