Things That Happen to Your Body After Pregnancy

If you thought pregnancy was rough, check out this list of things that happen to your body after pregnancy! Read this during pregnancy so you know what to expect after your baby is born!

Congratulations! You’ve just had your baby! You get your body back!

Just kidding! If only it were that simple. On Monday I talked about all the things that happen to your body during pregnancy. Well, after your baby is born, your body is not instantly going to be normal again. There are some crazy things that happen to your body after your baby is born. Immediately after your baby is born is pretty rough, and then in the weeks and months following, you get some more unpleasant surprises with your body.

So whether you have just had your baby or you are trying to mentally prepare for what it’s going to be like after your baby is born, here are some things that happen to your body after pregnancy, just so you know what to expect!

1. Bleeding for days. Yup, no filter. Imagine a period, multiply it, and then add in the fact that you are crazy sore and tender down there. It’s super fun.

2. Cramps. Your uterus had to expand super big to fit your baby, so after baby is born, it has to shrink. And it hurts. It feels like cramping when you’re on your period, but worse because it’s all happening super fast.

3. Difficult bowel movements. I told you there was no filter. Because you are super tender and sore down there, pushing hurts. So the nurses will probably give you some stool softener. TAKE IT. It will make a big difference and help you not to get constipated.

4. Waddling. Yeah, you thought after baby was born you could walk normal, but no. You are super sore down there and so to move, you waddle. You also might want to carry around one of those blowup donuts or a pillow for sitting, too.

5. Hair loss. And a few months after your hair starts falling out, you will start to notice super cute baby hairs (notice my sarcasm) all over your head. It’s crazy annoying when you’re trying to style your hair, and it looks like you have lots of flyaways all the time.

6. No sex for six weeks (or more). I think most people know this happens, but I thought I would mention it anyway. Please, stick to what the doctor tells you. It might be more depending on how severe the damage is down there.

7. Weak bladder control. When the doctor tells you to do kegels, they are not kidding. DO THEM. And if you have to go to the bathroom at all, GO. You don’t want to be stuck somewhere without a bathroom because you will pee your pants.

8. Sore breasts. Regardless of if you are going to be breastfeeding or not, your milk will come in and it will be painful. If you are breastfeeding they will be sore for a while as you get used to breastfeeding and your body adjust to how much milk it needs to make. If you aren’t breastfeeding, you will have to let your milk dry up and that hurts, too. So either way, expect tenderness for a while.

It will take a while for things to go away and get back to normal. And in the meantime, you might hate the things happening with your body. But when you are feeling in pain and super grumpy that you can barely sit down without wincing, just look at the tiny little person you carried in your belly for the last 9 months and you’ll feel better. Because even though it’s hard on your body, it’s completely worth it!