After your baby is born, there are some” surprises. And we’re not just talking about the cute, little guy or girl now taking up residency on your chest.
Especially if you’re a first-time mom, your body may look and feel strange and unfamiliar to you for awhile, and you may begin to wonder if you’ll ever get your old body back.
The good news is that you will (for the most part).
But, here is what you should know about what’s going on with your body after pregnancy that your friends or family members might not tell you:
- Your uterus, cervix and vagina will all shrink to their normal, pre-pregnant size in about two weeks. Your vagina may be tender and dry for a few months, especially if you are breastfeeding.
- If you had to get stitches after delivery, your bottom likely will be sore for two weeks or more.
- It can take several months for you to be able to hold your urine when you cough, sneeze or lift something heavy.
- Your stomach and intestines will fall back into place on their own, but you may have a lot of gas for a few weeks.
- You may be constipated, especially if you are breastfeeding.
- Your stretched stomach muscles can recover in a few weeks, but for some women it can take longer to recover, in the range of six months to a year.
- If you had a cesarean delivery, you may have pain or numbness around your incision for six months or more.
- Losing the weight you gained during pregnancy will probably take six months to one year, so be patient! It took 40 weeks to get it there, give yourself that much time to get rid of it.
- If you cry easily or feel very tired after birth, you’re not alone. Seventy-five percent of women get the “blues” after childbirth, usually starting about three days after delivery. However, if you cannot take care of yourself or your baby, if you feel very nervous or worried, cannot stop crying or are having thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby, call your healthcare provider right away. These could be signs of postpartum depression.
Ideas for making the transition easier:
- Ask for help!
- Sleep whenever you can.
- Drink at least six glasses of water daily and eat lots of fruit and vegetables.
- Go outside and take a walk.
- Take sitz baths, and keep your nipples clean and dry.
- Talk to other mothers ““ join a new parents’ group or go to a La Leche League meeting if you are breastfeeding.
With your partner:
- Keep talking!
- Spend time alone together.
- Discuss family-planning needs. You can get pregnant even before you have a period!
- When you have sex, take it slow and use lubricant.
