10 Things They Don’t Tell You About After the Birth!

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pregnant belly

Hands up who loves being pregnant? Things may be going nicely. We hate to burst your bubble but here are the 10 things your friends won’t tell you about after the birth…

1. You’ll Still Look Pregnant

Yes that’s right folks, it does take quite a while for that bump to shift after baby is born! With the average Aussie baby weighing around 3.5kg and the average mum putting on 14kg during pregnancy, it takes a while for the weight to come off. Don’t expect to look like all those movies stars and models on social media. Getting back to your pre-birth weight after baby takes time and is best done slowly. Your focus during those first few months should be on your baby and your own health and well being. This means eating well, sleeping as much as you can and caring for your baby. Mums believe that breastfeeding helps you to lose the tummy weight faster as the oxytocin released during breastfeeding, triggers your uterus to contract. Other mums who did not breastfeed, often have no problem losing weight over the longer term either.

Losing tummy after childbirth

2. Perineum Soreness

Your perineal area (from your vagina to your anus) will feel sore and possibly swollen after childbirth whether you have had stitches, an episiotomy or not. You will need to be very gentle when toileting and washing. Things should improve day by day but if it does not then see your doctor. If you have stitches then expect it to take 7-10 days for them to heal.

3. Post-Birth Bleeding

After giving birth, you will lose blood for up to 4-6 weeks after the birth. This is called the lochia, made up of blood, mucus and uterine tissue that needs to be discharged after the birth. This is your body’s natural way of clearing the uterus, placental attachment and helps get your uterus back to its pre-pregnancy state.

You can expect the blood flow to be heavier during the first 10 days or so. You might also see  some blood clots which is normal, unless the clots are very large in which case you should see your doctor to rule out an infection from retained placenta. The time of bleeding is often referred to as the postpartum period. It is important to pay attention to your overall health and well being and be on the look out for anything abnormal or signs of infection. If your blood flow is increasing, instead of decreasing, you soak a pad within an hour, you experience fever or pain or swelling in your legs, dizziness or vomiting then please see your doctor immediately.

4. You Might Cry A Lot

Pregnancy messes with your hormones A LOT and giving birth to your gorgeous offspring is literally one of the best moments you’ll ever have! Combine this with lack of sleep and learning how to care and feed your baby and it’s a recipe for an emotional roller coaster!

If you find yourself crying a lot between days 3-10 then it may be what is often referred to as the “baby blues”. It is quite normal to get emotional as you juggle feelings of relief, exhaustion, pain (down under and your breasts feel like two watermelons about to burst). It’s hard to know what’s normal and what is not.

It is important to keep an eye on your feelings and communicate with your partner, friends and family. If your emotional or sad feelings continue for more than two weeks, it could be a sign that you are experiencing post-partum depression. Always reach out for help or contact PANDA’s national Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Hotline on 1300 726 306 (available Mon to Fri, 9am – 7.30pm AEST/AEDT). 

5. You Won’t Get Much Sleep

Newborn babies have small stomachs and so they need to feed often. Usually babies wake every three hours or so but there is often no pattern in the early days so your sleep will be very interrupted. Newborns also don’t know the difference between night and day and so could sleep more in the day and less in the night for a few weeks. Most babies will not start to sleep through (usually 6-8 hours at a time) until at least 3 months of age and the vast majority will not ‘sleep through’ until they are around 12 months.

I’m sure the last few weeks of pregnancy were designed to train our bodies to operate on minimal sleep. Tossing and turning throughout the night, trying to get comfortable is nature’s way of helping us adjust to less sleep.

That old chestnut “sleep when the baby sleeps” is so important because in the early weeks, there is often no pattern at all. You need to stockpile any sleep when you can!

6. Going To The Loo Is Scary

With all the action going on down there, you might feel a little daunted about going to the toilet! Sometimes constipation can take hold due to having an anaesthetic, pain relieving drugs or iron supplements. Maybe you are just scared to go for fear of tearing your stitches or putting pressure on your caesarean wound. Try to drink lots of water and eat healthy fibrous foods. If you delivered your baby in a hospital, they often won’t discharge you until you have had a bowel movement so if you have any questions, be sure to ask or ask your doctor about a stool softener if nothing is happening with your bowels.

7. Breastfeeding is Not Always a Walk in the Park

Breastfeeding can be hard and sore and never ending! It does usually get better and can be worth persevering through the initial pain that is often experienced. It is natural and comes easily to some and is very challenging for others. Babies have a natural instinct to feed and can attach straight after birth, but helping your baby to position themselves and getting things just right takes time. It can be likened to learning to ride a bike – but once you get it, you never forget! It is a full time job in the early weeks. In the early days the engorgement of your breasts is uncomfortable and your nipples may feel very raw and tender.

My obstetrician once said “remember nipples are for feeding not for sucking”. So remember to not let your baby just suck, as your nipples will then become extremely tender and painful. The good news is that it gets better and as time passes there should be no pain. If you do feel pain, it could mean there is a problem such as mastitis or baby isn’t attaching correctly for some reason.  If you experience pain then do seek medical advice.  You might like to book in an appointment with a breast feeding consultant ready for baby’s arrival.  Lactation Consultants have a great tool where you can enter your location and find a consultant near you.

Breastfeeding in swaddle

8. Loss of Personal Privacy

Pregnancy and it’s various investigations prepare you well for all the poking, prodding and examining that will take place during the birth and after you’ve had the baby. It can be very awkward indeed when medical staff examine parts of your body that you wish they wouldn’t! Some people are comfortable with vaginal examinations and baring breasts in front of midwives and others find it cringe worthy. It’s important to remember that giving birth and breastfeeding is completely natural and exactly what our bodies are designed to do. The medical staff are trained professionals and their job is to help you and your baby.

9. Hair Loss

Many mothers experience hair loss around 3 months after the birth. This is a hormonal factor, and is not attributed to breastfeeding. During pregnancy you may notice that your hair is stronger and thicker than normal since pregnancy stimulates the percentage of your hairs in growth phase. Then the hormonal change of birth stimulates your hairs to enter the resting phase. In due course, a greater percentage of your hairs will then be lost once the resting phase comes to an end.

Women with long hair can find this hair loss is exacerbated. The good news is that your hair should return to normal around 6-12 months after birth. If you are still finding that you are losing a lot of hair after 12 months post-partum, then discuss with your doctor. You may need to eliminate any other possible causes.

10. You Need to Look After Your Pelvic Floor

It is extremely important to care for your pelvic floor both during pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. Your pelvic floor is like a hammock that supports all your organs. It is doing  a lot of work during pregnancy and birth.

An obstetrician once told me that a lot of damage and stretching of the perineum can be done during pregnancy. Pelvic floor damage is not always a result of interference at the birth. If you have a 3kg baby pushing down on your pelvic floor for a considerable amount of time, you can see why. Therefore, guiding your muscles back to their prior strength will take some time and care so it’s important not to overdo things too early after birth. Slowly build up your strength and gently build up your exercise routine. Women’s Health and Continence Physiotherapist, Taryn Watson from FitRight Physio recommends that all women undergo a pelvic floor assessment prior to commencing a post natal exercise routine. She also recommends exercises tailored specifically to mums who have recently given birth. Read her guest blog on our website The Best Way To Restore Your Pelvic Floor After Baby.

Be Open Minded

This list is designed to arm you with useful information so that you can be aware of potential issues. As uncomfortable as these symptoms might sound, they are definitely all worth it in the end as you cuddle your little bundle of joy!

Nicole Cassey

written by

Nicole Cassey

Nicole Cassey, Mum to Jacob and Emily, founder and general dog’s body at Bubbaroo. Nicole was inspired to create Bubbaroo and Australia’s first swaddle after the personal experience she had with her first child, Jacob.

Nicole explains "It is such a steep learning curve becoming a parent. Getting to know the baby you created and finding your groove as a parent. You sometimes feel like you need to become a detective to try to interpret your baby's cues, personality, cries and behaviour. This is my passion to help parents on their journey, especially new parents as they transition to parenthood."

Nicole has a passion for sharing knowledge and community, regularly organising and presenting at various expectant parent and sleep workshops. Nicole ensures she is up to date with the latest evidence-based safe sleep and health research. Bubbaroo collaborates with experts in their field that share similar values and philosophies and have a passion for helping and supporting parents and expectant parents.

Nicole’s attention to detail with the creation of her premium quality baby, toddler and child sleepwear is exceptional. Nicole has been committed to ensure that Bubbaroo is not just a mass market brand producing products, Nicole’s focus is on helping your baby sleep safely in products that stand the test of time.

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