YOU BLEED A LOT: Stock up on heavy pads and bring out the granny panties because you’ll need for the next few weeks. The hospital will give you some lovely panties to wear the size of your head along with some pads during your stay. Keep an eye out for any blog clots larger than the size of a golf ball! If this happens, call your doctor!
THINGS MAY RIP: Yea, there may be a chance you will need an eptisiotomy during labor or you may tear when baby is pushing out. If this is the case, the doctor will stitch you up afterwards and in addition to your lovely panties, the nurses will give you ice packs and a Dermaplast Spray bottle to heal your wound. Best feeling ever :) They will also give you a squirt bottle (they sometimes call a perineum bottle) to use while using the bathroom so it cleans the area. No wiping! Only patting very carefully. The Dermaplast Spray (brands may vary) acts as a pain reliever for your lady friend 🙂
POOPING IS SCARY: Haha I don’t know how else to say it. The last thing you want to do at this point after pushing out a baby is pushing anything else out (for fear of anything ripping, tearing, or feeling the mere pressure). The hospital gave me stool softeners and it helped a ton! I stayed REALLY hydrated and didn’t go until I really had to. I didn’t have any problems, but I think it was just the thought that was scary. There are many women that get stopped up so again…stay hydrated and eat plenty of healthy foods so you don’t have issues!
WALK IT OUT: After Marli was born, I was up an walking around within 30 minutes. That was unexpected. All I wanted to do was rest and drink my fluids, but the nurse advised that the sooner I was up and moving, the sooner my body would heal. So, I walked 5-6 times that day about 10-15 minutes each time. OMG…the pressure down there was IMMENSE! But it actually felt good to get up and move around…even if I was moving at the speed of a turtle.
AM I STILL PREGNANT? Yes, after you have a baby, you will still look pregnant. The bulge will still be there. So, when packing your bags, it might not be wise to pack your skinny jeans. I wore a maxi dress and it was perfect. Plus, wearing something loose fitting will help you get into the car (which was quite a slow and not so fun task for me – which by the way, tell your hubby to drive VERY slow!). Your uterus is slowly beginning to shrink back to its normal size in the weeks to come, but start doing keggle exercises ASAP! They help strengthen your abs 🙂
SWOLLEN FEET: For the first few days, I wore pjs and my robe around the house with socks so I never noticed my feet, but when it was time for Marli’s 1 week visit with the doctor, I was surprised to find I had cankles! If this happens, just elevate your feet. Swollen feet are most likely due to all the IV fluids they pumped in you during labor. It went away for me within 2 weeks after delivery.
HORMONAL CHANGES: One minute I was cold, the next I was sweating. My body temperature was all out of whack. A few weeks later, I found myself to be pretty emotional. I don’t know why, but I would cry on a whim. It was crazy. So, just a heads up that if this happens to you, don’t freak out. Your body is just adjusting from the shocker of having a little one. When possible, it’s good to step out of the house. Walk down the street, take a quick trip to Target, or take a ride with your hubby (even if you don’t get out of the car). This will help with your baby blues 🙂
24HOUR DINER: Yes, you are basically a milking cow now. If you plan on breastfeeding, you should feel like a 24 hour diner. If you aren’t feeding baby, you should be pumping! This was something I did not know and I think it affected my supply. Right after breastfeeding your little one, you should pump for about 15-20 minutes. This helps increase your supply and you can start storing extra milk for later on. Yes, your nipples will be sore but it’s so important to KEEP THEM MOISTURIZED ALL THE TIME with cream! Otherwise, they will dry, crack, and bleed. And that’s no fun. I applied it every hour, especially after baby was on my boob. A few things that helped me increase my supply: drinking lots of water (very important!), constantly eating/snacking, fenugreek, oatmeal, and no stress. And, don’t feel bad if you need to supplement with formula. I did and Marli turned out fantastic, although initially I felt like an inadequate mother because this wasn’t in my plan…but at the end of the day, if baby is healthy and happy that’s all that mattered. On the up side of this: you will have nice plump boobs which I am sure your hubby will appreciate 🙂
HELLO ALLERGIES: I have never had allergies in my life – until I had Marli. WHAT?!?!?! Just a heads up that if you start to develop something you didn’t have before baby, don’t be surprised.
A HAIRY SITUATION: During pregnancy, my hair was full and voluminous because of all the prental vitamins. But at 2 months postpartum, my hair started falling out in chunks. At first, I was thrilled. I had TOO much hair and welcomed this phase, but then after 3 weeks, it kept falling out and I started freaking out. Haha Luckily, it stopped so if this happens to you, don’t worry, it’s temporary. But, THEN, my hair started growing back and now I have these crazy baby hairs around my temples that looks like mini horns. Oh yea, and you may find more gray hairs creeping up. Don’t be alarmed 🙂
HIPS DON’T LIE: Oh yes, the hips. I returned to my pre-baby weight 3 months after having Marli, but let me tell you that the weight distribution was not the same. I could not fit into my jeans and skirts which was such a bummer, mainly because I didn’t want to buy anymore clothes. Ladies, you will most likely grow child bearing hips and as for me, my thighs also grew. Get used to it and embrace it 🙂
I think that’s all I can think of for now. If you have any tips of your own, feel free to post below.
pinning this for later! i always see a ton of post about what to expect when you are expecting but it’s nice to read about the “after” part!! thank you! im a little nervous ofr the future but at least i have a heads up! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
We don’t have any kids right now, but this is definitely helpful (and a little scary). Ha! Thanks for the heads up.
I tell ya – it’s hard being a woman! Thanks for the tips! I have a friend who is expecting so I will have to refer her here. 🙂
It makes me a little angry that us mothers sacrifice so much already and yet we have to give up our post-baby bodies! All those things are so true. The weight does not get distributed evenly as before. And also pooping. It’s like giving birth again, I tell ya! I wrote a list like this several years ago and it scared some moms haha. Thanks for sharing and being honest!
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