12 Things You Need To Know About Epidurals Before Having One | Epidural Side Effects

12 Things You Need To Know About Epidurals Before Having One | Epidural Side Effects


Having a baby is such an exciting time but we all know that there is some major pain involved. Many women opt for an Epidural to relieve this pain.

In fact, fifty percent of women today are now having epidurals and there’s no shame in that. I had one for all three of my babies and I enjoyed the heck out of them.

It allowed me to be present during the birthing experience instead of screaming into a pillow.

Are you worried about having a C-Section? Read 18 Lifesaving tips for recovering from a C-section. 

 

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But there’s plenty to learn about Epidurals before you go into the hospital. Me? I was clueless and I now know that I should have done my research.

Epidurals have Pros and Cons and it’s important to know what you’re in for. So let’s take a look!

By the way, some of my posts contain affiliate links at no cost to you. 

 

12 Epidural Side Effects You Need To Know About

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Things to know about an epidural before having one.

 

Your Epidural Won’t Happen The Second You Need It

 

When you get to the point where you feel like you absolutely need an Epidural, like 10 minutes ago, they’re gonna make you wait. It usually takes 45 minutes but can take as long as an Hour and A Half. Yikes!

Just like everything else in a hospital they have to order the procedure, do the paperwork, and then you have to wait your turn.

So that’s something you should consider. When they do get around to giving you one the relief is SO sweet. You are able to enjoy the experience so I think it’s worth it.

 

Must Read:  5 Things That Happen When You Have An Epidural That Know One Tells You About

 5 Painful Ways You’re Making Your Labor Worse

And 18 Pregnancy Hacks That Will Change Your Life

And The 6 best Ways To Induce Labor Naturally At Home

 

It starts to work immediately

 

As I was saying, the relief is sweet and it often starts right away. So at least you don’t have to wait any longer once they do the procedure.

 

 

Or Not At All

 

There’s some bad news though. Epidurals don’t work for everyone and that’s just the way it is. You will know when you have one.

My sister had one with her first and it did nothing at all. NOTHING. But with her second child, she had another and it worked just fine. This happens because sometimes they’re not inserted right.

It really has a lot to do with the skill of your Anesthesiologist so make sure you go to a reputable hospital.

 

 

***Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Don’t have time? Here’s the best Premium online birthing course that will teach you everything you need to know in a few hour’s time online.

 

 

You May Get A Bad Headache

After having an epidural, you may develop a ‘post-dural puncture’  headache.

A Post Dural Puncture Headache is a severe headache felt at the front or back of your head.

It may get better when lying down and worse on sitting or standing. Along with a headache, you may experience neck pain, sickness, and a dislike of bright lights.

Not fun stuff but it doesn’t happen too often.

 

Getting An Epidural Can Really Hurt

 

Getting a needle stuck in your spine is not a fun business. You’d think the pain would be dim compared to the labor pain and it is somewhat. But if they hit you in the right spot it can be pretty bad.

The first one I had was just a good pinch. But the second epidural I had with my next pregnancy was really painful despite labor. It was as if they hit a nerve and I had this horrible dull ache shoot all through my back that was even worse than my labor pain for a minute.

Not trying to scare ya. But again, it’s well worth the pain relief and it only lasts a minute. If you can handle having a baby then this will be a breeze.

 

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You May Get The Shakes

 

 

When your epidural kicks in you may begin shaking violently all over. It’s like really intense shivers.

I was told that this is caused by your body reacting to the medication causing an adrenaline rush.  I have since Googled it to find more information but there’s not a lot online about why this happens.

It can happen at other times during your birthing experience too.

 

An Epidural Can Slow Down Labor And Interfere With Pushing

 

Sometimes an Epidural will slow down your whole birthing process. Occasionally contractions even stop but this is rare.

When this happens they will turn down the medication to get things moving again. So while you will have some pain relief you may have to feel some of the experience to keep things moving.

Pushing can become a problem too. Your pushing may not be effective because you simply cannot feel a thing. This happened to me and I pushed for three hours! Woo, I’m still tired and it’s been ten years. But he was really large, almost 10 pounds, and that was a big part of the issue.

 

You Will Need A Catheter

 

Because you are unable to feel and everything down there is paralyzed you won’t be able to urinate. You also won’t be able to feel when your bladder is full.

 

To resolve this issue they will give you an in and out catheter as they see fit. They gave me one about every two hours. Not fun but you can’t feel it so it’s not so bad.

 

You May Not Be Able To Move For Several Hours After Birth

 

It can take a while for the medicine to wear off. Even when it does start to wear off you’ll need assistance for a few more hours after that.

The first thing they wanted me to do was to go urinate after and I could still barely use my legs so they put me on this standing wheelchair to assist me and someone had to help me sit down. It’s pretty humbling but it’s all part of the process.

 

 

 

 

 Epidural can cause the need for further medical intervention

 

Some say there’s an increased risk for C-Section with Epidural and some say there’s not. Even though there are studies that say they don’t I have interviewed Health Care Professionals in this field and they often agree that it does seem to increase the chances.

The problem here is that Epidurals increase the pushing stage a lot because you just can’t feel how to push appropriately. If this stage lasts more than 3 hours or so they may start talking about c-section.

Or they may start considering Forceps or vacuum assistance.

 

 

 

An Epidural Can Affect The Baby

 

Most notably,  these medications have been known to cause respiratory depression and decreased fetal heart rate in newborns. Though the medication might not harm these babies, they have subtle effects on the newborn.

Another possible side effect of an epidural with some babies is a struggle with “latching on” in breastfeeding. This can cause a delay in the whole breastfeeding process.

 

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You May Get A Fever And That’s A Problem

 

Rarely an Epidural can cause a fever in the mother that can be dangerous to the baby.

Studies suggest epidurals induce an inflammatory response and boost cytokines levels that inflict neurologic damage. This is what starts the fever and if it gets above 101 degrees it could cause significant harm.

The fever can increase the risks of hypotonia, assisted ventilation, low Apgar scores, and early-onset seizures.

This doesn’t happen often so don’t worry too much.

Most women get an epidural and nothing at all goes wrong so your chances are really good that everything will go as planned.

Good Luck and enjoy your babe when she gets here.

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6 Things Doctors Don’t Tell You About Pregnancy Induction But Should

6 Things Doctors Don’t Tell You About Pregnancy Induction But Should

So you are having a baby and your due date is approaching. You have all these thoughts on going into labor soon and then you go to your doc appointment and she mentions induction.

Hold up. This is not something you’ve considered but should have. One in four women are induced and you knew it could happen.

So let’s talk about what you need to know so you’ll be fully prepared for this turn of events.

Below are 6 things that doctors don’t tell you about induction.

Are you worried about having a C-Section? You should read 18 Lifesaving C-section Recovery tips!

 

***Taking a prenatal course is the single most proactive thing you can do to prepare your body and mind for what’s to come. There’s a great online course you can take in the comfort of your home that was created by a labor and delivery nurse named Hillary.  It’s very popular and the first part of it is totally free. You can sign up for free right here. 

 

6 Things Doctors Don’t Tell You About Pregnancy Induction

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to scare you. It is meant to help inform you where your doctor has failed. Many don’t tell pregnant mamas anything about the process, risk, and advantages and it’s not cool. I know because it happened to me. They should be educating patients on this process since it can be really invasive and have unwanted consequences. As always, I encourage you to do more research. 

**This post may contain affiliate links at no extra charge to you. It’s how we keep our blog up and running to bring educational resources to pregnant and breastfeeding moms.

 

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You Should Ask Why You Need To Be Induced 

 

This seems obvious but many doctors tell their patients that they want to induce them and then don’t tell them why. And oftentimes the patient doesn’t ask.

Just Posted: 5 Things that happen when you have an epidural that no one tells you about!

The 6 Best Ways To Induce Labor At Home To Avoid A Hospital Induction 

 

It’s important to know if there’s a medical issue so you can weigh the pros and cons of the situation. Sometimes it’s just not that necessary and you could easily wait a couple more days to see if he comes on his own. It could save you a lot of grief.

 

 

 

Sometimes doctors schedule inductions as a matter of convenience for them. This happens WAY more often then you’d think. In fact, my doctor tried it with me with my third child.

Make sure that there’s a medical reason and that induction is appropriate in your situation.

 

Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.

 

 

Induction can take several days and make labor much longer

 

You read that right. Induction can make labor much, much longer.  It can go slow if your cervix is completely closed because you’re essentially trying to force your body into something it’s not prepared to do at that moment.

 

 

Sometimes ripening your cervix requires a day or more when your body is not ready.  Also, the induction of labor almost always takes much longer if this is your first baby.

But if your cervix is pretty ripe it may only take 3-6 extra hours compared to natural labor. It really does depend on where your body is at.

 

Must Read: How to get through Postpartum pain without crying

And 7 Horrible ways You’re Making your Labor So Much More Painful

What Nobody Tells You About The First Few Weeks Postpartum 

 

You won’t get any food after a certain time

 

After a certain period during the induction, you won’t be allowed to have anything to eat and if the induction takes days, this can be extremely difficult.

They don’t allow food to minimize complications but knowing this won’t make you any less hungry. For a while, you’ll run on adrenaline. But soon enough, if it takes longer then expected you’ll be ravenous.

So make sure you eat a huge meal to help fuel you through this process and enjoy it while you can.

 

Induction may not work

 

 

This is a big one. Sometimes trying to force your body to have a baby doesn’t work. Can you imagine being in the hospital for three days and then having to go home?

It does happen but not very often. Just something to consider.

 

Inductions Make Labor More Painful

 

Out of everything on this list, this one is the most likely to happen.  Induction with a Pitocin drip tends to be more intense and painful than a natural response to prostaglandins or having your waters broken.

If you’re wondering what Pitocin is it’s the typical medicine used to start your contractions.

Pitocin, when used to induce labor, tends to create what’s known as Jackhammer contractions because it is administered with a continuous drip IV that does not simulate the pulse and rhythm of natural oxytocin production. These intense contractions can overstimulate the uterus, stress the baby and require interventions such as a cesarean. More about that later.

I have had Pitocin in one of my three pregnancies and I can attest to this. My labor pain was SO much more intense. I had to have an early epidural ( which pissed my crappy doctor off ) because I couldn’t stand it and all I could do was scream into my pillow.

This alone is a great reason to avoid an induction unless it’s medically necessary.

 

Inductions May Increase Your Chances Of Needing A Cesarian 

 

There’s actually a lot of controversy over this. There are studies that say that being induced will NOT increase your chances of Cesarian. That’s great and all but if you ask pretty much any labor and delivery nurse or Doc they will tell you that it does seem to increase the chance.

At least the ones I’ve interviewed and talked with. So you’ll have to make your own conclusions about this. It’s hard to say really but I believe that it probably does.

 

 

It’s Gonna Be OK

These are the things that your doc just fails to mention when they start talking about induction. I’m sure most of the time they just don’t want to scare you and that’s fine.

But I went through a pretty terrible induction and I wish I’d known some of this stuff so I could have prepared differently.

Most of the time inductions will work out fine. The hardest part that occurs most often is that labor pain is on a whole different level. Sometimes things just go wrong but things usually work out fine.

If you need an induction for medical reasons it’s gonna be OK. You’ll do what you have to do and you will make it to the other side. But it’s good to know the full picture so you can be prepared.

Good Luck!

If you have any Induction stories you want to share scroll down and leave a comment!

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6 things doctors don't tell you about being induced #laborinduction #beinginduced #labor #childbirth

 

6 things doctors don't tell you about being induced #laborinduction #beinginduced #labor #childbirth

6 things doctors don't tell you about being induced #laborinduction #beinginduced #labor #childbirth

6 things doctors don't tell you about being induced #laborinduction #beinginduced #labor #childbirth

The 6 Absolute Best Ways to Induce Labor Naturally At Home And One I’m Not So Sure About

The 6 Absolute Best Ways to Induce Labor Naturally At Home And One I’m Not So Sure About

At the end of your pregnancy, you’re tired and you’re ready to meet your babe. You want her OUT already and you know that you’ll likely go past your due date and have to wait even longer. It all gets pretty old and exhausting.

But there are ways that you can help things along. There are some natural things you can do that will help contrary to what you may read online.

Some articles I read when doing research for this post said that you cannot help induce labor naturally. Well, that’s just silly.

If you’ve had a healthy pregnancy and your babe is strong you can try inducing labor yourself at home at around 38 weeks. It’s best to wait to induce labor at 40 weeks though.

Let’s look at how you can get things moving along. Below is THE list of the very best ways to induce labor at home naturally.

Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.

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6 Best Ways Of Inducing Labor Yourself At Home

 

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Castor Oil 

 

This will definitely help move EVERYTHING along. Castor oil has been used for centuries to help induce labor naturally at home. It works really well but it does have side effects so you need to be careful and aware of what you’re in for.

Castor oil will affect Special receptors, known as EP3 receptors, that are found primarily in the intestines, uterus, and immune cells. The ricinoleic acid in the castor oil stimulates these EP3 receptors, causing the smooth muscle fibers to contract. This is what causes the contractions when taken while pregnant.

The downside is that it can cause diarrhea. But some think that this is a good thing ( as long as its not too severe obviously ) because it can help prevent bowel movements on the table during birth.

 

***Taking a prenatal course is the single most proactive thing you can do to prepare your body and mind for what’s to come. There’s a great online course you can take in the comfort of your home that was created by a labor and delivery nurse named Hillary.  It’s very popular and the first part of it is totally free. You can sign up for free right here. 

 

It will definitely clean you out and will likely start contractions too. How do I know for sure? Because it worked for me! and lots of other mamas too. Within an hour of talking about a tablespoon and a half, I went to the bathroom and then started having contractions. The next day my sweet girl was born. Tons of mamas who tried this have a similar story to tell. Just Google it and check out some forums.

**Please note that everything has risks and you should do your own research before taking this route. This is not medical advice, only what I and other mothers have experienced when taking this age-old remedy for this purpose.

 

Acupressure

 

Ways to induce labor naturally at home

 

There are acupressure points on the body that can get your labor going. They are widely used by natural health practitioners and said to work very well.

If you’re wondering what this is, Acupressure is the lesser-known companion to acupuncture. Acupuncture is the traditional Chinese medicinal practice of sticking thin needles into areas of your body that are believed to control a specific organ or body part.

But instead of needles, acupressure requires physical pressure to be applied to points that run along your body’s meridian system — or life-energy path.

You can find out where these magical points are on your body in the video below to get your labor started.

 

 

Just Posted: 5 Things that happen when you have an epidural that no one tells you about!

25 Pregnancy Symptoms No One Tells You About

18 Pregnancy Hacks You Need To Know Now

Must Read: How to get through Postpartum pain without crying

And 7 Horrible ways You’re Making your Labor So Much More Painful

What Nobody Tells You About The First Few Weeks Postpartum 

 

Have Sex

 

Having sex is a great way to get contractions started and there’s science to back this up.

 

ways to induce labor naturally at home

 

First of all, semen is a natural source of prostaglandins, And prostaglandins are known to ripen the cervix and get it ready for labor. Prostaglandins can also be used to induce labor medically.

Second, sex, especially with an orgasm, has been found to increase uterine activity, and nipple stimulation is also thought to stimulate the uterus (more about that later ) to induce labor. So get between those sheets.

 

Have Your Membranes Swept

 

Stripping the membranes is a way to induce labor. It involves your doctor sweeping their (gloved) finger between the thin membranes of the amniotic sac in your uterus.

If the cervix is soft but still closed, your doc may stretch or massage the cervix to stimulate it to begin to dilate. Stretching the cervix can feel pretty uncomfortable, and many women describe it as a sharp, shooting pain.

After the sweep, you will likely experience cramping and bleeding.

This is definitly not my cup of tea but if you’re are really anxious to give birth it is effective.

 

induce labor at home naturally

 

 

Drink Red Raspberry Tea

 

I Used Red Raspberry Leaf Tea To Induce Labor with all three of my babes. It does seem to help and it certainly cannot hurt.

Midwives claim that red raspberry leaf tea will shorten the length of your labor by softening your cervix, making contractions more intense and helping to make labor way less uncomfortable. Give it a try and see if it helps you!

Here’s a tea made just for this purpose.  It’s called Pink Stork Labor Prep and it’s awesome. See it here on Amazon. 

 

Exercise

 

ways to induce labor at home naturally

 

Getting in some good physical activity stimulates everything including your uterus when you’re pregnant. It’s a great way to induce labor naturally at home.

Here’s a great article on 8 Useful Exercises that Will Help Induce Labor Naturally. 

 

 

Other Posts:

What To Expect During The First Trimester 

What to Expect during the Second Trimester 

What to expect during the third trimester

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Pregnancy and What You Need To Know

 

Nipple Stimulation 

 

This sounds strange, doesn’t it? Who wants to sit around and rub their own nipples?

I don’t know if this one actually works but the theory behind nipple stimulation is that it mimics breastfeeding and causes sensory cells in the nipples to signal the brain to release oxytocin. This, in turn, causes contractions.

ways to induce labor at home

While it does cause your uterus to contract, most studies show that it does not bring about the onset of actual labor.

Some women who believe that nipple stimulation works pump their breasts in hopes that it will get things moving, but I think some of the stuff I mentioned earlier are much better options. You decide.

 

Good luck with having your babe and I hope some of these things help! I think Castor Oil is hands down THE BEST way to get labor started naturally at home but it’s a personal choice. Just go into it carefully and do your research.

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5 Things That Happen When You Have An Epidural That Know One Tells You About

5 Things That Happen When You Have An Epidural That Know One Tells You About

I love Epidurals. They make childbirth so much easier in every way and you are able to focus more on what’s actually going on. It allows women to feel present during birth so that they can really enjoy the experience.

Kudos to those women who do it naturally because they are real warriors! I can’t even wrap my head around it….

Anyway, some strange things happen when you have an epidural and you may be totally unaware of them until they happen to you. I have had 3 epidurals so I’ve been there, done that.

Some of my experiences were really strange so read on to find out what can happen when you get this type of Anesthesia during childbirth.

**Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Don’t have time? Here’s the best Premium online birthing course and the first part of it’s totally free! You will learn absolutely everything you need to know and it will help tremendously so make sure you sign up. A Class is a must and I think the online ones are the best. Here’s a free Birth Planner Too! 

There are some really nice freebies for you near the bottom of this too. Be sure to check that out. I’m giving away 6 versions of my rainbow pregnancy journal as well as milestone cards and more!

5 Things That Happen When You Have An Epidural That N One Tells You About

You May Get The Shakes

Some Women { Including me all three times } Will begin shivering furiously when the epidural starts to take effect. It’s really Bizarre and surprising.

None of the nurses warned me this would happen and I began shaking so violently that I barely had any control over my body. I couldn’t even really speak for a while. Your body also gets a total rush. That’s the only way I can explain it.

I was told that this is caused by your body reacting to the medication causing an adrenaline rush.  I have since Googled it to find more information but there’s not a lot online about why this happens.

This can happen at other times during labor as well. Especially right before pushing. Imagine the adrenaline going through your body at that moment! It’s all very intense.

You’ll Have To Have A Catheter 

Since you’re numb from the waist down you cannot go to the bathroom on your own. They will need to do a catheter to relieve your bladder.

Some hospitals do a catheter that stays in until you’re ready to push but most do an in-and-out catheter.

This is a catheter they only put in for a few minutes to allow the urine to evacuate and then they remove it. Despite having an epidural and being mostly numb, it’s still an uncomfortable sensation.

One side effect of these catheters is that it seems to stretch out your urethra some. After having one of these, urine just pours out for a while instead of being in a stream.

But it does heal and shrink back to its original size.

5 things you didn't know happens during an epidural #epidural #childbirth Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.

 

It May Not Work

I hate to break it to you and I definitely don’t want to scare you but Sometimes Epidurals don’t work. Like, at all..

This can happen when an inexperienced Anesthesiologist is assigned to you. Or sometimes you move too much because it can be slightly painful when they insert the needle.

Or your anatomy is slightly different than others.

Unfortunately, sometimes you’re just super unlucky. I don’t know. All of mine worked but my sister had one with her first child and they missed the right spot and it did nothing.

Let’s hope if you’re counting on an epidural that it works for you.

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It May Only Work In Sections

Sometimes your Epidural works great, well mostly…. You may find that you have full pain relief everywhere but in one or two spots.

This is not at all uncommon and it happened to me two out of three times. I had complete numbness everywhere but this one place on the lower left side of my belly.

At first, it was mostly numb but then it sort of wore off everywhere else, and by the time I was pushing I could feel full labor, cramping, and pressure in that one spot only. It was really bizarre.

But the epidural still did a great job and even though I could feel some pain it still worked well so that my labor was generally very comfortable.

This happens pretty often to women who get epidurals and the area can vary. Sometimes the epidural works great on one side of your body but not at all on the other side. It’s just all luck I guess.

Things no one tells you about epidurals #epidurals #childbirth #epiduralsideeffects

You May Need More Than One

Occasionally if you get an epidural early in labor you may need two. They won’t have to stick a needle in your spine twice, of course, because the whole thing is administered via IV,  But you may run out of the pain medication and they may have to give you a second bag.

During my first labor, they induced me and the pain went from zero to one hundred in sixty seconds. It was bad.

My mom is a nurse and she said they turned the Pitocin up too high so the contractions were STRONG. I ask for an epidural early ( which pissed my crappy doctor off ) and it was the best relief I’ve ever had.

Just Added:

But it ran out and they had to give me another, then that one started to run out so they gave me this little button to push that delivered medication as needed and I used it. Like I said I was scared ladies. Just so you know my baby came out fine and he was alert and happy, for all of you worried about so much medication.

My other two labors went just fine, and I wasn’t nearly as terrified. Had one epidural for each.

Having an epidural is a great way to relax your body so that you can be present during the birth of your beautiful baby, but they also cause your body to react strangely sometimes.

It’s still well worth it if you’re going the medicine route. I don’t know why there’s not more information online about how epidurals may affect you. I was so surprised by some of it and that’s why I wanted to write this post for those who are thinking of getting one. I hope it helps!

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Good luck to you mama!

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What Nobody Tells You About The First Few Weeks Postpartum ** A Must Read **

What Nobody Tells You About The First Few Weeks Postpartum ** A Must Read **

When you are about to have a baby it’s the only thing on your mind. You think of nothing else. You read tons of information and you dream all day long about what it’s going to be like.

But you are forgetting something important and that’s yourself.

You don’t hear much about what happens in the ” Fourth Trimester ” or your Postpartum recovery period. There’s not a ton of information about what you’ll be going through online and nobody really talks about this too much while you’re pregnant.

It all often comes as a big surprise once the baby arrives and you can’t help but wonder why you didn’t think of preparing yourself better for this time…

Well, I’m a mama of three and I think it’s important to be prepared. I’ve been through it all and if you want to enjoy your special time to the fullest without being in constant pain and discomfort then read on.

I’m going to help you get fully prepared for what happens next. Make sure you read all the way to the bottom of the post, there’s some funny stuff in here 😉

Let’s get to it!

**Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.

By the way, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

 

What Nobody Tells You About Your First Few Weeks Postpartum And How To Prepare For It 

How to survive postpartum

Giving Birth To The Placenta Hurts too

So you’ve just had your babe and you know there’s a placenta in there somewhere. Surely that will just pop right out, right? Wrong.

For many women, a nurse will have to push and probe your stomach for a bit to get it to move down. This hurts pretty bad on your tender tummy and then you’ll likely have some more contractions as well. And for some reason, the epidural doesn’t do much for this pain. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because it’s beginning to wear off, but for each of my three pregnancies, I felt the full pain of all that pushing and massage.

The contractions are not as intense as when you’re actually having your baby obviously but more like a dull ache from deep within. It’s really uncomfortable but this too shall soon pass.

 

Postpartum, things no one tells you about postpartum

**Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Don’t have time? Here’s the best Premium online birthing course and the first part of it’s totally free! You will learn absolutely everything you need to know and it will help tremendously so make sure you sign up. A Class is a must and I think the online ones are the best. Here’s a free Birth Planner Too! 

The tummy massage

At this point you wish the nurses would be hands-off, but oh no… They are not done with you yet.

They will need to massage your tummy several times over the next few days and it’s no fun. It causes a good bit of discomfort and you will usually experience cramps afterward.

They do this type of massage because it helps to shrink your uterus. It’s important to let them but it’s very uncomfortable because they go deep with their fingers. Ouch! Sorry ladies, but it’s all part of the experience.

Your Vagina Will Swell Huge

 

This is no joke. All the trauma involved in childbirth really does a number on your lady parts. You’ll be swollen huge like a big opened orchid. Sorry for the detail… but that’s what it looks like.

It does hurt for at least a week or two and it can be intense, especially if you were torn or cut during the birthing process. I recommend reading this post I wrote about how to control this pain completely so that you can enjoy your baby without suffering constantly during those hardest first two weeks.

 

Postpartum, things no one tells you about postpartum

 

You may want to sit on an ice pack for a week or two

This has a lot to do with what I was talking about above. Your flower will be very sore and you’ll want to take down the swelling with these special ice packs.

Sitting on a donut pillow is vital for pain control as well. Here’s a great one on Amazon.

 

Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.

Someone will have to help you go potty

After all this, you’ll have no shame. The first few times you go to the bathroom after giving birth you’ll need assistance.

Especially if you’ve had an epidural. They’ll put you on this standing wheelchair ( or at least they did after my three births ) to get you in the bathroom because you’ll still likely be numb.

It’s hard to walk properly in this condition so they help you. Once you’ve gone they may come in with a peri bottle and squirt off the blood and residues from your vagina.

 

Pooping is Difficult

After you’ve had your baby having a bowel movement can be scary, especially the first time. You’re so tender, sore, and swollen that it just creates a lot of discomfort.

Stool softeners are highly recommended during this time so that you can go comfortably without causing pain or interfering with healing. Miralax is hands down the best product for this.

 

 

Breastfeeding is not nearly as easy as you thought

Breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your babe and I am a huge breastfeeding enthusiast.

But there’s this huge misconception about it. Many women assume that it’s as simple as putting their babe to the boob and nature will take its course.

This is just not the case at all. Breastfeeding is hard and getting the latch right is even harder. It takes practice and education and the sad part is, that many hospitals don’t have a lactation consultant on staff to help so many women end up giving up.

(To learn more about how to make breastfeeding easier see this post. See this one as well for breastfeeding hacks that work. )

You cannot count on someone at the hospital showing you how and if you didn’t get the proper education beforehand then it may spell trouble.

There’s a great online video course called Milkology that’s only $19 that will teach you everything you need to know in about 90 minutes. I highly recommend you take this course. Many women buy it and have great success at breastfeeding.

 

breastfeeding video course Milkology

 

Don’t take the chance of not being able to breastfeed when it means so much!

Read: 10 Ways To Increase Your Milk Supply Overnight

 Nipple cream is Your Friend

Your boobs will be sorer than you ever thought was humanly possible, especially if you’re breastfeeding. You’ll need a good cream like this for sure ( It’s a must ) and these booby ice packs too.

Don’t get caught off guard without the supplies you need after birth or all you’ll be able to think about is the pain you’re having when you should be elated over your little one.

You’ll Still Look Preggers

We all hear the stories about women shrinking to pre-baby size before they leave the hospital but this is actually really rare, even for first-time moms.

In fact, I’m not sure that actually ever happens. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Your tummy will look pregnant for at least the first month and possibly longer. One way to speed the healing up and shrink your tummy faster is to join a postpartum program designed specifically for this purpose.

The Postpartum Cure is a program designed to help get your body back to pre-baby shape as quickly as possible without losing your milk supply ( That can happen if you cut too many calories trying to get back into shape).

This program has diet information and plans, daily exercise programs and so much more. It’s very popular amongst postpartum women who need to get back into shape asap. You can take a look here. 

She also has another program called “ The Belly Only Pregnancy ” that helps you keep from getting too big during pregnancy. The quickest way to keep your shape during and after pregnancy is not over gain in the first place and that’s what this program is all about. You can see it here. 

You will Have Cramps

The first week after birth you will be really crampy. It will feel a bit like a very bad period.

These cramps are caused by your uterus contracting as  I mentioned earlier. It’s just your body trying to get back to normal.

If it gets really bad you can take some Tylenol or use a heating pad.

 

Postpartum, things no one tells you about postpartum

You Will Bleed A Lot

After giving birth you will bleed. So. Very. Much. Most women bleed for a month to 6 weeks. You should have these postpartum undies ( they are a must! ) on hand and pads too. Lots and lots of pads.

Just a note: Don’t use tampons postpartum.  They raise the risk of infection in your healing womb and can be dangerous during this time.

You’ll Be Hungry As Hell

There’s no hunger like postpartum hunger. Your body just expelled huge amounts of energy, it needs to heal and it needs to make milk.

You will be ravenous, and the food Will taste SO GOOD. You will want to eat all the things. And I say go ahead that first week or two.

 

 

Then dial it back a bit, especially if you have weight to lose. If that’s the case I recommend taking the program I mentioned above called The Postpartum Cure. 

The staff won’t let you sleep or rest!

This is another thing that will happen While you’re in the hospital. They will not leave you alone. You need to rest like nobody’s business yet they come in every hour to take your blood pressure and massage your stomach.

Yes, even in the dead of night when your babe just fell asleep and you just closed your eyes. Every. Single. Hour.

While I enjoyed the hospital stay because it gave me time to take it all in and get used to the idea that I had a babe, this drove me crazy. It gets really annoying but there’s nothing you can do to shoo them away so you’ll have to endure like all the mamas before you.

 

Postpartum, No one will leave you alone!

You’ll Stink

After you have your baby your hormones will spiral out of control and they’ll go crazy ( and you’ll feel crazy ).

One of the many, many side effects of this is that you’ll have a really strong body odor. And it gets really bad, almost skunky. Sorry, mama! A lot of the stuff in this post isn’t great news but it is what it is.

Your Lady parts will also smell strong. It often smells like a wound healing, because well, it is a wound healing. Both inside and out. Even two months later you may have that wound smell coming out.

It can be very alarming but I assure you that it’s normal. Your uterus has a lot of work to do and healing takes time. If it’s really bothering you then mention it to your ob-gyn when you go for your checkup.

Your Hair Will Fall Out

Your hair falling out in handfuls is all part of the postpartum package. You can thank all those pesky hormones for causing this.

It can be scary but most of the time it’s less than it looks like. Often it grows back just like before.

There will be tears and confusion

I have mentioned your hormones will go crazy right? Right.

There will be moments when it all seems like too much and you just have no clue what to do. It’s all pretty overwhelming. I know as women, we know what it feels like to be hormonal, but after having a baby this feeling can be 500 times stronger.

You should be prepared for this and have plenty of support. Take a deep breath mama, it’s all going to be ok. (( Hugs ))

 

Postpartum symptoms and depression

 

Having a baby is really exciting but don’t forget to consider what you may go through when the big day arrives. You want to be at your very best and knowing what to expect is definitely half the battle.

As always, I wish you well during your special time!

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How to survive postpartum

How to survive postpartum

How to survive postpartum

 

 

 

 

 

15 Signs Your Baby Will Be Born In The Next few Days

15 Signs Your Baby Will Be Born In The Next few Days

When you get close to your due date you’ll likely start wondering how you’ll actually know that you’re in labor.

Every mama does, especially if it’s your first time. While every birth is different from one woman to the next, there are some clear signs of labor that you may start to notice.

These signs can tell you how close you actually are, or they can give you a close guess.

Let’s discuss the labor symptoms that will tell you if your babe is coming in the next few days.

Afraid of Childbirth?

Read This: How To Really Take The Fear Out Of Childbirth

Also, this is a must-read:

How to get through Postpartum pain without crying And 25 Pregnancy Side Effects No One Tells You About 

**This Post May contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. 

15 Early Signs Of Labour Approaching

15 signs labor is coming any day now

 

The Baby Drops

 

If you notice that your belly has suddenly gotten lower and you feel a lot more pressure in your pelvis then your baby has dropped.

This a really good indicator that your babe will be arriving really soon.

This process is also known as lightening and It happens when the baby’s head literally drops lower into your pelvis, becoming engaged within your pubic bones.

 

Regular Contractions

 

This is the most obvious indicator that your babe is on her way but some contractions can be so mild you barely notice at first.

Pay close attention to your body and the way you feel.

If you notice your abdominal region tightening in a regularly timed way and feel some slight discomfort then heavy labor could be right around your corner.

These are different from Braxton Hixx Contractions that occur in a really random way.

 

 

 

**Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Well here’s an online course that only takes a few hours to go through. It’s made by birthing professionals and it has rave reviews.

Diarrhea

 

This is a big one. If you suddenly get Diarrhea at the very end near your due date then your labor could be coming soon.

Even within 48 hours ( though every woman varies ). This occurs because of the release of hormones called prostaglandins.

Having the runs a day or two before labor starts is the body’s way of emptying the bowels to allow the uterus to contract efficiently.

This is also good if you’re worrying about pooping on the table. You still may go some but if you have diarrhea several days beforehand it shouldn’t be as much.

 

 

 

Related Posts:

 

Water Breaks

Yep. When Your water breaks it’s a sure-fire sign that your babe is due to arrive the next day. It can be a leak or a gush with blood.

This doesn’t happen for all women though. Many times the water doesn’t break until right before the baby is born or the doc may even need to break it.

My point is if you think you’re in progressive labor don’t wait around for your water to break, that could be a big mistake.

 

Lower back pain and cramping

 

Dull pain in the back that comes and goes can definitely be a sign of labor pain. It may be mild at first and get worse and consistent or barely noticeable.

 

Bloody Discharge

 

You might notice a thick, pinkish, or blood-streaked discharge right before your labor starts.

This is the mucus plug that sealed your cervix during pregnancy.

It often appears just a few days before labor begins, although it’s not always noticeable. But sometimes it is. I didn’t have my mucus plug show with my first two pregnancies.

But with my third, It came suddenly and there was a HUGE amount of blood. I mean like I’m having a heavy period type of flow.

It scared me to death but it turned out that everything was fine and my baby was born within the next 24 hours.

So don’t panic if it’s a ton of blood, it doesn’t always mean something’s wrong. But definitely get in touch with the doc and go to the hospital.

 

Cervix Dilates

 

If you go to the doc and they tell your cervix is well on its way, then the baby could be close. You can help your cervix dilate faster by doing the things below:

  1. Walking a lot
  2. stretch your hips and bounce gently on a  Birth Ball
  3. Do Gentle Exercises
  4. Relax with Warm Showers
  5. Stimulate Your Nipples
  6. Have an Orgasm ( or several 😉 )

 

 

 Effacement

 

Effacement is similar to your cervix dilating.

Effacement means that the cervix stretches and gets thinner.

Dilatation means that the cervix opens. Both help prepare your body for giving birth to your child.

The more effaced and dilated you are, the closer you are to meeting your babe.

*** Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.

 

Nesting instinct

 

This urge to clean and organize is known as nesting.

Nesting during pregnancy is the overwhelming desire to get your home ready for your new baby.

The nesting instinct is strongest in the later weeks coming upon delivery.

It is an old wives’ tale that once nesting urges begin, labor could be coming soon. So get everything done that you can because he’s on his way!

 

Vaginal Discharge Changes Color And Consistency

 

This can happen even before your Mucus plug comes out. Discharge can get heavy and darker. It’s icky but it’s a good sign to watch for.

This is a sign that labor is approaching.

 

Joints Loosen

 

Your hips and pelvis may suddenly feel a lot looser right before you go into labor.

It’s a strange feeling but it’s caused by hormones that are suddenly released before your labor starts.

You may feel like your joints have progressively loosened through pregnancy but right before labor, it seems really obvious and you can feel the change.

 

Nausea

 

Many women feel nauseous about a day or so before labor actually begins. Again, this is due to heavy hormonal changes going through your body.

 

 

Skin Outbreak

 

Your skin can go ballistic right before you have your babe and once again it’s due to the tidal wave of hormones inside of you.

It will pass once your baby is born.

 

A Headache

 

Some women have terrible hormonal headaches right before they go into labor.

If this happens to you just take some Tylenol and take solace in knowing your baby is on her way.

**New Breastfeeding Posts You Should Read:

7 Ways To Prevent Sagging Breasts after Breastfeeding!  

How to firm up sagging breasts AFTER breastfeeding

7 Ways Your Totally Trashing Your Milk Supply And What To Do About it! 

10 Ways To Increase Your Milk Supply Overnight

 

Dizziness

 

You may feel very dizzy in the last couple of days before your baby is born.

The main cause of dizziness in pregnancy is due to the rising hormones that cause your blood vessels to relax and widen.

This helps increase the blood flow to your baby, but it slows the return of the blood in the veins to you.

So watch out for this and stand up slowly so that you don’t fall. So these are the signs your baby will be arriving soon.

If you have several chances are you’ll be in labor and meeting your babe before you know it.

Exciting right? I wish you all the luck in the world during your special time! Enjoy!

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15 early signs that labor is approaching #signsoflabor #pregnancy #childbirth #laborsigns

 

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