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You are here: Home / MOTHERHOOD / Babies / The A-Z of Post-Birth Recovery

The A-Z of Post-Birth Recovery

October 24, 2014 by Molly 20 Comments

Post Birth Recovery

Just over two weeks ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She’s my second baby, so you’d think I’d be familiar with the tender post-birth recovery period by now, having gone through it all before. Well you’d be wrong.

What I remember from last time around appears to have been filtered through a rose-tinted memory box in my head. It’s all newborn cuddles, quiet naps, endless bouquets of flowers and snuggles on the sofa. The actual body bits – the rather gross bits – have all been blanked out.

So in the interests of keeping it real, I’m sharing my A-Z of post-birth recovery symptoms with you. Be warned, much of this is TMI, but if you think we all bounce of bed looking like super-model Gisele Bundchen after having a baby then you’re in for a shock.

A is for… After-birth pains

Newsflash: contractions don’t end the moment you’ve had your baby. Annoying but true, the uterus has to shrink back to its pre-baby size. This means after-birth pains which feel like a cross between a contraction and an intense period pain. They get worse the more babies you have, so this time around I was shocked by how uncomfortable they were compared to with my first baby. 

B is for… Bleeding

It’s like a six week period. Seriously. First of all the blood is bright red and a bit gushy (vomit – sorry), then it calms down to a never-ending period that is all the worse for not having had a period in over nine months.

C is for… Constipation

The jolly experience that is your first post-birth poo isn’t something many women will shout about. With my first baby I remember being terrified my insides were going to fall out if I pushed too hard. The result is holding it in and getting constipated. Anyone who’s been properly constipated before will tell you – it’s not pleasant.

D is for… Diarrhoea

So you take medicine to make you un-constipated (doctor Forbes in the house, yes that is a word) and you end up with torrents of diarrhoea and irritating stomach cramps. And you thought the glamour was all saved for pregnancy…

E is for… Engorged breasts

You’re lulled into a false sense of security the couple of days after birth. As your breasts produce colostrum they’re still relatively comfortable. Then BOOM! Your milk comes in a few days later (for me it was day two because my baby literally didn’t come up for air between feeding for the first day) and you’re walking around with two rock hard bowling boobs on your chest. Katie Price eat your heart out.

Bowling ball boobs

F is for… Flatulence

This is all linked to the ongoing constipation issue. Yet another undignified side effect of giving birth – blowing off when you least expect it.

G is for… Google addiction

Never have I used Google as much as in the first few days after having a baby. Even when I know the answer to something I’ve run to Google to verify my knowledge. With my first baby I was basically hooked up to Google 24/7.

H is for… Hair loss

I’m told hair loss is a pretty common symptom after having a baby. All that extra thick glossy hair you revelled in during pregnancy decides to make a swift exit – at just the time when you don’t have the energy to run a hoover around the house.

I is for… Insomnia

The baby wakes up every two hours to feed – sometimes more. You’re tired beyond belief. All you want to do is sleep. Yet when you close your eyes, you just can’t drift off. At first it’s the adrenaline – you feel amazing after giving birth. But by night three you’re just awake because you can’t stop checking on the baby, or working out exactly how much sleep you’ll be able to cram in between now and daylight. Ironic, no?

J is for… Joy

I’m regularly swept up in the most intense feelings of love and joy as I look at my baby. She turns me into a ball of mush and probably THE most annoying person on Instagram as I fill my feed with baby spam. Sorry, I can’t help it – it’s a medical symptom you know.

K is for… Knackered brain

Pretty self-explanatory this one. Goes with the insomnia territory. Don’t expect to remember your name or where you left the nappies for a long time yet.

L is for… Leaky nipples

I know when my baby is due a feed because I can literally feel my nipples leaking milk. I’m like a human udder as I walk around lactating and regularly having to change my breast pads because they’re soaked through. Breastfeeding is pretty amazing, but it’s not without its challenges – and leaky nipples are one of them.

M is for… Maternity pads

I’m now resigned to the fact I have to wear what feels like a duvet in my pants every day. Get ready for the gross factor – in the first week I had to change my pads after every breastfeed because the hormone released during feeding would cause my uterus to contract, releasing a load of blood. It’s all very normal apparently, but I totally wasn’t prepared for it. Maternity pads are your friend post-birth. Stock up or, better still, invest in shares of Tena Lady.

N is for… Naps

“Sleep when the baby sleeps” is the mantra for all new mums. The midwife, your family and the health visitor will all chant this line at you. The reality is that if there are things to do then it’s not easy to nap. But nap you must – for how else will you survive 9 hours of straight feeding through the night?!

O is for… Out of it

When you’re short on sleep and you have a nocturnal baby, time kind of merges into one. It leaves you feeling a bit out of it, in a kind of weird baby cocoon of alternate reality.

P is for… Piles

I’ve been lucky enough to dodge this one but piles are another attractive side-effect of having a baby. It can make the whole post-birth poo thing that bit more pleasant. Not.

Q is for… Questions

This is where the Google addiction is borne.

R is for… Raging hormones

From intense joy to moments of earth shattering emotion, the raging hormones can leave you and everyone around you wandering where the next outburst is going to come from.

S is for… Sweating

I had fat feet and cankles during this pregnancy, which has led to sweaty feet post-birth, as all that excess fluid drains out of my body. Friends have told me about night sweats where they’ve woken up in a drenched bed, as their body rids itself of all that extra water.

T is for… Tearing

Again, something I was lucky to avoid. For many though, tearing is par for the course during labour. It can lead to stitches and soreness in the few weeks after birth, as the body heals itself and things start to mend back together.

U is for… Urinating all the time

Like the sweat thing, all that fluid needs a place to go. So it can mean you’re regularly nipping off for a wee. Coupled with a weakened pelvic floor from pushing the baby out and you get an interesting game of wee roulette, where every laugh or sneeze can result in wetting your pants. Sexy.

V is for… Vulnerable feelings

It’s no surprise that all these lovely post-birth symptoms can leave you feeling a bit… vulnerable. Never have I sought reassurance more than in the first couple of weeks after having a baby. I expect my husband would describe me as needy with a capital N at the moment.

W is for… Wobbly belly

Your belly doesn’t shrink back to washboard status straight away (in my case – it was never at washboard status to begin with), which is rather annoying. My stomach currently resembles a pillow. It’s soft and cushiony and makes the perfect nap surface for my newborn.

X is for… Xtreme emotions

See Raging Hormones above.

Y is for… Yawning all day

Obviously. You haven’t slept in a week, remember?

Z is for… Zero rationalism 

See Raging Hormones and Xtreme Emotions, above. Being rational is not my strong point at the moment (“WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE’RE OUT OF TEA BAGS?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I WANT A DIVORCE!!!!!!” etc etc).

Baby Selfie 2

Despite all of the above I should really add a footnote here: having a baby is the most amazing thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m not going to wax on about the joyful moments of the newborn days because I do that enough on Instagram, but it really does make all the constipation, after-birth pains and lack of sleep worth it. Promise.

 

Pregnancy - the A-Z of post-birth recovery

Filed Under: Babies, MOTHERHOOD, Pregnancy Tagged With: after-birth pains, having a baby, labour, post-birth recovery, recovery after labour

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Comments

  1. Amy Ransom says

    October 28, 2014 at 11:11 pm

    Ahhh this makes me want to do it all over again. NOT. EVER. AGAIN.

    This is so great Molly. One to add to M. Mahoosive pants.

    Gorgeous pic of you and baby E x

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 31, 2014 at 2:52 pm

      DEFINITELY yes to the mahoosive pants. Forgot about those!

      Reply
  2. Leanna says

    October 25, 2014 at 11:21 pm

    Wow! Well done for doing the whole alphabet!!
    I think you’re doing amazingly! 😉 xx

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 28, 2014 at 8:25 pm

      It’s easier when you come round to give baby E lots of cuddles! x

      Reply
  3. Grandma from the north says

    October 25, 2014 at 9:47 am

    Ah such a clever and lovely list! It takes me back…and I still have some of those things now…not telling anyone which though! XXX

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 28, 2014 at 8:26 pm

      Ha – I won’t ask don’t worry! xx

      Reply
  4. Boo Roo and Tigger Too says

    October 25, 2014 at 7:41 am

    I’m nodding to all of these, especially the maternity pads – the bigger the better

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 28, 2014 at 8:26 pm

      HUGE maternity pads are the way forward. Attractive!

      Reply
  5. Carie says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    Ah yes the afterpains!! A midwife cheerfully told me this time that they get worse each baby until you’re on number 6 or so and then they just stay at that level of painful! It didn’t inspire me to want to find that out for myself 🙂
    But yes definitely definitely all worth it 🙂

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 28, 2014 at 8:28 pm

      The afterpains were worse than the actual labour for me last time around – at least with contractions each one ends! With the afterpains they just melted one into the other in an intense pain that left me shaking in shock. I had a hot water bottle to carry around with me for the two days post birth!

      Reply
  6. Polly says

    October 24, 2014 at 9:15 pm

    Its almost six years since I last had a baby!! Though I had terrible afterpains witht the first (drug free labour, dosed up pethedine after) and none at all woth numbers two and three..

    Oove your photos, she’s gorgeous xx

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 28, 2014 at 8:28 pm

      Oh you’re lucky you didn’t have any with two and three. Let’s hope next time you’re just as lucky! xx

      Reply
  7. Anna says

    October 24, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    Not looking forward to a lot of this – but lol, you make it sound so funny! And at least now I know what I have coming up soon 🙂

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 28, 2014 at 8:29 pm

      It’s worth it – I promise!

      Reply
  8. Kate says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:43 am

    Totally brilliant…….I’d also like to add that ‘C’ can also cover “Cushions for post C – section sneezing” – as in, it helps to grab one and brace yourself against it as you sneeze and that the Maternity “Duvets can also be dunked in water, popped in the freezer and used to help with pain caused by stitches or Piles!!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 28, 2014 at 8:29 pm

      Ooh good tip!

      Reply
  9. Alison says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:02 am

    This is quite possibly the best new mum blog post I’ve ever read. Off to share it….

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 24, 2014 at 10:05 am

      It may need a “This should not be read while eating cake” warning!

      Reply
  10. Charlotte - Write Like No One's Watching says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:00 am

    Oh I love that last photograph. I remember all of this so well. I don’t know if it will fade in time. I’d still love another though – you consistently serve to make me broody! xxx

    Reply
    • Molly says

      October 24, 2014 at 10:05 am

      It’s true – they do make it all worth it. But yes, the first bit after having a baby certainly isn’t glamorous!

      Reply

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Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

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Instagram post 2196739703256196003_27126085 No #pantsbants pictures or banging festive outfits here tonight I’m afraid, but I wanted to give you a bit of an update on the #FreeFromDiets campaign (a movement to end diet promo around kids, if you’re new here). ❤️
Two weeks ago we had our first round table discussion and came away with loads of things to work on. We met with @GirlGuidingUK who had some amazing ideas, and later that week @antidietriotclub met with @Sadiq and told him all about the campaign too 🎉
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The full report from the round table is available to download on the website if you’d like to find out more. Or you can read my blog post on Mother’s Always Right. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
One of our ideas - and something that’s got lots of votes in our survey - is to create teacher workshops for school staff CPD sessions, giving teachers the tools to promote positive body image in schools and counteract some of the negative messages many kids are walking past on the diet ads on their school railings every single day. This is definitely something we’ll work towards on our list for 2020, along with some BIIIIG, FUUUUUN events FOR YOU (and fundraising activity!). 🎉❤️🙌
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In the meantime I’ll keep talking about it, and keep hoping you will too. Share the petition, share the website, download the template letter in the resources page of the website if you want to write to your kids’ school if it’s covered in diet and weight loss marketing. And keep fighting the good fight. We’re only just getting started 💪 Another huge thank you to the babe that is @welldefined_ for constantly having my back with this campaign and working so hard to bring about CHANGE. Because our kids deserve better ❤️ PS lots of people messaging me today about that study suggesting we should put exercise targets on food labelling. Safe to say I’m not a fan. Some thoughts in Stories. Right, I’m off for a bath and an early night. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#BodyHappyKids #bodylove #DitchTheDiet #bodyimage
Instagram post 2196019642233005439_27126085 Life’s too short to save your Christmas party outfits for the Christmas party. (Yes, I wore a faux fur coat in my kitchen - I don’t get out much 😂) 🎄
My kitchen also seems like the perfect location to say you’re allowed to eat what you want and wear what you want this party season. You don’t have to do a pre-Christmas diet to earn the right to eat all the yummy festive food or wear all the sequins. The good, important, big events in your life do not have to be bookmarked with dieting and restricting, despite what the multi million pound weight loss industry tells you. ⭐️
If you’re struggling to get past the diet bookmarking habits ask yourself - “How would I feel if my kid was doing this?” How would you feel if your kid was counting calories in order to allow themselves a roast dinner and Christmas pudding in a couple of weeks? How would you feel if your kid said they shouldn’t wear sparkly sequins or a bright festive dress because their body wasn’t “right”? It might help. I know it helps me, anyway. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Instagram post 2195283703453989210_27126085 NOT a before and after. Just a reminder that you don’t know what someone looks like under their clothes. They might be wearing shapewear up to their armpits or have a padded bra on. They might have cellulite, stretch marks, thread veins, rolls. They might have a smaller, smoother body than you but be riddled with self doubt. Point is: don’t compare, don’t assume you know what’s going on underneath someone’s clothes or skin. And don’t make judgements about a person based on what you can see. Often the most interesting and intricate parts of a person are the bits you can’t see at all, even underneath the clothes. ❤️
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Throw back to three years ago today when everything that could have gone wrong on our festive family Christmas tree day, did. 😬
To commemorate what’s become one of our funniest memories and possibly my favourite ever family video, I’ve edited it up into a one minute Insta special. Use it as a reminder that you never know what’s beyond the Insta-frame and that real life is never meant to be perfect. MERRY BLOODY CHRISTMAS 😂🎅🏻🎄 #ItsA7FootTreeMolly #HoHoHo
Instagram post 2193851410856430930_27126085 Perfecting the art of the candid shot. I want them to always take up space and never flinch at a photo. My pictures with the kids are messy and impromptu and fun, because I don’t want them to learn from me that in order to present yourself to the world you need to take 10,000 artfully angled photos to get the one money shot. Life’s too short. As someone who makes a partial income from Instagram that’s probably a golden rule broken right there. But we all know rules are made to be broken, especially when they’re rubbish ones. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Instagram post 2193123494942025535_27126085 This December I will mainly be dressed as Father Christmas #hohoho #dresslikeaSanta #whatSantaworetoday #wiwt #ootd
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