Recovery After Childbirth: Difficult For Many

After childbirth comes more than just a period of rest and seclusion that a woman’s body needs to return to normal. It is a period of adjustment, often characterized by overwhelming emotions that overflow into tears.

To clarify, we do not mean postpartum depression; only normal recovery after childbirth.

To begin with , many mothers undergo unexpected procedures during childbirth (such as cesarean sections).

There are physical wounds that need to be healed, your body is sore and your stomach is swollen. You are faced with a whole new form of tears, with this fragile little creature in your arms, which is completely dependent on you.

The time after childbirth is not easy. Every woman goes through the period in the way that is best and healthiest for her. These first weeks are a time to reconnect with your body and bond with your baby. However, your emotions go up and down, and the environment will not always be on your side.

There is so much to prepare before a baby is born. Mom and Dad will have planned what they want the room to look like, who will take care of what and how they will raise this new family member.

Among these long-term projects, we rarely think about the more short-term challenges. Postpartum recovery is one of them.

You have welcomed a child into the world, and now it’s time to tackle the reality of a body that feels empty again; a body that hurts and a figure you may not recognize.

Let’s take a closer look.

Your recovery after childbirth may differ from mine

Your best friend may have had a dream birth, in which the baby practically jumped out without assistance. Where everything went according to plan and there was plenty of time for skin contact between the mother and the newborn.

But other births are the exact opposite. The baby arrives early, a caesarean section is required and the baby must lie in an incubator for several weeks. No one is prepared for that. And in these cases, the postpartum period can be sensitive and even traumatic.

Every woman experiences cot time differently. Despite this, we are often surprised at how quickly celebrities get their figure back. We see photos on social media of new mothers showing an almost flat stomach. And here we are, with a stomach that looks like we’m still in the third trimester.

Postpartum recovery is a hormonal roller coaster

You may long for peace, but your body is still changing. It hurts, of course. You want to relax, but worry more about whether your baby is eating, sleeping, breathing, urinating, moving or having colic.

And as if that weren’t enough, your hormones are undergoing massive changes.

• During the days after birth, the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall. But do not worry, because they will return to normal levels when your ovulation cycle begins again.
• At the same time, prolactin levels rise. It has a fundamental role: to promote milk production and generate oxytocin. This hormone, which triggers contractions during childbirth, now has a very different purpose. Thanks to prolactin, your uterus contracts. It helps you heal the wound that the placenta left when it released, which prevents bleeding.

We all know that the postpartum period is a time of recovery, and it is different for everyone. However, there are phases that are more or less constant.

• Immediate cot time: the first 24 hours after the baby is born.
• Early or middle child bedtime: 2-7 days after delivery. During this time, the genitals begin to return to normal. The rejection appears and the breast milk begins to come.
• Late cot time: from the 11th to the 40th or 45th day after birth. At this stage, the uterus has contracted and menstruation returns if the mother does not breastfeed.

In some countries, such as Canada, however, experts are talking about an extended cot period, which can be up to 8-12 months. After all, women’s bodies and their emotions sometimes need several months to return to normal.

Postpartum recovery and your right to express your feelings

It’s not just hormones. Not everything is chemical. You are facing a new reality that has arrived like a hard blow. Even though you are tired and deprived of sleep , there is someone inside you who pushes you to be on the alert and constantly aware. These are unknown emotions, strange but also soothing.

You are a mother, and it is both exciting and scary. “Am I doing the right thing?” This is the question that comes up again and again, but you push it aside when you hold your child in your arms.

Your body is injured, you are wearing large bandages, loose clothing and you generally feel shaggy.

You may be wondering if you will ever get your old body back. These are doubts that come and go, and every now and then you just have to let go of everything and cry. So what?

You are happy and have a whole new life in your arms. Your recovery after childbirth will soon be over, but this is just the beginning for you.