There I was, all glowing in my 34th week of pregnancy. I had my bags packed, nursery done, and car seat ready. I had taken the classes, had my focus item and breathing down, finished the hospital tour, and absolutely ADORED my doctor (still do in fact). I met my sister for lunch and as older sisters do she offered some advice. As the baby in the family I of course thought to myself, “go ahead but I know it all,” but as the youngest I have also always loved when my sister doles out advice I said nothing and thanked her for the email she said she would send so I could read everything and then ask questions. This email she told me was “what no one tells you about after you have your baby” and it rocked my world. But it also left me better prepared and ready. I have since shared her email many times so now I am sharing it with all of you. The reality is that you have spent nine months getting to know the baby growing inside you and hours in classes preparing for all the stages of labor but not enough (if any) planning for the after, which is just as if not more important for you and your baby. These are tips for birth recovery in the first six weeks postpartum so you can be prepared because after all knowledge is power!
I get so EMOTIONAL baby!!
The roller coaster of emotions is something that hits every mother differently but almost always hits. It is also something that many women are not prepared to deal with. Postpartum Depression is a very real thing and if you feel that you are experiencing this especially in the first few days contact your doctor immediately. Your emotions may be sudden and hit you like a ton of bricks or they may come in waves and slowly wash over you but they will most likely come. You’re actually more at risk for postpartum depression also if you have a cesarean delivery. Oftentimes you may go through a sort of grieving over not having the delivery you wanted. Having someone with you or that you can contact is extremely helpful to just have someone to listen and talk you through what you’re feeling.
Let’s get PHYSICAL!
No don’t bust out the lycra because working out is definitely not on your list right now (maybe just light walks if you must). The first priority is rest. Unless you had an elective and/or scheduled cesarean your body just went through a lot of hard trauma and shock of labor and needs time to recuperate. On that same note if you had a c-section whether by choice or necessity your body just underwent major surgery so again it needs to recuperate. Focus your time on the baby and yourself and let others help you, from cooking to cleaning, etc. If you have people embrace the help. If you do not then call me! But also be aware that you will need some time so freeze some meals and use those last few weeks of nesting to your advantage to clean up before the baby arrives.
Whether you chose it or not there are some major things to be aware of after an cesarean delivery. First no lifting, at least not anything heavier than your baby. Be aware of your posture because certain things such as slouching or even laughing can cause discomfort to your abdomen. If you choose to breastfeed the football hold is your best friend because it does put any pressure on your incision. If you try other positions pillows on your stomach can help. It typically takes longer for the milk to come in following a c-section. Initial recovery includes incision care such as only gently washing the area with their hand and let water run over it, no washcloths or loofahs. You’ll likely require pain medicine for longer than a vaginal delivery but every women is different. Your doctor will bring you in at two weeks for a check up and then again at six weeks.
If you had a vaginal delivery make the squeeze bottle and the Dermoplast spray your best friends. Seriously, never go to the restroom without them and always use fresh, warm water in the bottle. Props to you if you went to Walgreens of CVS and got a couple extra squeeze bottles because they just make everything better. You have probably read about it and there is no denying that you will be afraid to poop and that is okay, use suppositories or Milk of Magnesia if you must but make sure you are pooping. It is also recommended that you avoid toilet paper when you can at first because it is not always sanitary and use baby wipes if you poop. Some women love the Sitz bath they will give you and some don’t, but just try it a couple times to see if it works for you. My nurse swore by them but I could never really figure it out but showers in general are nice. You will be swollen from the pressures of birth and that can happen even if you ended up having a c-section if you went through hard labor, just do anything you need to feel better. I recommend not looking at it unless you absolutely need to, which honestly was told to me and I listened. You will have a period which may be heavy at first or just light for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks and it may smell, bad… like old blood. Which is exactly what it is! It is called lochia and it is a mix of blood, uterine tissue, and mucus that has been stored up inside you for forty weeks or more. I have been told that if you had a cesarean they clean this out for the most part (which seems to be at least one perk of that). Again, let anyone that is willing help you. With most vaginal births you will go in for your postpartum appointment at six weeks but if you had a difficult delivery you may be asked to go in at two weeks as well.
If you choose to breastfeed know that these first few weeks can be some of the most important and most frustrating of your journey. Your breasts will be very sensitive. For the first couple weeks stay away from the disposable pads because they can lead to infection more so than the cloth versions. Have frozen peas or corn on hand because it really feels much better. Contact a lactation consultant with any questions. Your baby is learning how to latch so you may have some problems that are easily correctable. For the first month at least have lanolin, olive oil, or use breast milk to moisturize your nipples after EVERY feeding. Remember that any food you eat they eat and their digestive system has not fully formed yet so any upset stomach can be a sign to avoid whatever you ate. Don’t feel bad about it because you are still figuring this out just as your little one is. Ask me about the day I drank a frappacino after not having caffeine for forty weeks and how that affected my four day old….
Let’s talk about SEX baby….
It is completely natural and normal to wonder how sex will be after you give birth and so important to be prepared. It is so important to marriage and such an essential way to connect to your partner who you are sharing this journey with. There is no way to sugarcoat it, sex will be uncomfortable the first couple times. That is okay but it should in a way hurt like you’re bruised not anything worse. There may be some bleeding as well. However, if it hurts worse call your doctor. You may have a complication from birth that they need to address. Don’t rush it because you don’t want something that is so important and special to in any way become negative for you.
I hope this has helped you with some tips for post birth recovery. Remember that as important as your baby is in this time YOU are the most important person for them and have to focus on making sure you are taken care of. Having knowledge of the basics is powerful but you have to use it. If something feels wrong, speak to someone. Reach out to others because we have been there and understand.
