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November 2015 Moms
mommynorris
member
Post Partum Recovery
mommynorris
member
I know that most of us are in the second trimester and we are thinking about all that baby will need when he/she gets here, but as a soon to be mom of 2 all I can think of is the dreaded post Partum recovery. Do any moms who have "been there" have advice to share with FTMs about how to get through those first few weeks after baby gets here?
Re: Post Partum Recovery
This time around I'm also buying a mini fridge for next to the bed so I don't have to get out of bed if I pump at night. I can pump, stash the milk, and go back to sleep easily. I'll probably also buy a scale to monitor the babies feelings. My son wasn't eating enough, I became overwhelmed when he was losing weight and the pediatrician talked me into supplementing which ended up killing my supply.
I'm also going to try and make several freezer meals ahead of time so that we can have some easy but good dinners.
Just make sure u have pads of different types I had bigger thicker ones for the night time and then little ones for the day. Use your "period" underwear if u have some or just buy some new ones when u r all good down there. Make sure to have tucks or hemroid cream just incase. I was not prepared for that one after my first baby. Making some freezer meals or make sure you have easy meals on hand was something I did with my second and that was nice. Also, I stocked up on groceries and all my other products early so I didn't have to send my DH all the time or have to run out within that first week.
So in terms of physical recovery.... invest in a few good ice packs so you can cycle through them throughout the day! I liked the ones with the beads in them because they were softer and pliable. You can also heat them and use on your boobs if you need to!
Definitely stock up on home supplies have enough deodorant, tp, toothpaste and food for several weeks minimum. Store boxes of granola bars etc with your big jugs of water so you remember to eat. I had really bad night sweats from all the fluids and hormones leaving my body for a week or so I ended up laying a towel under me and replacing it when I woke up soaked.
Crap I just remembered how much fun this was last time.
*sarcasm font
I second having food ready. If a family member asks how they can help. Ask for meals. Or give them money to go grocery shopping for you.
Things you can eat one handed help. Cut up veggies, granola bars, sandwiches.
I was more hungry while breast feeding than while pregnant.
When I would go to bed I would put a bottle of water on my nightstand and one next to the rocker for middle of the night feedings. I was also super thirsty and would have little places set up and ready so I could feed the baby and not have to get up.
My husband and I tag teamed middle of the night feedings/changes. He would get up and get the baby first and change her so I could use the bathroom. Then I would feed her and he would go back to bed. It woke him up anyway so it was a good way for him to feel helpful and it allowed me to do what I needed to do.
I even requested a fan to my hospital room I was so sweaty there!
I took pain meds for 3 weeks, slowly weaning down.
My advice would be just remember that everything will get better with time. The postpartum recovery period can be pretty rough but it is only temporary.
But yes, people need to talk about this.
Even mom friends need to warn each other!
I do find it strange that I've gotten to hear about the awkward and uncomfortable pregnancy things from moms I know, but none of them talk about this!
2. Just because you're cleared for sex by doctor at 6 wks doesn't mean you'll necessarily WANT sex at 6 wks... Just keep SO informed of how you are feeling and have open communication so he is better able to understand.
I gave birth vaginally, naturally (a small year and stitches) and was up and easily showering myself, bathing my daughter, etc. within the hour. I hemorrhaged a little during delivery, but didn't need a transfusion. I even had energy to shampoo, blow dry, and style my hair, apply a little make up, and be ready for pictures soon after birth.
I didn't have night sweats. I was fairly energetic after labor. Fatigue didn't set in until a few days/nights later of low sleep. I didn't swell anywhere (but I also never had swollen anything during the pregnancy, either).
As for bleeding, this might be because I hemorrhaged, but it wasn't that different than my heaviest period days. I also have heavy periods, but it was mostly like my heaviest day prolonged a bit.
I breastfed on demand so I remember getting hungry a lot during night feedings. My hubby would make sure protein rich, easy to eat snakcks and water were always close by and ready in the nursery. (Peanut butter on crackers works really well!)
I remember the first few days being sore bending over to take on and off my shoes. I used an ice pad that first day, and messy underwear, and cloth menstrual pads that month. I loved my soft bamboo/cotton pads. I also use cloth diapers, so throwing a load in together was easy. (I used a wet lab dry bag that could be tossed all together in the washing machine on a pretty programmed setting).
Getting the energy to cook meals was not feasible. My hubby handled food duties (reheating meals from the freezer we stocked and take out). Going up and down the stairs with baby was easy for me.
Food was the hardest issue. I have food allergies, so getting meals I could eat easily was very trying.
I used Earth Mama witch hazel spray to spritz my entire under area after every bathroom trip. It helped.
I only took some low dosage pain killers the first two days, but it wasn't that bad without them, either.
I used the stool softeners they gave me in the hospital, and had no issues with easy bowl movements. It didn't hurt and life was good. I do vividly remember how it took hours and hours for me to pee and it hurt a lot while my body refused to urinate.
This is simply my experience. Your recovery can drastically vary depending on many factors (c-section, complications, length of labor, etc).
Oh, and the peri bottle is your friend.
BFP 4-19-11. Ezri Ana born on due date, Dec 30 2011!
My Ovulation Chart
I had a 4th degree tear so I could hardly walk after giving birth. Lots of ice packs, witch hazel and tucks. And the peri bottle. Take lots of extra ones home from the hospital. I kept them in every bathroom. And dermoplast spray! It's a numbing spray that really helped my stitches stay clean and painless.
Towels for night sweats!! Postpartum flashes are like night sweats you can't even imagine!
I agree with PPs-- jugs of water.
I'm not going to lie, I am terrified now that I have a toddler. Bringing one child home seems so simple!!
Re: the bolded: What the what?!
No...you may not *feel* like driving after delivery (especially for FTMs) but that doesn't mean you absolutely-in-all-cases *can't* drive. Pay attention to your body, and don't over do things, but if you are feeling up for it, it is possible. (I drove my son back to the hospital when he was 2 or 3 days old for some follow-up testing they wanted to do and had zero issues.) ETA: I'm not sure about after a C-section though, so double-check if you are unsure.
The most helpful thing I have ever used during post partum recovery was a trick I discovered by accident with my son. When an after-pain hits, massage the area that it hurts most, making sure to press firmly. It will hurt a little more at first (like when you have a knot in your shoulder and it hurts worse before getting better as the muscles start to loosen) but I found that it helped pass the blood clots, and that the pain subsided as soon as the clot had passed. I didn't need to use any pain medication for the first 24 hours after DS was born by using this trick. If only I had known about it when I had my girls!
Re: the bolded: What the what?!
No...you may not *feel* like driving after delivery (especially for FTMs) but that doesn't mean you absolutely-in-all-cases *can't* drive. Pay attention to your body, and don't over do things, but if you are feeling up for it, it is possible. (I drove my son back to the hospital when he was 2 or 3 days old for some follow-up testing they wanted to do and had zero issues.) ETA: I'm not sure about after a C-section though, so double-check if you are unsure.
The most helpful thing I have ever used during post partum recovery was a trick I discovered by accident with my son. When an after-pain hits, massage the area that it hurts most, making sure to press firmly. It will hurt a little more at first (like when you have a knot in your shoulder and it hurts worse before getting better as the muscles start to loosen) but I found that it helped pass the blood clots, and that the pain subsided as soon as the clot had passed. I didn't need to use any pain medication for the first 24 hours after DS was born by using this trick. If only I had known about it when I had my girls! ;
Actually I was also told it would be 2 weeks before I would be cleared to drive with a vaginal birth. I ended up with a CS and it was a the same.
Re: the bolded: What the what?!
No...you may not *feel* like driving after delivery (especially for FTMs) but that doesn't mean you absolutely-in-all-cases *can't* drive. Pay attention to your body, and don't over do things, but if you are feeling up for it, it is possible. (I drove my son back to the hospital when he was 2 or 3 days old for some follow-up testing they wanted to do and had zero issues.) ETA: I'm not sure about after a C-section though, so double-check if you are unsure.
The most helpful thing I have ever used during post partum recovery was a trick I discovered by accident with my son. When an after-pain hits, massage the area that it hurts most, making sure to press firmly. It will hurt a little more at first (like when you have a knot in your shoulder and it hurts worse before getting better as the muscles start to loosen) but I found that it helped pass the blood clots, and that the pain subsided as soon as the clot had passed. I didn't need to use any pain medication for the first 24 hours after DS was born by using this trick. If only I had known about it when I had my girls!
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Vaginal birth here and my doctor also ordered no driving for 2 weeks. OP- I would listen to your Drs orders- not this poster.
Edit: quote box fail
"I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best." Benjamin Disraeli
[spoiler] My Blog: Grow Baby Grow
BFP #1: 12/2009 m/c 1/2010 BFP #2: 6/2010 m/c 8/2010
BFP #3: 10/2011 ectopic 11/2011 (right tube removed, learned left tube was probably nonfunctional due to scar tissue from infection after m/c)
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First Ultrasound at 6w2d revealed two sacs, only one with a heartbeat
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JD arrived at 38 weeks on October 20, 2015.
TTC #3: Since October 2017. BFP #6 July 2, 2018 EDD: March 16, 2019 [/spoiler]
I had an easy vaginal delivery. No tearing and no problems. One thing I was not prepared for was immediately after delivery I got the shakes. It was full body shakes to the point where I was scared to hold my daughter and try to feed the first time. I had never heard of that before and it scared the hell out of me.
I did get hemrhoids which was not fun when I had a bm. The peri bottle was amazing with that. It's basically a squirt bottle you fill with water to clean yourself up so you don't have to wipe after using the bathroom. You just blot the area after you've sprayed off the yuck. The doctor also suggested I go pee in the shower whenever it was practical. Again, less wiping and aggravation to the area.
If you're breast feeding give yourself time to get used to it and do it well. I tend to be shy and had an incredibly difficult time with breast feeding in the hospital as family was constantly coming in and out and I was nervous and embarrassed. Don't be afraid to ask for privacy if you feel it will help you.
I started keeping snacks and water bottles in my daughter's dresser drawer next to the extra diapers. Her dresser was configured with a large area on one side for stacking items. It made it easy to grab something when I needed to get up and do a feeding (usually accompanied by a diaper change) at night.
I can't really think of anything else right now. . . We're biologically programmed not to remember that time very well. Between pregnancy brain and sleep deprivation it's fairly hazy otherwise it would be one and done for many. lol.