You were pregnant for nine months with all the ailments and discomforts that come with it. You have finally given birth to a beautiful son or daughter. The enjoyment can begin. But how is your body doing after giving birth? What can you expect after you give birth? What ailments and discomforts are associated with losing pregnancy?
Childbirth
It is normal to have bleeding from the vagina after giving birth. This blood loss is caused by the detachment of the placenta causing a large wound in the uterus. During the first few days, the blood is bright red with clots that can be the size of a lemon. After a few days, the blood loss will decrease and the color of the blood will become more reddish brown. In most women, the bleeding stops after about 6 weeks.
Aftereffects
You also have contractions after giving birth. These contractions are caused by the contraction of the uterus. This causes the uterus to regain its normal shape. The pain of contractions varies from mild cramping to severe pain. You feel this the worst when your child drinks from you. After-effects can last for several days.
Baby blues
A few days after giving birth you may experience the baby blues or maternity tears. The baby blues are caused by a sudden drop in hormones and the start of milk production. Lack of sleep and the shock of the big change in your life can also play a role. The baby blues can last up to 10 days. If you continue to suffer from negative feelings for a long time and you feel that there will be no improvement, seek professional help. You may then suffer from postnatal depression.
Sweat attacks
During your pregnancy you retain a lot of fluid. After giving birth, your body has to get rid of all that fluid again. Your body does this by sweating and urinating a lot. Many women suffer from night sweats after giving birth. You can sweat so much that your entire bed becomes soaked, for example. To absorb some of this moisture, you can sleep on a towel or on a protective sheet from your maternity package. The sweating attacks stop automatically after a few weeks.
Hair loss
You may experience hair loss a few weeks after giving birth. During pregnancy you often lose less hair due to the influence of hormones. Many women have a beautiful full head of hair when they are pregnant. After the period of hair loss, you will usually regain your familiar head.
Your body weight
On average, a woman gains between 10 and 15 kilos during pregnancy. This weight largely consists of the baby, the placenta, amniotic fluid, extra fluid and blood and a layer of fat. Most of this weight will disappear on its own. You will lose about 5 kilos during childbirth. You will lose the fluid and extra fat in the following weeks. The last few pounds are usually a bit more difficult to lose. It is not wise to start dieting (immediately). This is especially not recommended if you are breastfeeding. Dieting can cause toxic waste products to enter breast milk. It is best to just eat healthy and make sure you get enough exercise. Your body still has to recover during the first 6 weeks. Then you can slowly start exercising again.
The first menstruation
After giving birth, it may take a while before you get your period again. On average, a woman gets her first period after 3 to 9 months. This may take longer if you are breastfeeding. The first few times your period can be a lot worse than you are normally used to. The blood loss can even be so heavy that the maternity bandage has to be removed again. After a few times, your cycle and menstruation will return to normal.
Finally
Getting pregnant is different for every woman. Some people suffer from it more than others. The most important thing about this period is that you take good care of yourself and enjoy your child. At some point you feel completely normal again.
