Childbirth can be one of the most physically taxing events a body will endure, often leaving its victims suffering from backaches, pelvic floor pressure and diastasis recti postpartum. Women often report feeling discomfort postpartum from these complaints as well.
Friends and family want to help, but often don’t know how. It is essential that you discuss ways they can assist with early recovery.
1. Your Expectations
After months of pregnancy, labor, and the intense physical trauma associated with childbirth, you are finally the proud owner of a newborn. However, you may be surprised to find out that your body still requires restful recovery from these major life changes.
Every postpartum experience differs, depending on several variables such as your age and overall health, type of pregnancy, delivery method and labor complications, etc. Still, here are a few general guidelines to help you prepare for life as a mother after giving birth.
For example, after vaginal birth it’s common to lose 13 pounds (6 kilograms) due to left over fluids; your body may take some time before returning to its pre-pregnancy weight; healthy diet and regular exercise can assist.
Expect some exhaustion in the first six to eight weeks following delivery, as your body continues to adapt from labor and recover from its physical stresses. Sleep is important – don’t feel guilty for resting when baby sleeps!
Your first postpartum period, which marks your uterus returning to normal size, typically involves heavy bleeding and passing large blood clots known as lochia. To minimize risks for hemorrhoids and promote faster perineal healing, wearing pads and refraining from straining are strongly advised – they will prevent severe hemorrhoids.
2. Your Partner’s Expectations
Expectations are perfectly normal in any relationship; however, when they become out-of-hand they can lead to chaos. Therefore it’s crucial that partners collaborate together on creating an open line of communication where you can discuss what their expectations are and their realism given their relationship dynamics.
Expectations about how often and for how long a partner communicates are reasonable, yet unrealistic when put alongside work or social obligations or events outside your relationship that require their time and energy. Expectations can quickly become sources of tension if these things take precedence over you and cause distance in their lives; often this stems from feeling as though you don’t matter as much in their lives as initially imagined.
Expectations that lead to disappointment include expecting your partner to read your mind. While they love and care about you, they cannot read minds; expecting them to intuitively understand all your needs and wants places an unreasonable burden on them and can cause significant disappointment when they do not live up to them.
People tend to expect their period will start within four weeks after giving birth. Unfortunately, most women don’t experience their first postpartum period until breastfeeding has concluded or, in extreme cases, even longer if they opt exclusively breastfeed their newborn.
3. Yourself
Your body has done something truly miraculous: giving birth! Now comes a period of healing; expect soreness, tiredness and emotional issues during this process as your body regains strength from all that hard work – it is only natural!
Your recovery timeline after labor and delivery depends on several factors, including whether or not you had a C-section or vaginal birth and how complex or straightforward your delivery process was. Every woman’s experience differs; however, most new moms should feel fully recovered by six weeks postpartum.
During this postpartum period, it’s essential that you focus on eating healthily and getting adequate rest. Avoid strenuous physical activity if you had a cesarean section; try walking and light stretching instead; once approved at your postpartum appointment by your physician.
When breastfeeding, make sure you stock up on supplies like maxi pads and belly bands (these reduce swelling and aid with postpartum recovery), as well as extra food to support breastfeeding, which can use up up to 500 calories daily.
After two weeks, most individuals can return to a regular exercise schedule; however, high-impact exercises should be avoided until advised by their doctor.
4. Your Baby
As soon as your new baby arrives, it can be exhausting adjusting to life as a parent and its 24/7 demands. That is why it is vital that both you and your new arrival take extra special care to take good care of themselves during this transition period; resting up, resting up more, staying hydrated are keys to recovery.
Even with an easy pregnancy and delivery experience, your body has likely been put through considerable strain. Your muscles and ligaments supporting the uterus must gradually regain strength post-childbirth; during this period it’s also wise to avoid strenuous activities like working out or lifting heavy objects that may damage or worsen bleeding at the site of C-section incision.
As you recover, your bleeding pattern should change throughout the day, but you should always seek medical advice if large clots or heavy bleeding persist after giving birth.
Your doctor will inform you if there are specific “do’s and don’ts” of recovery, but each new mother recovers at her own pace with different symptoms and signs. Keep in mind that physical and emotional healing could take up to one year following a birth experience.
