In the days and weeks after giving birth, it’s normal to go through many physical and emotional changes. Some of those changes will be visible, while others might be obvious only to you.

Having realistic expectations about your post-pregnancy body can help you feel more at ease about the way you look and feel. It can also help you know which changes aren’t typical and are worth telling your doctor about. Here are some common changes you might go through post-pregnancy.

Fatigue

Giving birth is stressful and tiring on both the body and mind. You might be healing from a vaginal tear or a cesarean section (c-section). Or you could have discomfort from uterine cramps for a few days. As your body recovers, it’s normal to feel worn out.

What’s more, newborns need feeding every 2 to 3 hours, around the clock. Catching up on your sleep will be challenging for the first few months after giving birth. And it’s not just a hungry baby that can keep you up at night. After delivering, you have a drop in the hormone progesterone, which helps you feel sleepy and relaxed. So less progesterone can make it tougher to sleep at night too.

Weight Loss

Most parents lose around 13 pounds during childbirth alone. That includes the weight of the baby as well as the placenta and amniotic fluid. In the week after giving birth and beyond, you’ll also lose some weight by shedding the fluids you retained during pregnancy. You’ll do this through urine and sweat. Most breastfeeding parents also burn between 500 and 700 additional calories a day, research shows. After all, producing breastmilk all day every day takes energy!

Vaginal Discharge

It’s normal to have vaginal discharge, called lochia, for 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth. Lochia resembles a heavy menstrual period. It’s made up of the tissue and blood that lined your uterus while you were pregnant. Over time, it will diminish and become more watery. But reach out to your doctor if you have:

• Heavy bleeding that soaks a pad in less than an hour.
• Clots that are bigger than a quarter.
• Pelvic pain.
• A fever.

Urinating a Lot

Typically, in the first few days after giving birth, you’ll need to urinate more — up to 3 quarts each day. You may perspire more than usual too. Both urinating and sweating help your body get rid of the extra fluid it took on during pregnancy.

Keep a bottle of water nearby to help you get the recommended 11.5 cups of fluid a day. (About 20% of your fluids come from food.) Staying hydrated is especially important if you’re breastfeeding because 87% of breast milk is made of water.

A Shrinking Uterus

Right after birth, contractions cause the uterus to start shrinking. This often comes with uterine cramps, or afterpains. During the following weeks, the uterus will shrink in both size and weight. It will take about 4 weeks for it to reach its pre-pregnancy weight of about 2 ounces.

Tummy Bulge

Don’t expect your stomach to go back to its pre-pregnancy shape right after birth. In fact, many new parents will look like they’re still pregnant for several weeks or months after giving birth. This is because pregnancy causes your abdominal muscles to stretch out. It takes time — and regular exercise — to get your tummy back in shape. Be patient with yourself.

Lower Sex Drive

Levels of the hormone estrogen plummet after birth. Along with this, you may have less interest in sex. You may also have a drier vagina, which can make having sex more difficult. Fatigue can also play a role in loss of libido. This is common. For some new parents, it may take up to a year for their sex drive to come back.

Feeling Down

About 3 or 4 days after childbirth, you might start to feel depressed, anxious, or upset. These postpartum blues — also known as the baby blues — can lead to crying for no clear reason. They can make it harder to sleep, eat, and make choices. Baby blues may also cause new parents to question whether they can handle caring for a baby.

The baby blues are thought to be caused by hormonal changes. They’re made worse by disruption to your sleep and routine. Take heart in knowing that they don’t last long: Feeling down like this usually lasts a few days to a couple of weeks.

But if more serious postpartum depression sets in (which can start up to a year after having a baby), talk about it with your doctor right away. Symptoms of postpartum depression can include:

• Severe mood swings.
• Excessive crying.
• Trouble bonding with the baby.
• Inability to sleep.
• Loss of appetite.
• Intense irritability.
• Hopelessness.
• Thoughts of suicide or death.

The Bottom Line

Naturally, you may be eager for your body to return to “normal” as soon as possible. And you’ll probably feel well on your way to recovery within 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth. But remember that postpartum recovery can take as long as 6 months or more. It’s important to be kind to yourself and give yourself the time to recover both mentally and physically.

[SOURCES:]

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[8] “Baby Blues.” American Pregnancy Association, https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/first-year-of-life/baby-blues/. Accessed October 29, 2021.

[9] “Postpartum Depression.” Mayo Clinic, September 1, 2018, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617. Accessed October 29, 2021.

[10] Romano M, Cacciatore A, Giordano R, et al. “Postpartum Period: Three Distinct but Continuous Phases.” Journal of Prenatal Medicine, vol. 4, no. 2, 2010, pp. 22-25.