What to expect from your body after delivery

Pregnancy is a transformation that can be exciting, terrifying, and just downright awesome. As your belly grows you experience sensations and feelings you’ve never known before. Even if you’ve been pregnant before, it’s like a whole new experience each time. Your body goes through huge changes, some of them you don’t even see, feel, or know about.

After delivery the appearance of your body may be shocking. Your hips may look so wide you’re not sure you’d be able to get them into two pairs of your jeans, let alone one! The skin on your belly may look like it needs a total overhaul, and your bottom may look like it’s trying to get to the floor as fast as possible. It’s not uncommon to cry the first time you really get a glimpse of your post-partum body.

Not only do you have to deal with the drastic differences in general appearance, but your breasts will fill up with milk forty eight to seventy two hours after delivery. Your breasts will be very sensitive and you will generally have a sense of heaviness or fullness, and they may leak. If you are breastfeeding, your body will learn how much milk to produce, and over a week or two the fullness will dissipate. Once the heaviness has ceased, breastfeeding will become much more comfortable. If you experience the leaking of breast milk, there are pads available that will fit comfortably into your bra to absorb the milk.

For two to four weeks you will also experience a vaginal discharge. The discharge will probably be white, clear, or flesh colored. This is the body’s process of cleaning out the uterus. Over time, the discharge will become lighter and lighter until it has ceased. Wearing a sanitary pad is the best way to deal with the discharge since tampons shouldn’t be worn for several weeks after delivery.

You’ll probably have at least ten to fifteen pounds to lose. Amazingly, these will probably melt off quickly and easily without much effort on your part. The weight you have to lose is mostly fat stores that were produced for the well being of your baby. The process of healing, breastfeeding, and caring for your baby will easily melt off many of the pounds, and when paired with a healthy diet you’ll be back to your pre-pregnancy weight in just a few months!

You may be tired and just out of sorts for the first couple weeks after your baby is born. This is normal because pregnancy, birthing, and recovery is a lot for your body to recover from, and then you compound that by caring for your new baby! Give it a few months and your body will heal and you’ll adjust to the schedule of caring for your new baby.

Having a baby is hard on your body, so cut yourself some slack and don’t expect too much from yourself. You won’t be in super model condition afterward, and the laundry may have to pile up so you can get some rest, but your beautiful baby is well worth it! Remember to love your body no matter its current condition, because it gave you the miracle that is your baby.