One thing no one tells you is how your body will look and feel after the baby is born. I remember when I had my first baby. I was shocked at how my body looked after she was born. I had imagined going back to my original size three body very soon after the birth. This was most definitely not the case.
I remember very clearly standing in my closet about five days after her birth. I was crying. A large pile of clothing was lying on the floor of the closet. This pile consisted of all the outfits I had just tried on. Not one thing fit me. I was so upset and felt fat and ugly.
My husband tried to comfort me. He told me I was beautiful. “You just had a baby five days ago. What did you expect?” Umm, I expected to be thin again. Stupid? Yes, but that’s what I wanted. Now that I’ve just had my fourth baby, I know better. It will be a long time before I can fit into my clothes. I said good bye to all my size three clothing a long time ago.
It takes nine months for your body to grow a baby. This causes a lot of changes. You need to give yourself a break. It will take time to get your figure back. Take it easy and don’t over do it. Whatever you do, don’t stand in your closet and cry. It won’t help. Trust me.
Your body will surprise you in other ways. Your breasts will grow as your milk comes in. This will happen whether you plan to breastfeed or not. You will feel engorged. This can be relieved with hot showers or cold compresses. If you are breastfeeding, frequent feedings will help relieve the engorgement. If your baby is sleeping, a breast pump can help relieve the pressure. Pump some milk and store in a breast milk bag in the freezer for future use.
You will experience bleeding that will last from two to four weeks. This is called lochia and starts off heavy and bright red. Gradually it will get lighter and turn pink in color. Eventually, it will disappear. Don’t use tampons during the recovery period. Most doctors will tell you not to use tampons until after your six week check up.
Many women experience constipation after the birth of a baby. If you have this problem, tell the nurse in the hospital. A stool softener can help as will drinking plenty of water. Ask about safe products to take while breastfeeding.
As you are recovering from the birth of your baby, remember that it takes nine months to grow a baby. During these months, your body has gone through many changes. It will take at least nine months for your body to return to its pre pregnancy condition. Take it easy and enjoy your new baby.