https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 14:01:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you/page/2#post-628345 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:16:54 +0000 Running Elley 628345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The extreme anxiety/worry! I was super anxious all throughout my pregnancy but I guess I just assumed that once he was here and healthy I'd be okay. I was even more anxious right after he was born and for a few weeks after. I'm still a worrywart mans but not even close the the way I was immediately PP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you/page/2#post-628338 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:09:34 +0000 78h2o 628338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had much more pain in the vag than I anticipated. I'd say it lasted a good 10 weeks. Also, I had bleeding until 7-8 weeks which was also longer than I expected. For the first few weeks I bad "gas incontinence" and would couldn't helP letting 'em rip, whenever and wherever. DH thought is was hilarious. I had just 2-3 night sweats and so far no shedding. </p> <p>I have had depression and bad PMS in e past, so I was a little worried about PPD, but so far I haven't had any trouble. Maybe 1-2 crying episodes. I was surprised that while I was tired, I wasnt as exhausted as I expected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you/page/2#post-628256 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 10:16:51 +0000 mamabolt 628256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG, yes, the sweating! And the fact that it would take so long to go to the bathroom with all the rinsing and patting and everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you/page/2#post-628214 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 09:58:48 +0000 ladyfingers 628214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twoofeverything: yes to the crazy thoughts! In the first two weeks one night I was crying thinking of running away and telling the baby that I will always love him but was leaving because he's better off without me? Wt holy f? And another night said out loud to nobody, god, if I'd known this was so hard I'd go back 10 months and not get pregnant. The thoughts passed but holy crazy town!</p> <p>I was surprised at the psycho thoughts and random crying jags, and surprised that I missed being pregnant.<br /> Surprised at how much I disliked my husband for no good reason those first few weeks<br /> That there's really no time to do anything, not even read<br /> That breastfeeding would be so hard and so painful for so long.<br /> That I'd still be leaking fluid 5 weeks later.<br /> That my crotch would smell so bad<br /> That my stomach was so hairy (seriously it got so hairy while I was pregnant and I barely noticed!)<br /> That my belly button would be a mess (it's huge! And brown! And leathery! It's so gross!)<br /> That my vagina would heal so quickly - I had a 2nd degree tear but the midwife at my exam last week said it looks like I never had a baby. Of course I haven't had sex yet...</p> <p>So many surprises! Most of all how totally unprepared I was even though I thought I'd prepared so well! Oh and how much I love DS (just to keep it positive). Seriously an all-consuming, unconditional love. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you/page/2#post-628179 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 09:41:54 +0000 sheskrafty 628179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As someone who is going to have their first child in a week this thread frightens me more than L&amp;D. Thank you for letting me know what to expect!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you/page/2#post-627990 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 06:56:21 +0000 pl0508 627990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had the crazy dreams! I kept dreaming my baby was stuffed in my pillow case and I was laying on him and would wake up FREAKING out and ripping my pillow out of the case. We don't even co sleep and never have - so weird !!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you/page/2#post-627841 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:18:50 +0000 twoofeverything 627841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The bleeding. It was like the shower scene from Psycho for nearly 5 weeks. ZOMG.<br /> And the sweating.<br /> And the crying.<br /> And the crazy thoughts I couldn't believe were going through my head...I honestly got so mad at DH for telling me that he was 'tired' that I threatened to leave the with the babies. Not my finest moment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you/page/2#post-627819 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 23:59:42 +0000 shopaholic 627819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: yes! Seriously! Why is it so painful there? When I told the nurse and just said "oh, yup!"</p> <p>@photojane: started getting the chills, pains, and crazy dreams that make me wake up crying last night. Wow. No one ever told me about that pp stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-627625 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 21:48:03 +0000 photojane 627625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>PP is easier and harder than I thought it would be. I did find PP to be harder than labor and delivery though, which is funny because I was so scared about the L+D my whole pregnancy. If I only knew. I didn't tear very bad, and my bleeding was very minimal, so that was easier than I expected. The night chills, emotional breakdowns, painful urination, and smelly vag are unwelcome surprises. Though I had a fair amount of pain in my downstairs, I found the emotional roller coaster to be way more difficult. I've never cried so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-627599 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 21:38:49 +0000 tororojo 627599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The ass pain! I thought it was rhoids but according to the nurses I only got one and it went away the next day from this ointment they gave me. But the inside of my ass is still so sore! Maybe it's the muscles sore from pushing? (for 3 hrs...) I tore a little up front but that is nothing in comparison. So odd. I'm really thankful for stool softeners. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-626429 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 08:31:53 +0000 Cherrybee 626429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to make DH read this thread when the time comes! I need him to fully expect the crying and to believe that I'm actually in pain (if I am) and I'm not just moaning about nothing!! Oh and that I stink because of pp sweating not because I'm too depressed to take a shower!! This thread is so scary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-626397 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 08:01:37 +0000 pl0508 626397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Night sweats. Ughhhh </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-626343 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 06:54:14 +0000 photojane 626343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: what?! You better post a picture of K! I want to hear all about it! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-626342 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 06:44:44 +0000 shopaholic 626342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2 days PP now and I never knew about the major cramping pains from the uterus shrinking, suddenly feeling like it's freezing, and more nausea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-447241 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:31:27 +0000 .twist. 447241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Seriously. I'm subscribing for future reference as well. I have never heard of a lot of this stuff!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-447224 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:24:55 +0000 Meridian 447224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a scary thread, but subbing to it for future reference!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-447172 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:07:52 +0000 hellobeeboston 447172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly - I was surprised about some positive things:<br /> -fast weight loss<br /> -being LESS emotional than when preggo<br /> -bleeding totally stopping at 2.5/3 weeks (I thought it would be longer)</p> <p>Other less positive things:<br /> - the cramping when breastfeeding!<br /> - having to still take Colace 2x a day 7 weeks later or it's very bad<br /> - the extreme hunger while BFing! I needed constant food/snacks or I felt weak!<br /> - I had a little sweating the first week or two but only when I slept, 3 or 4 times I woke up drenched! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-447165 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:06:25 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 447165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LemonLong: omg! I have never heard of that. I would have been so scared! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-447137 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:59:28 +0000 immabeetoo 447137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: ugh yes I have the armpit thing too!!</p> <p>@lemonlong that's so scary! Happy that it turned out<br /> Ok</p> <p>@smurfette not sure how to quantify sweat likbut I've had multiple nights where I had to change pjs after waking up drenched . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-447108 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:49:10 +0000 Smurfette 447108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is the first I have heard about the sweating. None of my friends have said anything about that. How much are we talking about? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-447016 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:13:46 +0000 LemonLong 447016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The sweating!</p> <p>Also, I had a weird experience with my bleeding...I was 2 weeks postpartum and I was taking LO to breastfeeding support group, I stepped off the elevator to the pediatrics floor and bam! I felt like I was peeing myself and couldn't stop, I ran to the bathroom and looked and blood was pouring out of me! I found a nurse since I was afraid I was hemorraging and she helped me back to the bathroom, but by that time the gushing had stopped. The blood had gone through my pad, my underwear, my jeans, and it was everywhere in the bathroom.</p> <p>Since it stopped the nurse said I wasn't hemorraging, but that sometimes blood gets stuck up there and then being around crying babies and breastfeeding will cause the uterus to forcefully contract releasing it all at once. It was so scary! I was so embarrassed, they gave me mesh underwear, more giant pads, and a pair of scrub pants since mine were unwearable. No one had told me this could happen, just that soaking through two pads was bad. I soaked though the one I was wearing in like 30 seconds! I thought for sure I was going to die! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446939 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:49:15 +0000 Mrsbells 446939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also how wrinkled, flabby and weird my belly looked for the first few weeks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446936 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:48:41 +0000 Mrsbells 446936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Itchy reaction from the spinal<br /> How bad the c-section incision would hurt<br /> The night sweats<br /> arm pits itching while breast feeding<br /> Heavy period type bleeding lasting forever </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446926 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:42:48 +0000 immabeetoo 446926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugggh the sweating! I am not normally sweaty so this is an icky adjustment. Also, it surprised me that breast feeding has gone well, knock on wood, some days that feels like all I'm doing right! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446860 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:11:14 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 446860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bleeding and the excruciating pain every time I had to pee for 6 weeks. How distorted my body image was after I had her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446846 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:04:23 +0000 Weagle 446846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also had a really hard time standing up straight for 4-5 days after coming home, and that really surprised me. It's like every muscle was just gone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446769 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:27:33 +0000 MamaMoose 446769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: yes!! Im not having much blood any more but still so much clear discharge!</p> <p>And I was not aware of the night sweats!! The first few times I had them I was scared I had mastitis because I thought I must be running a crazy high fever!!! And for the first week I cried every night when the sun went down. So weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446747 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:01:32 +0000 hilsy85 446747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That even after you stop bleeding there's all this discharge! I just want to be done with panty liners... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446744 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:59:54 +0000 Bookish 446744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm still pregnant but I'm subscribing because... half of this stuff I had never imagined! I'd rather know about it now!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-about-the-postpartum-period-surprised-you#post-446736 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:57:09 +0000 Weagle 446736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: Yes! The one-cheek sit! On the bright side, it probably helped develop those core muscles again. </p>