You just gave birth to your baby! Congrats momma! You’re now postpartum!
If you’re anything like me, you worried about your pregnancy and your labor and delivery but you didn’t think too much about postpartum. Well, you aren’t alone. A lot of women do this.
We’re so worried about our baby, we neglect to think about ourselves.
You have no idea what to expect postpartum
There are sooo many things about postpartum I wish I would’ve known before. These things are not glamorous at all. But our babies are worth it!
Pushing on your stomach/uterus in the hospital
The nurses or doctors will push on your stomach to help shrink your uterus and to make sure everything feels ok. This can be painful. But just remember it’s meant to help you!
You might be stuck in your hospital bed
If you have an epidural or a C-section, you’re considered a fall risk. So that means you need help going to the bathroom and getting up. You also can’t get a shower until you’re no longer a fall-risk. Getting up after an epidural is no easy task. My legs were like jello. So definitely ask your nurse for help!
Going to the bathroom for the first time after delivery
I know, TMI and no one wants to think about this part. But we have to talk about it. You’ll get stool softeners in the hospital. Trust me, you’ll thank the nurses for this later.
The first time you go to bathroom is probably almost as scary as giving birth… ok maybe not that bad but it’s pretty scary. Especially if you have tears. Make sure you have a bottle of stool softener when you go home!!
More contractions
What, like contractions AFTER I’ve had my baby? Yep! Your uterus will contract to shrink in the first few days after birth. Breastfeeding can actually make the cramps worse. It’s painful but thankfully it’s not as bad as labor contractions. This can come as a big surprise if you don’t know about it before and you may think something is wrong.
Baby Blues
Not every mother will experience this but most do. Some may get it worse and have PPD (postpartum depression). It’s normal to be emotional after birth. Your body has sooo many hormones running through it right now. I cried SO much. I cried because I was happy and loved my baby so much. I cried because I was tired and couldn’t sleep. I cried because I loved watching my husband be a father. I cried when my baby cried and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The list is endless. But it is 100% normal to have these emotions.
American Pregnancy Association states, “Most new moms experience the normal “Baby Blues” – a few days to two weeks of mild ups and downs, weepiness, and stress.”
**If you feel like your emotions are too intense, please speak with your doctor! PPD is real and it’s important to get help!**
Postpartum can really suck at times. But looking at that sweet little baby of yours will definitely make up for it!
