When pregnant women are nearing the end of their pregnancy they want to learn as much as they can about the aspects of having a baby. They think breastfeeding, safe-sleep, different types of crying, and when to feed the baby. As a new mom, there is a lot of things to learn and you want to make sure that you are the best mom and so you try to read up on all of their milestones and how to properly help them reach each step at the correct time. However, what sometimes goes unnoticed is how to take care of yourself! Pregnant women forget to learn about what they should expect from giving birth.
Here are something of the things that you are going to have to deal with during postpartum that you might not be expecting.
Bleeding
Every woman who has given birth will experience bleeding call lochia. Most women know that they will bleed after birth, but some may not understand that it can last up to 6 weeks. Women who had a c-section are going to have much less lochia since during the procedure the doctor took out quite a bit of blood. C-section moms may only bleed for a week or two. Sometimes though, you may actually have a huge clot come out and you will have to call your doctor and tell them about your clot. A clot can be the sign of something much more serious.
Exhaustion
Yes, you have heard it, babies are terrible sleepers. You might think you understand what exhaustion means. You might have pulled all-nighters, stayed up late, but you have never known exhaustion like bringing home a newborn for the first time. Not only will you feel like you got hit by a truck and your boobs will begin to engorge you also have to take care of a baby. There will be times where you wish that you could put the baby back just to get an hour of sleep. You might be crying because you are so tired. There might be even times that you regret having your child. Don't you feel like a bad mom? This is actually very common and all part of the baby blues. If you feel like you are going to harm the baby then put the baby in a safe place and take a moment to yourself. It won't hurt the baby to have them cry for just a little bit while you take a breather. The complete exhaustion will get better as you and your baby find a schedule.
Post-delivery Massage
The post-delivery massage is also called the Fundal Massage. Right after you give birth you might think you get a little break. You pushed out the baby and the placenta. You may think that the medical staff is going to leave you alone so you can just hang out with your new cool baby. Yeah right! One of the staff will begin "messaging" your stomach. The staff will push down on your belly and push the blood out. They are doing this to help in recovery, aid in the uterus returning to its original size, and to prevent blood clots. According to Calming Waters Birth, "Fundal Massage is when your nurse presses down on your abdomen firmly massaging the uterus, specifically the fundus, or top your uterus. The reason for this massage is to reduce your risk of postpartum hemorrhage and assist your uterus in shrinking back to its pre-pregnancy size." The nurse will push down and rub the uterus until the woman gets a contraction that is called afterpains. The pushing and rubbing of your uterus will cause contractions also referred to as afterpains." The fundal massage is not relaxing and it can be very uncomfortable! Women who had an epidural are likely not to feel this part since it is almost immediately after birth and the epidural should still be working. The massage will happen every hour or so.
Uterus Contracting
Delivery is done! You pushed out a baby and the placenta. You might be thinking that the pain is over, well no. Some women have even shared that recovery is more difficult than labor and delivery because they are in a lot of pain and have to deal with a newborn. Some of the pains are associated with pushing out a baby from your body but it also has to do with the uterus contracting. Your uterus needs to get back to its original size and therefore it will contract in order to shrink. These contractions mimic severe menstrual cramps and some women might even compare these to labor contractions. These pains get stronger with every baby.
Tears
There are different tears. Some women don't tear. Every woman should be prepared to tear just so she will be prepared. There are first degree, second degree, third degree, and even fourth-degree tears. First and second-degree tears are not too terrible and can be stitched up quickly right after delivery. Sometimes third and fourth-degree tears will require surgery. Fourth-degree tears "extend through the anal sphincter and into the mucous membrane that lines the rectum (rectal mucosa)."
Night Sweats
For a few weeks after birth, your body's hormones are changing. Your estrogen, oxytocin, and prolactin are in overdrive from breastfeeding and changing from not growing a human anymore. Throughout your pregnancy, your body has been retaining extra water. Once you are no longer being pregnant you no longer need that extra water and so your body will get rid of it through sweating. Women share that they have hot flashes for about three weeks after giving birth and even have said that they woke up in puddles of sweat.
Engorged Breasts
You might be aware that your breasts are going to begin filling with milk around 3-5 days after giving birth. What you might not know is that your breasts are going to be very painful. The breasts will feel very engorged and they will be very sensitive to the touch. You won't fit into any of your bras and even if you did it would hurt too bad anyways. During this time you might want to pump to relieve some of the extra pressure. You will want to put warm compresses on it and self-express to prevent any type of clogged ducts. You will also be leaking a lot for the first few months. Most women have to wear nursing pads for a while to prevent leaking through clothes.
Clogged Ducts and Infections
While we are on the subject of breastfeeding. If back milk is not moved and massaged out it is likely they will turn into lumps due to clogged milk ducts. If a duct is clogged for too long it can result in mastitis. Mastitis is an infection in the breast that is extremely painful and causes flu-like symptoms. Women will need to get on antibiotics in order to get better. It is important to do as much research as you can about breastfeeding complications so you are prepared for some of the things that don't as plan.
Hair Loss
This is one of the symptoms that doesn't get talked about as much because it happens several months after the delivery of your child. At about 3-5 months after delivery mom will start losing her hair in massive clumps. While pregnant, women have an increased amount of Estrogen that keeps hair during pregnancy. Pregnant women will notice that they have thick and beautiful hair during pregnancy. Once the Estrogen levels begin to go back to normal the hair that was supposed to fall out during pregnancy will then fall out after pregnancy.
Postpartum is really difficult but it is better if you are prepared. If women think the hardest is behind them after they have given birth then they are much more likely to have postpartum depression and struggle with baby blues. Women really need to get educated about the dark sides of postpartum as well so they can prepare properly.
Sources: Calming Waters Birth, What to Expect, Healthline Parenthood, Mayo Clinic, Today's Parent, Very Well Family, La Leche League,