How do you feel after giving birth?

buppydups10 · May 2015

FTM here, 39+2 today and no sign of labor anytime soon. I was wondering how the ladies who have given birth so far are feeling? Lighter? Easier to move around? Can you sleep on your back comfortably? Cramps? Enlighten me and give me hope that this discomfort is going to end SOON!!

djhudson9107 · May 2015

I am on number three. After delivering there is,such a reluef to be able to walk breath and eat normal again. There is the whole crorch on fire lol but it was never worse than the duscomfort before i had baby

katiebug66 · May 2015

I will say it is not immediate though. You have to sweat out the hormones and the uterus contracting back to normal is painful. It is better because you have a baby to focus on but harder because you have a baby.

But far and away it is better to know you are on the other side and it only gets better.

knightmansmama · May 2015

I was prepared for post delivery recovery to be AWFUL! Amazingly...it was not bad at all. I had a few stitches from a minor tear and pushing for two hours gave me a hemoroid. But they give you good stuff in the hospital to help with the discomfort and all I needed was Ibprofun for the pain. It really wasn't as bad as my other mommy friends made it seem. My daughter is now 12 days old and I only have to wear a thin pad for the bleeding and everything else has healed fine. also, the first poop after giving birth is NOTHING to be afraid of. I held it in for three days because I was so afraid of how bad it would hurt...it did not feel any different than a normal trip to the bathroom before baby. Take the stool softeners they give you and you will be good to go.

Another plus, the fact that I can go all night without peeing and the heartburn vanished right away!

robynjeannette · May 2015

This is a great thread! Can't wait to see more responses.

cassietegtmeier · May 2015

I feel amazing. I can sleep, as long as Emmett let's me, I can breath, I don't waddle any more, I can bend over, I have a bit of back pain for breast feeding but nothing like being pregnant. I had my son on 5/3 and have already lost 27lbs! Such a HUGE relief. I really hated being pregnant but love motherhood!

tdart14 · May 2015

The hormones after and the way the affect emotions is no joke. I'm almost 2 weeks post partum and to me my biggest accomplish is that I haven't broken down. Into a sob fest in 2 days. (this is my second baby, I also have a 20 month old to juggle as well).

Don't hold the tears in is my advice. Let them go even if you are crying over nothing.

I found I had anxiety the first week something fierce. Over everything. Potty training. Feeding the little one and the older one needing me. Going out somewhere cause it could affect bed time. But that is really moving out as well.

Try to get as much sleep as you can. It will help with both the physical/mental/emotional recovery greatly. Reach out to your support system and don't be afraid to accept or ask for help. The first couple weeks are the hardest for adjusting to your new lifestyle.

Physically, recovery for me is nothing. My bleeding has stopped for the majority of the day and once or twice I'll get a small flow/gush. Stitches are healing and itchy, do your baths to help them stay clean and heal.

I second not being afraid of pooping.

ali0608 · May 2015

I'm so excited to have a full size bladder back and feel relief when peeing!!!! I hated having a head pressed against my bladder.

mrswynn2014 · May 2015

I feel so good! My lady parts are feeling better, and my belly is so squishy! My boobs are a little sore (I started breastfeeding, and decided to switch to formula). I feel even better as every he passes(mentally and physically) I have never been happier!

californiagraham · May 2015

I'm a ftm currently in recovery from my delivery, and I think the most uncomfortable part of the process is the stitches from my episiotomy. Immediately after delivery I was super shakey, but my body settled down, and I just felt tired. There is still cramping as the uterus shrinks back down, but nothing as bad as what happened with my labor.
Don't worry if it takes a bit for you to be able to use the restroom, it took me almost 7hrs after delivery to relax enough to be able to pee. The first time I tried I pushed myself to quickly and basically passed out. But I am also considered in the anemic side of things (lost a lot of blood in the beginning, but I gave birth to twins as well).
The best advice I can give is just relax after and sleep as much as you can. Your body is going to be tuckered out and the best thing for it is some good rest. You'll be able to breath better, and the heartburn does go away! Yay! Also, once baby is out... If you touch your tummy it's the weirdest sensation ever... Like a deflated balloon!

Good luck!

marms1987 · May 2015

I'm a c section mom, needless to say I am not normal yet. But! I love gaving my bladder back, I can sleep on my back, I can eat ( no GD anymore), I can't sleep yet since baby NEVER sleeps at night and I can't sleep in the morning. I am scared to step on the scale, I am too swollen and don't want to see a big number and totally freak out hahaha!

Chichi93 · May 2015

Oh man let me tell ya ... I had only 4 hours of labor [I'm a FTM too] and only pushed about 7 times but when your baby comes out.... and you happy cry... your stomach feels.... insane. Like jello. Like its sunk in. It freaked me out !! Lol i wasn't expecting that!

But as far as my experience after, I had lots of pain and annoyance with my stitches (I ripped.. fun stuff !) And girl let me tell you.. the roids I got from pushing are pretty impressive lol. They don't hurt though. Most other people have problems with them though.

But sleeping on your back is omg. Awesome. I haven't been brave enough to sleep on my belly yet though. Not sure why.

BEST THING EVER ... NO RESTLESS LEGS ANY MORE ! ! ! ! oh I'm so excited about that ! And yes you feel lighter and it's easier to get around once your stuff heals more lol

Chichi93 · May 2015

Oh and I had an epidural (my contractions were way up on the chart and they had no spaces in between. It was contraction on contraction) and I guess I was allergic to the tape they used because everywhere the tape was... I've got a giant rash and it's so itchy!! And i mean my whole back is a rash. Can't wait for that to go away!

The poop thing... everyone says no big deal but for me I cry when I poop. <_< my stitches go on my bottom hole..... awful lol

I hope you don't have that problem though ! Don't worry you'll do just fine!

ali0608 · May 2015

marms1987 said:
I'm a c section mom, needless to say I am not normal yet. But! I love gaving my bladder back, I can sleep on my back, I can eat ( no GD anymore), I can't sleep yet since baby NEVER sleeps at night and I can't sleep in the morning. I am scared to step on the scale, I am too swollen and don't want to see a big number and totally freak out hahaha!

You sound like me! I think I have overloaded in sweets in the last week. The first time I stepped on the scale I had only lost 3 lb. Now I'm a math teacher but having a 9 lb baby then only losing 3 didn't add up! The number keeps going down though! Every time since has been a smaller number!

mbt385 · May 2015

No more sciatic pain and I'm able to sleep on my belly again! I tore and needed stitches, so my recovery has been pretty rough. Peeing, sitting, etc. is uncomfortable, sometimes downright excrutiating. Ibuprofen is your friend. Stock up now! As mentioned previously, first poop isn't bad, provided you take a stool softener!!

MrsElizabethPlano · May 2015

I can breathe! I can also sleep on my stomach (and back) which is something I loooove, I can snuggle with my husband, and I can even work out! I still walk a little funny, jumping doesn't feel good, sneezing/coughing hurts a bit, slight cramping when breastfeeding, a rashy butt from the pads, but overall I feel sooooooo good. Kinda tired but still more rested than those last weeks of pregnancy. I tore and have stitches, but the big motrin pill helped me out the first 3 days. Tylenol for 2 or 3 days, now I'm good. It might still hurt some but w/ my first baby (they cut me instead of letting me tear) it hurt so bad they gave me vicodin and i STILL was in so much pain I couldn't sleep or sit. Or stand for that matter...and pooping? Owwwwwwww even with the stool softener. This time 'sall good

No hair falling out yet, dropped 15lbs (including delivery), and my clothing options have become abundant. Still can't fit into my size 0 jeans, but I can squeeze into 5s. My boobs are nicely rounded with this milk :P Belly feels really squishy.

kimmeenoelle · May 2015

I had hyperemesis gravidarum with my pregnancy so I'm just happy I'm not puking every morning!! The eating without reflux is amazing. And i can get out of bed without having to roll for a few minutes! The worst part for me is peeing. I have a first degree internal tear with two stitches and 7 days later it still stings like a b!tch to urinate! Even if I use my handy squirt bottle. And I wipe with tucks pads instead of toilet paper still. My poops are uncomfortable but totally tolerable! My tummy is a bit squishy but flat now for the most part. Oh and if I miss a pumping session my boobs become rock hard. Seriously, rock hard.

mamadeuce · May 2015

My story pretty much mirrors @kimmeenoelle without the HG. I had an epidural so I still feel a pressure in my back sometimes but the most uncomfortable thing for me is my tear. The stitches can be hard to deal with. I sneezed once and damn near cried. If you have a tear make sure you do the sitz bathes and take the ibuprofen if you need to. Rest as much as you can because you will feel a lot of relief from pregnancy symptoms. Which will make you feel like a normal woman again or maybe even slightly like superwoman, but then you have all the post partum recovery and issues to deal with. Give your body time to heal. Don't push it too far.

smezger · May 2015

The physical recovery is nothing compared to the emotional recovery. I'm a FTM and life after baby is so different. It's getting better day by day but I went through a lot of scary tears during his first weeks. I remember thinking 'I wish I was nine months pregnant again!' My boy is a month and two days old and I'm still trying to get used to this new life. It's beautiful, but it's a learning curve!!

sunnyday016 · May 2015

I'm 10 days out from delivery and I feel pretty good. Heartburn and all digestive discomforts were instantly gone. The only thing I'm feeling now is achey crotch/bleeding and trying to get rid of the hemmerhoid I got from pushing.

khaleesi123 · May 2015

I have birth 2 days ago and I feel pretty lucky with a lot of things.. I wanted an epidural but birth was too quick so didn't get it which is probably for the best anyways. I got 2 very small stitches but they are high up so I think that May be the reasoning of why peeing hasn't hurt me even once. Breast feeding was pretty painful and frustrating so I switched to formula and felt very disappointed in myself

when I was finished with labour I was able to walk around and move normally but then next day I just feel a heavy pressure down there it isn't painful though and that's probably it.

The main thing though is the emotions I think I may have got the depression because I just can't help the horrible emotions I felt once I got home.

bjackson2688 · May 2015

I gave birth 2 days ago and I must say that every day is way better than the last. GOOGLE PADSICLES and have them ready for when you get home. They are seriously the best thing that I did for my recovery! I had a pretty easy labor & delivery with a 1 degree tear so the stitches from that are pretty irritating but not terrible at all.. My hospital gave me a numbing spray that is amazing. I got a few hemorrhoids but they're not that bad. My breasts are pretty sore from a baby that has fed every hour and a half to 2 hours since the day she was born lol but medela nipple cream works wonders. LAST but not least, the water retention I'm experiencing is obnoxious but gets better by the hour actually. Overall, it is not that bad at all and would do it a million times over again to have my precious baby girl!

hannahhassonn · May 2015

Get a belly binder belt. Doesn't have to be expensive. WHAT A NICE SUPPORT! After birth I felt empty and loose and fragile with all my organs all loosey goosey in there. A nice underbust support tank (I use Blanqi brand) and the belly binder belt (16$ from amazon) have been awesome. The midwife was really happy when she saw I bought one.

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