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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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If you feel bad about your body you’re less like If you feel bad about your body you’re less likely to do nice things for it, including moving in a way that feels good and eating in a way that feels good. (FYI health is about more than just exercise and nutrition, but let’s get deeper into the exercise thing for a second...)
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Research shows kids who have low body image are less likely to get involved with sports and more likely to skip PE. 
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Want kids to move more? Stop teaching them that one type of body is better than another - because if their body doesn’t look like your version of a healthy / beautiful / successful body not only will they be more likely to feel shame over their body, they’ll be less likely to engage with the very behaviours you want them to do more of (or be more likely to engage with them in an UNhealthy way - compulsive exercise is dangerous).
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Instead:
💕Try talking about the intrinsic benefits of exercise over the extrinsic ones (ie. how it makes you FEEL instead of how it makes you LOOK).
✨Create opportunities for movement where ALL children feel welcome. 
💕Show children diverse representation so they can see sporting heroes with a range of body types and know that movement is for EVERYbody. 
✨Take a zero tolerance approach to appearance based bullying, body shaming and comments that perpetuate weight stigma (including even the hint that fat = bad). 
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(If you’re a teacher or youth leader interested in knowing more about this topic, a #BodyHappyKids workshop will help - follow the link in my bio 🥰❤️)
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[Image description: A multicoloured slide with an overlaid screenshot of tweet by Molly which reads ‘If your intention is to “get kids healthy” then you need to be aware of how weight bias, weight stigma and poor body image are active barriers to health. The end.]
Sharing this outfit pic with you because it’s a Sharing this outfit pic with you because it’s a crying shame only the piles of laundry got to see it, quite frankly. Finally, a pair of pre-loved jeans bought online that are true to size, consistent with the rest of the brand’s sizing and actually fit! 🎉 
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PS heads up - I’ll be doing a Q&A about body image and kids in my Stories on Friday. The Q sticker is up in my Stories now if you’d like to submit a Q! 💕 #BodyHappyKids
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[Image description: Molly is standing in front of the mirror looking very pleased with the fact her new jeans bought from Depop fit her. She is wearing pink patterned jeans with cherubs on them, a pink check jumper and pink trainers. There are piles of laundry on the bed behind her.]
Another photo of us on a walk, because it’s been Another photo of us on a walk, because it’s been our main form of entertainment this year. Anyone else? 
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I honestly now get excited about putting my boots on and being outdoors, even in the rain. I’m going to start hugging trees next and going on wild camping weekends that involve doing a poo behind a tree and making my own fire. Joke.... maybe. 
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Just another reminder that all movement is valid, exercise doesn’t need to have to be about burning calories or even tracking steps in order for it to be “worth it”. Hope everyone’s had a great weekend ❤️
#BodyHappyMum #JoyfulMovement
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Image description: Molly and her two daughters stand on a bridge in the countryside. They are all wearing hiking boots and outdoor clothes and smiling.
My body is good and excellent and my body only bel My body is good and excellent and my body only belongs to me ✨ (Words by Effie May, age 6 💕) #BodyHappyMum
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Image description: A close up of Molly’s bare skin as she hugs herself. It’s dark and part of her body is illuminated by light. She has her eyes closed and is smiling.
“Mummy I wrote a letter to myself,” she said. “Mummy I wrote a letter to myself,” she said. And my heart swelled. Maybe I’m doing an OK job after all 🤞❤️💕 #BodyHappyKids 
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I could leave this caption here but I need to make something clear: if you think it’s great that my daughter - a thin, white, nondisabled, cisgender kid - feels good in her body but you’re not here for the self-love of any kid who doesn’t look like her.... then you’ve missed the point.
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ALL bodies are good bodies, and without this important piece of the puzzle ALL children will be at risk of doubting their body. And what happens when they doubt their body? Well... hating our body doesn’t make us treat it with love, and the same is true of kids. 
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Great, now we’ve cleared that up, can we take a moment to appreciate the incredible phonetic spelling on show here?! 
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Image description: Effie, age 6, stands against a white wardrobe holding up a letter she has written to herself. It is spelled phonetically and reads “My body is good and excellent and my body only belongs to me.”
I used to struggle to buy stuff for myself if I ha I used to struggle to buy stuff for myself if I had any spare cash - not just treats, but basics like pants and tights that fit properly. I’d tell myself I didn’t need it, didn’t deserve it, couldn’t justify the expense. There’s still that little voice (the habit of putting everyone else’s needs first and my own last dies hard it seems) but I’m leaning into exploring why it still sometimes rears its head, instead of always listening to it. 
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I’m trying to buy as much as I can from pre-loved places or small businesses these days, which is why I’m very happy to share with you some of my latest finds: a star dress from Depop (£5), earrings from @kelzojewellery by @ourtransitionallife (£12) and the comfiest tights I’ve ever owned in Raspberry Pie by @snagtights (£6.99) 💕💕💕
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Have you found any great small brands lately? Shout them out in the comments so we can all support in the run up to Christmas. ⬇️⚡️
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Image description: Molly is smiling and sticking out her tongue to the camera. Her hair is freshly dyed a light shade of pink. She’s wearing a pink t’shirt underneath a black and white star patterned slip dress, with bright pink tights and black and pink earrings decorated with a boob design.
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