Having my first son is a time I will never forget. My husband and I took the classes offered at the hospital so that we would be more prepared. I read books and talked to other moms that I knew to get a general idea of what life would be like when the baby arrived and a lot of the information that I gathered from the classes, books and moms was very helpful. I felt prepared for motherhood, but there’s so much that they left out.
The part that no one tells you about after you have a baby is how your body changes. I mean it really changes, and it does things that it just didn’t do before.
I’ve had four children and with each pregnancy I’ve discovered something new. You start to look at your body and it looks totally different than it did before you gave birth and that’s not a bad thing per se, but perhaps more women should be prepared for the changes to come.
Moles
I personally noticed more moles after my last pregnancy. You just wake up one morning and there’s a mole and there’s another and wait, look, there’s another. Supposedly, hormones are to blame and many of them are said to go away. Some moles can be a concern, so you should call your doctor if they become larger or if you notice any bleeding.
Stretchmarks
My vision has changed, my feet are flatter and of course I have stretch marks. All the oils and creams that they say will keep stretchmarks away clearly did not work for me. This may not as surprising for some new moms because many women have stretch marks before giving birth. Between 50 and 90 percent of women get stretch marks during or after pregnancy. While they won’t go away, there are natural ways to reduce the appearance of stretch marks by using home remedies like castor oil and aloe vera.
Incontinence
Incontinence seems to be the dirty little secret that many moms struggle with but are too embarrassed to talk about. What is it? According to Mayo Clinic, incontinence is simply the loss of bladder control. In lamens terms it means, when you gotta go, you gotta go NOW!
Incontinence is very common after pregnancy, especially for women who delivered vaginally. Labor and delivery may stretch, strain or tear the muscles that hold the uterus, bladder and rectum in their proper place, which results in incontinence. But there is hope my friends. Kegel exercises have proven to be helpful for strengthening the muscles weakened by childbirth. Here are some tips on how to perform these exercises from the National Association for Incontinence:
- Which muscles do I need to exercise? If you can stop your urination flow mid-stream, you have identified your pelvic floor muscles. That’s the most difficult part of the exercise.
- Build up to your routine. Performing with an empty bladder, your first goal should be to tighten your pelvic floor muscles for 5 seconds. Then relax them for 5 seconds. Try to do 5 reps on your first day. As you gain confidence from your new routine, aim for for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions.
- Repeat 3 times a day. Aim for at least 3 sets of 10 repetitions per day.
*Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs, or buttocks. Also, avoid holding your breath. Breathe freely during the exercises to keep from stressing the rest of your body.
Postpartum Depression
The highs that come with having a new baby can also come with lows. Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that women experience after childbirth and cases vary from woman to woman. It should be noted that there is a difference between postpartum depression and the “baby blues,” which lasts a few weeks and leaves on its own. Postpartum depression on the other hand, requires treatment. Some of the symptoms include:
- Feeling sad, hopeless, empty, or overwhelmed
- Crying more often than usual or for no apparent reason
- Worrying or feeling overly anxious
- Feeling moody, irritable, or restless
- Oversleeping, or being unable to sleep even when her baby is asleep
- Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- Experiencing anger or rage
- Losing interest in activities that are usually enjoyable
- Suffering from physical aches and pains, including frequent headaches, stomach problems, and muscle pain
- Eating too little or too much
- Withdrawing from or avoiding friends and family
- Having trouble bonding or forming an emotional attachment with her baby
- Persistently doubting her ability to care for her baby
- Thinking about harming herself or her baby.
*Please consult your doctor if you recently had a baby and are frequently experiencing any of these or similar symptoms.
Bringing a baby into this world is a life changing experience. You experience a love that is simply indescribable and most of us don’t mind the changes that our bodies will experience. But it’s good for future and expecting mothers to be aware of what lies ahead. Besides, parenting will be shocking enough!
How did your body change after pregnancy? What were you most shocked about?
Feature image credit: @amberrosetheron
