By Kathy,
Introduction
After waiting nine, long months, you have finally got the chance to meet your small one in person, and we bet that was a memory that you will hold on to, as any mother does, for the rest of your life! Going through those nine months is both a wonderful but also a hard experience.
Pregnancy symptoms are no joke with the morning sickness, swollen feet, aching back, tender breasts and what not. And so is childbirth. But you will quickly learn that is not all for nothing, and that is the very same moment when you make the first eye contact with your baby.
But what most people will not tell you is that the hard part does not stop there. There are more than a few body changes that you have to deal with in the weeks that follow after you have given birth. Interested to find out more about these body changes? Let’s start, shall we?
The body changes that occur after childbirth
·You will keep your baby belly –
It will take around a few weeks even two months before you lose your baby belly. That is due to the stretching of the abdominal muscles that develops over the nine months of pregnancy.
It will take time, motivation, a healthy diet plan, and hard work if you are really interested in losing that baby belly and yes, we do mean exercise. However, you would like to wait at least one month before you proceed with exercising to let your body get back to normal without you putting too much pressure.
·Your whole body aches –
After you have given birth and you are finally moved back to your room, you will soon start to feel fatigue and aches throughout the whole body. And that is normal – there is nothing wrong with you.
Perhaps you will feel as if you have done a whole 3 hours of heavy exercising without pressing pause but again, it is totally normal. After all the contractions and pushing is done, it is normal to feel weak and aching. But all that will pass after you spend a few days in bedrest.
·There is still cramps present –
Once that you successfully have delivered your baby and the placenta out from the uterus now it is up to the uterus to return to its original size. That will not be some joyful experience, unfortunately.
You will probably still feel cramps and abdominal aches throughout the next few weeks as your uterus is getting back to its normal size. Again, this is a normal part of the process.
If you start breastfeeding, chances are that this process will go faster due to the increased release of the hormone oxytocin. However, if you feel as if you cannot deal with the pain, then you can ask your doctor to prescribe some over-the-counter painkillers that you can use and that will not harm your baby.
·You will continue experiencing breast changes –
Most probably your breasts have become tender and enlarged during pregnancy. But that does not stop there. Now that they are filled with milk that is ready to be fed to your baby, you will notice them still being tender, even painful at the touch and enlarged. You will have to make sure that you prevent your milk ducks from getting blocked by changing feeding positions and rotating feeds at each breast as well as use a breasting pump if needed.
·You will bleed heavily –
Lochia is the term being used to describe the heavy bleeding that follows in the next four to seven days after childbirth. This is normal, again it is only a reaction to your body getting back to normal after you have given birth. You will most probably have to wear sanitary pads – tampons are not recommended, to protect yourself against all that heavy bleeding since spotting is expected to follow in the next four weeks as well.
·You become constipated –
This is a common problem that follows after childbirth. It is suggested that constipation occurs as a result of the anxiety or the worries that you might have that your stitches will tear up if you try to relieve your bowels. That will most likely not happen, except if it is said by the doctor otherwise. You can try to relax, eat more fiber-rich food and drink plenty of water to fight constipation.
·You experience vaginal swelling and stinging –
It will take a few days for your vagina to get back into shape and vaginal swelling and stinging are the ways that it is done. If it becomes a lot for you, you can try putting an ice pack over it a few times over the day as well as getting into a more comfortable position when you sit down by using a pillow.
·You continue to experience night sweats –
Night sweats are a common pregnancy sign that occurs as a result of the hormonal changes in the body.
However, this could continue to follow during the next couple of weeks as well. This happens also as a result of hormonal changes that take time to get back into normal.
Your body is retaining a lot of fluid after pregnancy and excess sweating is one of the ways that it can get rid of it. Make sure that you are sleeping in comfortable clothes and open a window if the weather is nice to let that fresh air cool you down.
Conclusion
As you go through your pregnancy week by week, you wonder what will your baby look like, how will you feel, how will you get around with keeping it safe and warm, but did you wonder about the potential body changes that most probably will follow?
Well, in today’s article we have explained the most common body changes that you should be expecting once you have given birth. Some of them are more easily manageable than other might seem, but you will do it – now that you have your precious baby’s face to motivate you to become stronger, healthier and better for your child!
References
Author Bio:
| Kathy Mitchell is a Travel & Beauty Blogger. She likes to Go Out with her Friends, Travel, Swim and Practice Yoga. In her free time, you can find Kathy curled up Reading her Favorite Novel, or Writing in her Journal. She is also a PR for Joint Health Magazine. To know more about her follow her on Google+, Facebook and Twitter. |
