Originally published at OB2Me.
Pregnancy can seem like a long experience and is different for every woman. The one universal truth? Pregnancy is a complicated journey that will probably leave you full of questions all the way up to the day you give birth.
Once you finally make it through those tough but rewarding nine months of morning sickness, backaches, and sleepless nights, you may think you’ve made it to the finish line. Your pregnancy is over, and now there is a bundle of joy in your arms! But then you realize that the questions are just beginning.
Many women are so concerned about what happens during pregnancy that they forget to explore or even think about what happens after. So what happens now? Here are a few things to expect after giving birth.
Healing post-delivery
Immediately following birth, there are a few things that nobody wants to talk about but are important to know. The first is the reemergence of bleeding. You may have gotten a break from your period for nine months, but after delivery, nature is eager to catch up. The average woman bleeds anywhere from four to six weeks after giving birth.
For the bleeding
During those four to six weeks, you’ll need to use sanitary pads, as most OBGYNs don’t suggest using tampons or inserting anything inside of your vagina while you’re still healing from labor. That also means no sex for six weeks (but we’ll cover that more later).
Immediately post-birth, the nurses will give you a large pad that looks a bit like a diaper to wear for any bleeding. You’ll also receive pairs of mesh underwear, which most women find more comfortable as they heal. After 48 hours, you can return to using normal pads, but you’ll most likely want to use ones meant for heavy flow until the bleeding begins to subside. Do yourself a favor and have a few packages already stocked up in your bathroom to use during this time.
Does breastfeeding affect bleeding?
Women who are breastfeeding may find that bleeding subsides sooner, plus you may not resume your period for several months. This varies from person to person — when breastfeeding, your period may return anywhere from 2 months to a year after giving birth.
Going to the bathroom post-delivery
Depending on what happened during delivery — for example, if you required stitches or had a C-section — going to the bathroom following delivery can be painful or even frightening. First of all, it typically takes three to five days to have a bowel movement after delivery. So if you haven’t gone yet, don’t panic.
If you’ve had stitches, urinating can burn for the first few days. Between bathroom visits, you can use pads soaked in witch hazel or Tucks medicated cooling pads to help minimize the pain down below. The most important thing to remember is that these symptoms are normal and should pass in a few days.
How long before I finish healing?
Your healing time will depend on whether you had a vaginal delivery or a C-section. But no matter how you gave birth, it's very important to follow the doctor's directions for resuming normal activity. This includes sex.
For example, most doctors recommend waiting at least six weeks before resuming normal sexual activity. You may also want to discuss birth control with your doctor before you resume sexual activity because you can still get pregnant immediately following delivery, whether you have a period or not.
Breastfeeding
Choosing to breastfeed? Breastfeeding can start immediately after birth, and the nurses can help you latch, even before your placenta is delivered. You won’t have any milk yet, but you will have something called colostrum, a golden substance filled with heavy nutrients for your newborn. Your milk won’t come in for 24-72 hours, but the more you breastfeed until that point, the more likely your milk will develop sooner and fully.
Certified lactation consultants can help you breastfeed successfully and answer any questions you have. So if you have latching problems, are concerned about producing enough milk, or encounter any other questions, don’t get discouraged. It’s common to have doubts, but a lactation consultant can guide you through every step — including alternative options.
Bonding with your baby
Babies bond most with their mothers in the first seven minutes after birth. Skin-to-skin exposure and breastfeeding are common ways of initiating contact with your newborn, and they provide excellent benefits. Even if you have a C-section, doctors can place your new baby on your chest for skin-to-skin immediately after the procedure so you can begin to bond right away.
What if I don’t feel anything?
Many mothers worry about bonding with their babies, and if they feel disconnected or unsure immediately after birth, they start to panic. But there's no need to! It’s very normal to feel disconnected or strange immediately after birth, and it will pass. Focus on your bonding efforts and talk to your nurses and doctor about how you feel. They have plenty of experience helping mothers navigate these completely normal feelings post-birth.
Will I ever sleep again?
Sleepless nights are a given for every new parent, so be prepared to endure these sleep disruptions for quite a while. The average newborn sleeps for 14-17 hours a day, but not all at once. In fact, it may be many months before they sleep for more than four hours at a time. If you choose to breastfeed, you’ll have to wake up to feed whenever your baby does, truly cutting down on your REM cycles.
The best advice is to sleep when your baby sleeps. Don’t worry about visits or housework or anything else. When your baby goes to sleep, you should do the same. It’s hard to predict when your baby will start to sleep for longer periods of time, as this varies greatly from newborn to newborn. So your number one priority should be getting rest whenever you can.
Transition into motherhood with OB2Me
Acclimating to life with your new baby can be challenging at first, but you don’t have to do it alone. At 2Me Healthcare, we offer private in-home or in-office concierge obstetrician care to support you with comfortable prenatal and postpartum care for both you and your family. We are also available to you throughout your labor and delivery at the hospital.
OB2Me provides multiple packages and services to best fit your needs and make your transition from pregnancy to motherhood as stress-free as possible. Just contact our team today to see how working with a dedicated and passionate healthcare provider can make all the difference!
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