Postpartum- Things They Don’t Tell You About Postpartum

Gosh, postpartum time can be tough. It’s not something that’s talked about too much when there’s so much excitement surrounding pregnancy.

They educate you on everything except postpartum care and what to expect.

After childbirth, Your body will be going through a lot but there are some ways you can minimize the pain and discomfort.

Below is a list that will help you get through your postpartum time just a little bit more comfortably.

We also have some pregnancy journals, Milestone Cards, And Closet Separators you can download and print a bit lower in the article, so look for that if you like nice things❣️

***Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Don’t have time? Here’s the best Premium online birthing course that you can take and it will teach you everything you need to know in a couple of hours.

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

Postpartum Self Care- Things You Need To Know

You Give Birth Twice

Once your baby is born the work is not over. You still have to birth the placenta and while it’s softer it’s still quite uncomfortable. There’s plenty of rather intense cramping and they massage your extremely sensitive abdomen while you’re exhausted and want to be left alone.

Yet it has to be done. Usually, they’ll place the baby on your chest and that will help distract you from this extra pain but it won’t go unnoticed.

I had an epidural with each of mine and still felt the strange discomfort of them pushing deeply on my belly while the placenta was being birthed. It was like a dull aching all over despite the anesthesia.

The Tummy Massage

Once you have given birth and the whole ordeal is over they’ll need to massage your stomach. At this point, you’ll wish they’d leave you be, but it’s part of the process so they’re not done yet.

They do this because It helps your uterus shrink back down to the appropriate size.

It will cause a cramping feeling after they’re done.

**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! 

Your Vagina Will Swell Huge

If you have a vaginal birth the experience is intense. You will be very swollen afterward, especially if your perineum tears when your child finally makes it through the birth canal.

It is common for the perineum to tear to some extent during most childbirths.

Tears can happen inside the vagina or other parts of the vulva, including the labia.

9 out of 10 mothers who have a vaginal birth will have some sort of tearing. They will sew the area up and it will swell after.

They often offer ice packs to sit on for a couple of days to reduce the access swelling. You may also want to sit on a donut pillow. Every new mother who has given birth should have one of these. It’s very comfortable and handy. It’s a must. Here’s a great one over on Amazon.

Someone will have to help you go To The Bathroom

Right after you give birth they will want you to urinate. This can be an uncomfortable experience. They will often have you stand on this rolling wheelchair where they have you hold onto a bar.

They want to make sure you can stand up and everything is functioning properly.

Pooping is Difficult

The first time you go after childbirth can be a scary experience. Everything is swollen and there’s a lot of trauma down there.

It just feels strange. After a few times though it doesn’t feel as painful.

Nobody tells you this while pregnant. Facing the bathroom can be a daunting experience after childbirth, period.

Breastfeeding is not nearly as easy as you thought

You’d really think that breastfeeding would be the most natural thing in the world for mother and child, but it actually takes skill.

This is why so many new mothers try and fail at it. They aren’t educated at all on what it takes to latch their baby on or what they have to do for success.

Some facilities have lactation consultants and some do not, which is pretty sad.

So it’s often up to you to learn what is necessary to succeed. You have to learn to latch properly, and you need to especially keep your baby on the breast most waking hours to stimulate the breast enough to bring in lots of thick, rich milk.

If you’re determined to succeed at breastfeeding, and I hope that you are, I highly recommend you take a quick breastfeeding course.

This will increase your chances of success greatly.

There’s a great online video course called Milkology that’s only $27 that will teach you everything you need to know in about 90 minutes. It’s the best breastfeeding course online, It’s quick and easy, and it gets rave reviews.

 Nipple Cream is Your Friend

With breastfeeding comes very sore nipples. Especially at first. That first couple of weeks can be brutal but you can push through and they’ll be way less sensitive within the first month.

A great nipple cream or balm can make all the difference between success and simply not being able to stand it another minute. It’s a must-have for newly breastfeeding moms.

You’ll likely find that they get randomly sore off and on as well so it’s good to have it handy. Here is a nipple balm that is the answer to your nipple woes. You can thank me later.

You’ll Still Look Preggers

You may sort of already know this but you won’t realize just how much you still look pregnant until you’ve had your baby and you’ve barely changed.

Of course, this is not always true but it is for many. It can take months to get even close to what you were in the past.

Understanding this and being prepared is important. You can also have a game plan to regain your shape and fitness so that you feel like you have a little more control over the outcome.

The Postpartum Cure program is a great way to start.

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 Pregnancy Health Program ” 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 cramps are intense. They will come and go and they’ll feel a little bit like labor.

The first couple of days the cramps will feel like your Uterus is trying to tie itself into a pretty bow. But as the days pass,  your uterus will shrink down and the cramping will become less and less.

I was surprised at the intensity of the cramping after each of my three children so be prepared.

You Will Bleed A Lot

This is something else you already surely know.

But it’s hard to grasp it until you’re going through it. There will be blood and lots of it.

You will likely pass large clots as well which will shock you. It’s not at all uncommon.

The doctors and nurses will brief you on what’s normal and what’s abnormal so you can know if and when to call the doctor.

Clots that are of a certain size out of the normal range warrant a visit to your doc asap.

You’ll Be Hungry As Hell

The hunger is real and food never tastes as good as it does right after you’ve birthed your baby. Remember my words here on this page when you dig into those first bites and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

I don’t know if it’s just all the exertion or your body’s desperate need to refill its stores that makes you so hungry and the food taste so rich, but it’s out of this world.

I still remember the first meals after each of my children. Food has never been as good as it was in those moments. Ever.

So plan for something magical, as a celebration of yourself and your baby’s birth.

You’ll Stink

After you have your baby you’ll get a very dramatic swing in hormones, as expected. One thing they don’t tell you much about is that you’ll smell very strongly.

It’s unpleasant but true. Even a couple hours after a good hot shower you’ll start to notice it.

This will go on for the first month or so after childbirth then slowly subside.

Your Hair Will Fall Out

I’m sure you’ve heard that you’ll have extra hair fall during your postpartum period. For some, it’s not too bad, but for others, it can be a lot.

Make sure to get blood work done if it seems accessive because your thyroid can go nuts during this time as well and you want to make sure something more serious isn’t going on.

After about 6 months or so your hair fall will normalize and grow into the normal hair phases of your pre-pregnancy state.

There will be tears and confusion

Postpartum is hard.. It’s one heck of a roller coaster both physically and emotionally. Your body kind of goes nuts after your child’s birth, and it will take a toll. No one is exempt.

The storm usually hits really hard about three days later and when it does, you’ll know. So you should mentally prepare for this.

Most pass through this trying time with success and see the light on the other side.

But for some women, it doesn’t go so well. This is when postpartum depression occurs. If you feel like you’re beginning to have trouble and those deep baby blues don’t seem to be passing it’s important that you talk to your doctor for both yours and your baby’s sake.

So those are the things you should know about postpartum. Below are tips that will help make everything a bit easier for you. This will help you be prepared for what’s ahead.

Vaginal Care-—

As we mentioned earlier, your vagina will be uncomfortable after childbirth.  But there are products you can use and things you can do to help ease the discomfort.

First use ice. Ice is your best friend. You can get those Perineal ice packs to use. They will help tremendously at easing your pain. See them here. 

You can also use a cooling perineal numbing spray like this one. This is definitely something you want to have on hand. This Earth Mama Perineal Spray has  Benzocaine in it so it works really well.

It’s what I used and I highly recommend it.

A Peri Bottle to rinse with when you use the bathroom and Tucks Pads will help cleanse and soothe you as well.

What You’ll Need-

✅Incontinence Underwear

✅ Pain-Relieving Spray 

✅Tuck’s Pads

✅Perineal Ice Pack

✅A Cleansing Bottle Or Peri Bottle 

✅Pads

✅Healing Ointment

✅Nipple Balm

✅Gel Nursing Pads

✅ Donut Pillow 

Postpartum is an exciting yet difficult time for a mother, especially with her first child. We hope that this information has made you feel a bit more prepared so you can enjoy the birthing experience and your baby as much as possible.

Good Luck!

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What To Expect After Vaginal Childbirth

So you had a baby and now you’re hurting down there. Bummer…. I know it hurts, I’ve been there.

I’ve had three babies and it feels a bit like your insides have been turned inside out. Not fun at all.

Your recovery period will be around 6 weeks no matter what and you’ll experience the most pain during the first week, but you can help things along. Here’s a post on things no one tells you about during postpartum. It’s a good read, you should check it out.

You’ll have pain and symptoms during your postpartum like sore nipples, backaches, and perineal pain that will likely continue for weeks.

You’ll also be exhausted as your body begins to heal and you’ll feel like you’ve been hit by a truck. True story.

But there are things you can do to help yourself heal faster and that’s what we’ll discuss in this article today.

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By the way, this post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ways To Heal Faster After Vaginal Childbirth

Below we’ll discuss all the things you can expect to experience and what to do about it.

Abdominal pain

After your little one is delivered your abdomen is going to ache quite a bit.

During this time the uterus contracts and shrinks back to its normal size.

This will cause some lower abdominal cramps that are known as afterpains.

These pain typically feel a good bit like menstrual cramps only stronger.

They can last a few weeks for some women but usually, decrease after the first week.

If they become severe, you should contact your healthcare provider for an evaluation.

Fluctuating Hormones 

The hormonal rollercoaster that comes after childbirth can be really intense and there’s not a lot of education or talk about the subject throughout pregnancy.

So even though you intuitively know that these things will occur it can really take you by surprise.

So here’s what happens with each of the main female hormones immediately after childbirth:

Progesterone drops off literally the second after you birth the placenta while prolactin begins to rapidly increase.

Your ovaries will not start creating progesterone again until your first menstrual cycle, which will create moods, anxiety, and all kinds of other weird symptoms. It’s not comfortable, I can tell you from experience.

Once your progesterone goes down your Prolactin will shoot sky high.

But there’s a feedback loop with Prolactin and the brain neurotransmitter Dopamine.

When your Dopamine is high your prolactin goes down so there will be these fluctuations within your body.

Dopamine will go down so that Prolactin can go up and as a result, prolactin can sometimes be the reason behind moodiness, low energy levels, and slowed metabolism after your baby’s birth.

Your Estrogen is your feel-good feminine hormone and it will suddenly drop significantly too.

All this happening inside you combined can feel pretty crazy and that’s where all those dreaded after childbirth moods and tears come from.

It’s not easy my friends…

**Read: What to expect the first 24 hours in the hospital after your babe is born

Baby Blues

On the same note as the hormone fluctuations come the full-blown baby blues.

The baby blues are natural though and happen to every new mama to a certain extent.

But sometimes things can take a turn for the worst and you end up with Postpartum Depression.

Postpartum depression is a serious, but treatable illness involving feelings of extreme sadness, indifference, anxiety, as well as changes in energy, sleep, and appetite.

It can be dangerous for both mother and child so if you feel like your ‘ baby blues ‘ is progressing to something much deeper and more profound you should speak to your health care provider immediately.

Constipation

So you were constipated during pregnancy, you pooped on the table ( or not if you’re particularly lucky ) and you thought you’d be done with it.

Well, not quiet. You still may have a ways to go, unfortunately.

Constipation is a normal discomfort that can be caused by several factors related to what’s happening to your body before, during, and after you give birth.

Some of the causes of constipation after childbirth are C-section, Damage to the anal sphincter or pelvic floor muscles, Dehydration or lack of fluids, Hormonal changes, Perineal pain, Using pain medication or epidural during labor, and more.

So yeah constipation continues on… but it will be gone before you know it so hang in there!

****If you’re still pregnant but haven’t taken a birthing class yet, there’s a great online course by Hilary Over at Pulling Curls. She’s a nurse and this is the best birthing class online today and at a great price point and part of the course is totally free. Have a look here.  You can also get a free birth plan right here.

Hemorrhoids

With all the continued constipation often comes Hemorrhoids.

It’s not always so bad but for some women, it can be pretty terrible.

However, the problem usually clears up on its own within about a 6 week period after birth.

You can use a good hemorrhoid cream to relieve some of your discomforts and sitting on a donut pillow like this one will help with perineum soreness and hemorrhoids. I highly recommend you get one!

Perineum Soreness

If you had a vaginal birth, your perineum (the area between the anus and the vagina) will be really sore.

The initial soreness will take about 6 weeks to heal and then after that, you’ll be tender there for months.

But it will subside over time so be patient.

If you had an episiotomy or perineal tear it will likely take a bit longer.

Initial healing will take a couple of months under these circumstances and the soreness will last for a good bit.

Again, having that donut pillow I mentioned in the section above will work wonders to keep you comfortable.

Sore nipples and Breasts

During your first two weeks after childbirth whether you’re breastfeeding or not, your breasts and nipples will be inflamed and painful.

This is due to all the prolactin surging through your body so that you can feed your new babe.

Your milk will come in and your breasts will likely swell, harden and become more tender.

What you’re experiencing is postpartum breast engorgement, and it’s perfectly normal.

If you are breastfeeding the swelling will subside when your baby really learns to latch and suckle well.

However, the nipple pain will continue for the first month.

It will burn for about 10 seconds each time your little one latches on. This can be very painful but it does subside within seconds and of course, breastfeeding your baby is so worth that first bit of initial pain.

Stitches

You’d think stitches were only for C-sections births.

But if you had vaginal tearing you’ll have to deal with them under these circumstances as well.

After delivery when tearing occurs, the doctor or midwife usually closes the perineal tear with stitches.

The stitches will dissolve in 1 to 2 weeks, so they will not need to be removed.

They can be uncomfortable to sit on so you’ll need that donut pillow to keep you comfy and happy!

Vaginal Discharge

After your baby is born, your body gets rid of the blood and tissue that was inside your uterus. It’s sorta like a very heavy period.

You can get all kinds of crazy clots and stuff too. It can all be intense.

This afterbirth discharge is called lochia.

For the first few days, it’s heavy, bright red, and clotty.

Over time, the flow gets less and lighter in color.

This can last for weeks or even a month or more.

Another rather unpleasant side effect of all that is that you can have an odor down there.

There’s a wound in your uterus where the placenta has detached and a lot of healing will be going on. With any healing process can come odors and this is no different.

If it gets too strong or overwhelming you should discuss it with your doctor.

Body Odor

During the postpartum period, you have heavy hormonal shifts that will cause you to have a stronger body odor.

Your body is detoxifying and you’ll sweat a whole lot more.

It’s a stinky and uncomfortable process. But it’s unavoidable.

You should just bathe more often and within a 6 week period, everything will finally begin to calm down.

Water retention

Swelling is common during postpartum.

It will be at its worst during the first postpartum week.

But it will gradually improve over time.

The swelling is caused by an accumulation of fluid in certain parts of your body.

Staying hydrated will help your body have an easier time releasing extra fluid that causes swelling.

‌Walking around and getting really light exercise and movement will help as well but don’t overdo it during those first weeks. It’s ok to rest!

Things to consider:

• Postpartum hemorrhage can sometimes occur.. If your bleeding seems extremely heavy you should contact your doctor right away. Without treatment, postpartum hemorrhage can be fatal.
• Headaches that are severe and don’t go away can also signal an underlying problem, especially coupled with high blood pressure. You could be in danger of having a stroke.
• Deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein) is an uncommon problem (1 in every 1,000 pregnancies) that sometimes occurs after pregnancy. Symptoms include leg pain or feelings of a strained muscle or charlie horse. Your leg may also be red and hot as well. Left untreated, these clots can break away and travel to your lungs. This condition can be life-threatening so if you’re having these symptoms contact your health care provider right away.
• Postpartum preeclampsia is rare and can develop within 48 hours after childbirth or as late as six weeks after childbirth. It is similar to preeclampsia (also called toxemia), which can occur while you’re pregnant. This can cause your blood vessels to constrict. This can lead to high blood pressure and other issues. Sometimes there are no real symptoms unless you are monitoring your blood pressure. When you do have symptoms, they may include severe headache, swelling of your hands and feet, blurred vision, pain in the upper right portion of your body, and sudden weight gain. If you have any of these symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately.

Reasons To Contact Your Doctor During Postpartum:

If you have any of these postpartum symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

• Heavy vaginal bleeding that soaks more than one pad per hour or vaginal bleeding that increases each day instead of getting less.
• Passing large clots.
• Chills and/or a fever of more than 100.4°F.
• Changes to your vision or a severe headache.
• Painful urination or difficulty urinating.
• Heart palpitations, chest pain, or difficulty breathing.
• Vomiting.
• The incision from C-section or episiotomy is red, weepy, or swollen.
• Abdominal pain that is getting worse instead of better.
• Sore breasts that seem to go out of the scope of engorgement. For instance, one area being particularly red and swollen.
• Pain in your legs with redness or swelling.
• Increase in swelling throughout the body.

In the end..

During your postpartum healing period, you’ll experience a lot of physical and emotional changes, and some may surprise you no matter how prepared you are.

But you’ll get through all the discomfort and you’ll have your sweet baby to keep you preoccupied throughout it all.

Before you know it you’ll feel great and all the hard stuff will be behind you and you can look forward to making memories with your new sweet baby.

Good luck to you mama!

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