9 Eye-Opening Things I Wish I Knew About Postpartum

You know what Breastie?

Before getting pregnant you spend so much time thinking about getting pregnant. Then, when you do get pregnant, you spend all your time researching every little thing about pregnancy. As the weeks go on, that changes to researching every little thing you need to get ready to have the baby.

But, in all that time, we always forget one little thing.

Well. It’s actually kind of one BIG thing.

What postpartum for moms is like. You know. The bit that happens AFTER you’ve had the baby.

Yep. There are a whole bunch of things we wish we knew about postpartum – to help us feel prepared for the crazy journey post-birth. And if you’re feeling that way too Breast Friend, then don’t fret. We’ve got you!

What is the postpartum period?

You’ve been through months of pregnancy, and have finally given birth to a gorgeous bundle of milky joy! Congrats Mama.

As soon as you give birth, you enter a phase known as the postpartum period. And boy oh boy is it a hell of a rollercoaster. This is the time where your body, hormone levels, and uterus all start returning to a non-pregnant state. It’s a recovery period where you have to literally recover from the physical and emotional side effects after giving birth. 

It’s normally defined as the first 6 weeks after giving birth. Where, as well as having to look after this new life 24/7, you have to experience a whole host of changes – physically and emotionally – as well as potential issues such as the baby blues, postpartum depression, pain and infections from birth wounds, breastfeeding struggles not to mention the return of your periods... phew. 

To try and help you feel a little more prepared about what’s to come, here are 9 unexpected things we wish we knew about postpartum.

#1 You'll be SUPER tired

Seriously mama. All. The. Sleep. Your body needs so much rest after you go through the ordeal of labor and delivery – whether it’s vaginal or c-section – and sleep is the best thing for you. We didn’t realize just how exhausting it is after giving birth. Sure. You’re prepared for tiredness, but this is a whole new level.

Visitors and well-wishers can wait. If your bundle is snoozing, then mama, YOU snooze, or do your best to have your feet up and rest. Take every opportunity to shut those peepers. Forget the cleaning, the laundry, the cooking. Order takeout or ask those well-wishers to bring food over. And you sleep.

That’s an order.

#2 Going to the bathroom can be hard

Here’s one we weren’t expecting.

When it comes to peeing and pooping after giving birth, prepare yourself for a different experience.

You might be hooked up to a catheter for a couple of days post-birth if you had a c-section, and when that comes out, you’ll be encouraged to go to the bathroom as soon as you can. Now, considering you’ve had a tiny tube up your urethra, you can imagine, it might sting a bit when you pee. This sensation can last a little while, but if you’re concerned, speak to your doctor to rule out any chance of an infection.

Vaginal birth moms can also experience a lot of discomfort those first few days or weeks. Some women find pouring warm water on themselves while peeing can help ease the sting.

If you’ve been given painkillers to take post-birth, try and eat as much fiber as possible to help you poop, or ask your doctor for a stool softener! Some pain medications can cause constipation, which can add to your discomfort.

And mama, that first poop after labor is a doozy, so brace yourself.

#3 You'll be crazy hungry

During the last few weeks of pregnancy, you probably noticed your appetite wasn’t up to much. That’s because your little babe was taking up a lot of room, squishing your tummy and giving you the most horrendous heartburn.

Well, be prepared for your hunger to return with gusto once you’ve popped your lil’ babe out. And, good news, you can now chow down on sushi and all those other foods you avoided during your pregnancy.

If you’re breastfeeding, you might find yourself hungrier than ever. And thirstier. Now is not the time to think about getting back into your jeans. During the postpartum recovery period, just allow yourself to eat the food that makes you feel good.

And yes. It’s better if it’s healthy food with limited sugar, but at 3 am when the night feeds are in full effect, if you want chips, then mama, eat those chips.

#4 Ouch! You'll be sore

Whatever kind of birth you had, the chances are you’ll be super sore for a while. C-section mamas have to recover from major abdominal surgery (all while looking after a newborn... no biggie), and vaginal-birth mamas might be dealing with tears, stitches, grazes, and other birth injuries.

Watch for signs of excessive pain or high fever, and load up on, cold packs, peri bottles, donut cushions, and other postpartum tools to help ease your recovery. And be patient and kind to yourself. You’ve been through a lot.

#5 You might feel down in the dumps

A lot of new moms go through something called the baby blues. Your hormones have a lot of readjusting to do after giving birth, and add to this exhaustion, hunger, birth trauma, and looking after a newborn, it’s no wonder we can suffer from the baby blues.

If you’re feeling weepy, emotional, or downright overwhelmed – don’t worry. It’s completely normal. BUT it also means you need to look after yourself and allow others to look after you. Sometimes the mommy-baby bond doesn’t come right away, and we can blame ourselves. DON’T! It will come. It can just take a while for your emotions to adjust. Never be hard on yourself, and if you feel like what you’re experiencing is more than the baby blues, then make sure you reach out for help.

#6 Your Boobies change

OK, it’s kinda obvious, but we weren’t really prepared for the Boobie change post-birth. When your milk comes in, mama, you will know about it! 

The first couple of days after giving birth, you’ll be producing colostrum (aka liquid gold) – a thick, yellowish substance that has everything your newborn needs. You might find your nipples are sensitive and sore as they adjust to those hard gums. 

When your milk comes in, say hello to big, beautiful Titty city! You’ll probably notice they feel heavier, swollen, veiny, and bigger than usual. They may even look like implants or foreign objects to your body. Don’t worry, as your milk supply adjusts with your baby’s feeding pattern, your breasts will settle down. Make sure you invest in a few great nursing bras and lots of nursing pads to get you started. 

#7 Postpartum hair loss is a real thing

When you were pregnant your hair looked so healthy and beautiful and just like that... it starts to fall out.

Don't panic if you start seeing your hair thinning at your hairline or notice your hair falling out in clumps in the shower. It is totally normal to lose your hair after you give birth. It typically begins to happen within the first 5 months after having your baby.

Postpartum hair loss, which dermatologists refer to as excessive shedding, is caused by your falling estrogen levels. There is nothing you can do to stop it from happening, but it will come back, just be patient.

#8 Post birth bleeding can go on for a while

We weren’t prepared for the amount of bleeding you can get after having a baby. After giving birth, your body also gets rid of the lochia – a discharge of tissue, mucus, and blood from your uterus. C-section mamas might find they bleed more than vaginal birth moms, so it’s super important to stock up with all the maternity pads you can get.

It’s not advised to use tampons in the postpartum period because your womb is at risk for infection, so whip out your favorite granny panties and slap in those giant maternity pads. 

#9 The newborn period goes by so fast

Seriously. In those early days, you might think the long nights of constantly holding your newborn will never end. You might be thinking, will I ever sleep again? Will I ever be able to eat a meal without a baby on my chest again? Will I ever be able to stop rocking? Well. The answer is yes. And it happens far quicker than you might think.

The newborn phase goes by in a flash, leaving you in a fog of “did that really happen?” As hard as those early days might be, savor them. Bask in those milky snuggles. Take in every second of watching them sleep soundly on your chest, breathe in their sweet, milk-scented breath, and enjoy your miracle mama.

Because before you know it, you’ll have a toddler running the roost!

How can you care for yourself postpartum?

Quite simply by being as easy as possible as you can on yourself. 

It’s so easy to get exhausted and overwhelmed quickly after you give birth, so being kind to yourself is essential. Here are some other ways you can care for yourself after having a baby:

• Drink LOTS of water and other fluids if you’re breastfeeding...as you get real thirsty, especially when your little milk monster starts cluster feeding!
• We know it’s tricky, but TRY and sleep when your baby does. Your body heals itself when you sleep, so even a few extra minutes of shut-eye can help
• Say YES to all the help and support offered. Now is not the time to be a hero (you’ve already proven you are Mama.) Let others take care of you
• Make sure you have another adult with you for the first few weeks after giving birth – whether it’s your partner, friend, parents, or sibling. You’ll need support from the minute you get home, so make sure it’s there
• Don’t be afraid to hibernate. This is a very new and special time. You need to get to know your baby and get to know yourself as a mama. Don’t feel rushed to go out of the house or have too many visitors round
• Arrange childcare if you have older children before you give birth. Whether it’s someone to help with the school run or a day camp during the holidays to keep them entertained and busy
• Get someone to take care of your pets. It can be a huge help of you have someone that can walk your dog for you, or even pet sit for a little bit while you are recovering, especially that first week home from the hospital.
• Find a support group for new moms. As well as finding new buddies, you’ll be introduced to a wealth of support and love

Your doctor should also let you know when it’s OK for you to exercise again, get down and dirty in the bedroom, and how long any pain, swelling, or discomfort should last. 

Postpartum recovery can be tough mama

But we believe in you! You are an amazing and strong superwoman, and now you know the things we wish we knew about postpartum, you’ll be better prepared for the journey.

And, you know what? It’s OK to not love every minute of your postpartum recovery. We spend so long preparing for our babies, the thought of preparing for our recovery just goes out the window. And it can be tough. But you’ve got this. And if things ever feel like they’re getting too much, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

We’re proud of you mama! 

 

At Titty City Design, we believe that every boobie is beautiful, and that should be celebrated. We are a female owned and operated, small business here to spread self love and body positivity with our line of products for the home. A portion of our proceeds go to help support postpartum women and breast cancer patients.

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