Hellobee Boards

The first couple days home I seriously had no idea how I would be able to do this. It's hard, there's no way around that. But every day gets easier and easier. My daughter is only ten days old and I already feel a big difference! Yesterday I even went a whole day without crying : ) Once your hormones start to level out things get easier to handle. Obviously we are running on serious sleep deprivation but other than that we're doing great. Now I feel like I know what I'm doing and I can meet her needs a little better. And as far as getting your body back at 10 days post partum I weighed in this morning at 3 pounds BELOW my pre pregnancy weight! And I'm back in all my regular clothes. Having a very hungry baby who only eats breast milk helps with that for sure!

Physically it took 2-3 weeks for me to feel normal. I was terrified of going to the bathroom. I think I finally stopped taking stool softeners at 7 weeks Mentally, I was on cloud 9! Some people have a rough time, but not everyone. Some people have an amazing high after baby is born.

I think I felt like I instantly had my body "back". It felt great to be able to bend over, and sleep in any position I wanted. I was pretty sore for a couple of weeks, but nothing unbearable. I just had to be reminded that I couldn't go right back to my pre-preg activity level without feeling like crap. That definitely intensified the pain. I think the most important thing is to take it slow and let other people help you. Remember that it's an adjustment and a learning process, and that you aren't going to be able to do everything. The most important thing in the beginning is taking care of the baby and yourself. Let the housework fall behind, and get any extra sleep when you can. I thought the people that told me to "sleep when the baby sleeps" were ridiculous, but looking back now, thats one piece of advice I wish I would've listened to. Newborns sleep so much, but it's in short increments between feedings and diaper changes. I tried to stay up with the house during the day when she napped, and it took it's toll when I was getting up every night every 2 hours to feed LO.

I have a history of depression too, and I was really afraid of PPD. But fortunately, it never happened to me. I think it's a good thing that you are very aware of it though, so maybe if it does happen to you (I hope it doesn't!) you'll be able to get help sooner and be better prepared to work through it.

The first couple weeks are rough, but it *does* get better. And it just *keeps* getting better!

@jedeve: I was really nervous about this too - but honestly.. I have been elated! I was definitely having crying fits at random things in the third trimester and figured it would get worse postpartum. I'm 11 days out and haven't cried once. I was most worried because we don't have local family and my husband had to go back to work quickly (and then we're moving) but honestly I think I had my expectations so gloomy and awful for no reason. Am I tired?? yes. Does my crotch hurt from my stitches? yes.

But I'm actually enjoy breastfeeding, ran out to do errands with makeup on last weekend, and am absolutely loving spending time with my little boy! He does seem to be a "good baby" and is mellow and sleep well (like right now as I type!) - so I don't know if my outlook would change if he was more high needs or if I was having complications or trouble breastfeeding. My husband has been super supportive which definitely helps - and we have lots of freezer meals to eat!

I already feel like I can do 90% normal physical things and fit in most of my prepregnancy clothes (although they're not necessarily flattering). I'm not through the 4th trimester yet but it's way better than I expected. My best advice would be to get in to see a lactation consultant ASAP so you start right, and brainstorm ways other people around you can support you by taking shifts, bottle feeding pumped milk, cooking, etc.

The first week was very challenging, but I am now 9 days PP and feel a million times better, physically, mentally, all of it. We go out everyday for either a walk or shopping or a breastfeeding support group, etc. Makes a big difference I think. And taking help when it is offered, napping as much as possible (even though you can't always sleep when baby sleeps, give it a valiant effort)

ETA: we have a lot of trouble with breastfeeding so I am nursing, pumping, and supplementing with formula at almost every feeding. My milk took a week to come in and we are just now able to start cutting back on formula. So that has been our main struggle.

@FutureMrsMcK: I also lost a lot of blood and had to get a transfusion. I think that significantly slowed my recovery.

I was up and walking withing an hour of giving birth and physically felt pretty normal physically within a day or two. Emotionally it's a wild ride, but totally worth it.

I just wanted to jump in and say I too was worried about the pp time and early weeks.... Im actually still in it - LO is 6 weeks -- but honestly, it's been pretty great. I thought it was going to be much harder/worse... I think I had built it up so much to be bad that I have been surprised. Sure, there are tough days, but it's been really fun and so different from what I thought...

Some things that may have helped - I basically stopped sleeping through the night at 33 weeks, I honestly think that was super helpful prep. We are BFing and its been going really well since week 2, I am trying not to super stress about everything and its helping/working, I think LO is a pretty good baby so we have been lucky (despite his evening fuss!)

Just try to enjoy it!! Ignore what others say, I already feel like its going by too fast!

Oh and for me -- I had a vaginal delivery with a 2nd degree tear - by week 2 I was feeling much better - week 3 was when bleeding stopped and I felt about 95% normal again.... I just took it super easy in the beginning but got out for short walks each day, did the sitz baths and took my Colace regularly!

I was also terrifed of recovery. It really was not that bad!! I had a vaginal birth, with a tiny tear--one stitch. I had an epidural and was walking around two hours after giving birth. I was really sore for about 3 days, but then the bleeding lightened, I wasn't so sore and I felt much more like myself. I would say by 1 week post partum, the swelling had started to go down, my bleeding wasn't so bad, and walking around felt normal. I had a really hard time with breastfeeding, so that caused many many tears (and my milk coming in made my boobs huge and painful) but now at 7 weeks pp, my supply has regulated so my boobs are so much less sensitive and tender. It really is not that bad, and it DOES get better so quickly. By week 3 I was going to the gym and using the elliptical and fitting in more of my clothes.

I totally agree that the biggest thing is getting out of the house. We have gone outside every single day and it is the best thing for my mental health. Even if it's a walk around the block. And don't stress too much about any one thing since you don't know what your baby will be like. Mine has given us 3 hour stretches of sleep from the very beginning, so sleep deprivation was never too too awful for us. Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask for help from others.

Both times I have been surprised what I am capable of! In terms of going without sleep, etc. It's hard but a different hard from pregnancy. It's like you start again with a clean slate!

For example, at the end of my recent pregnancy I was worried I'd go into labor on one of those days when I was feeling so tired! But for me it was like: pregnancy. Stop. Labor. Stop. Post partum. Like, I started fresh with every (exhausting on its own) piece.

So don't stress too much.