Women love to discuss the highs and lows of being pregnant, from glowing skin to swollen feet. However, it\u2019s much less common for us to talk about the physical changes that come after<\/i> we bring our children into the world. Perhaps you\u2019re embarrassed or worried that it sounds like complaining, but the reality is that you should talk about it! You\u2019ve just done something amazing, and it\u2019s totally normal that your body might be a little changed. Knowing what to expect during the first few weeks is key to a healthy recovery, so here are a few things they might not have told you and a couple of tips on how to handle them.<\/p>\n
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It took about 9 months for your body to be able to accommodate your little one, so understandably it might take at least a few months to get everything back into their pre-baby positions. Not to worry, though, your uterus, which can stretch to 200% of its normal size during pregnancy, will contract and shrink back down. You can also start mild exercise<\/a> like walking or modified abdominal exercises to bring that baby belly back under control. Just don\u2019t overdo it, a little bit of movement is good, but too much might set you back in your recovery.<\/p>\n While the baby is gone your body still has a lot of extra material to dispose of. This is called lochia<\/a> and it\u2019s similar to having a very heavy, very long period, and is your body\u2019s way of ridding itself of the uterine lining and extra fluid built up to support the baby.\u00a0 It lasts from 2-6 weeks and might range in color from pink to brown to a clearish-yellow.\u00a0 Pads are a good investment, but try a few styles first to see what\u2019s most comfortable, then buy a ton!<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve given birth vaginally, chances are it\u2019s going to be a little while until the swelling and bruising subside. During labor your muscles, ligaments, and skin stretch A LOT. Some women even experience vaginal tears or the doctor might perform an episiotomy (cutting the area between the anus and vulva) to make delivery easier and avoid more serious tearing. You can use a sitz bath to soothe and cleanse the area and a donut shaped cushion to keep the pressure off of that area while you sit normally. However, you should also start Kegel exercises<\/a> \u2013 the conscious contraction of your pelvic floor muscles \u2013 within the first few days after delivery. They increase blood circulation, which speeds up healing and helps the tissue stay flexible as it heals.<\/p>\n No matter how your little one came out of your body (cesarean or vaginal birth) that extra weight has put a lot of stress on your pelvic floor muscles<\/a>, which support your pelvic organs and help control your bladder. Kegels are crucial in preventing and combating those little urine leaks. For the first 6 weeks you should just do Kegels on your own, but after you\u2019ve fully healed (your doctor will tell you when), you can up your game with a smart Kegel exerciser<\/a> that personalizes your routine and helps get your pelvic floor back in shape faster.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thanks to the shifting and stretching of body parts during childbirth it can be pretty painful the first few times you pee, and extremely painful once you need to poo. Best advice: don\u2019t wipe! Use a squirt bottle (called a peri bottle) filled with a solution of water and Epsom salts to gently rinse down there instead.<\/p>\n The shift in hormones after pregnancy can continue to cause constipation long after you\u2019ve brought your little one into the world. Just remember that the time for pushing is over, so don\u2019t strain while on the toilet because you might do more damage to yourself. Your doctor or midwife will give you stool softeners, take them and if you need more \u2013 send your partner to the store! Also keep your diet full of fiber, so you\u2019re not backed up.<\/p>\n Remember that glowing skin and voluminous hair mentioned earlier? That was all thanks to increased levels of estrogen, but after pregnancy and especially while breastfeeding, your estrogen levels drop \u2013 causing less hair to grow and your tissue to be drier (not just on your face, vaginal dryness<\/a> is also a common complaint for new moms). Once your hormones stabilize things should go back to normal. In the meantime you can invest in good moisturizer for your skin and a pH balanced feminine moisturizer<\/a> for your lady parts. This is totally natural and nothing to be embarrassed about.<\/p>\n This list might be a little scary, but remember that not all women experience all of these changes and that most changes don\u2019t last forever. Your body is designed for this and will recover over time (and you can always demand a bit of pampering from your partner in the process). It might be difficult with a new baby in the house, but it\u2019s important to remember your own needs and health. Take time for yourself and spend time you\u2019re your friends and other mothers, they\u2019ve all been through it and probably have a wellspring of advice for you!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Please note that advice offered by Intimina may not be relevant to your individual case. For specific concerns regarding your health, always consult your physician or other licensed medical practitioners<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Women love to discuss the highs and lows of being pregnant, from glowing skin to swollen feet. However, it\u2019s much less common for us to talk about the physical changes…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":17593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[173,175,99,169,171],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n2. You\u2019ll Continue to Bleed for Quite a While
\n<\/b><\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<\/b>3. It\u2019s Going To Be Pretty Tender Down There
\n<\/b><\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n4. You Might Pee Yourself
\n<\/b><\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n5. Peeing Hurts<\/h3>\n
6. Hello Constipation, My Old Friend<\/h3>\n
7. Skin and Hair Changes
\n<\/b><\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n