Things no one told you about AFTER you give birth (but we will!)
- You will have heavy bleeding, regardless of if you’ve had a vaginal or belly birth! This blood is called “lochia” and is mostly made up of mucus and tissue after your placenta detaches from the uterus and lasts about 6-8 weeks.
- You might have contractions even after you’ve given birth! This is especially likely if you’re not having your first baby, as the uterus works harder to clamp down and shrink to its pre-pregnancy size.
- That first poop can be scary! Try and focus on warming foods and spices that will help ignite your digestive fire. Avoid straining and try to breath it down and out like you did your hypnobaby.
- You’re going to be ravenous - the act of giving birth itself is usually a marathon not a sprint. And on top of that, if you’re nursing you’re going to need to consume an additional 400 kcal per day than you did in pregnancy. Don’t worry about counting, your body knows what it needs, just eat to hunger and drink to thirst.
- Bouncing back is a myth - it took you over 9 months to grow this baby, let her ebb and flow and morph, swell, sweat and bleed and be. Carry this with you in the days, weeks, months and years after pregnancy.
- You might wake up with sweat soaked sheets, as progesterone and estrogen levels plummet post-birth. Night sweats typically peak around 2 weeks and are experienced by about 29% of the population.
- Smell: You notice you’re a little more pungent than usual. This is actually a good thing and you’re emitting pheromones that promote bonding and are delectable to your baby (who could correctly identify you in a group of other new moms based on smell alone!).
Want to simplify your postpartum journey amidst all of these exciting changes?! Add us to your registry today and give yourself one less thing to worry about when baby is *finally* here!