Pregnancy might be over but postpartum recovery comes with a lot of aches, pains and weird symptoms too. Here are the top 9 postpartum symptoms you can expect in the initial weeks following delivery.
In this post, you will learn all about the common postpartum symptoms you can expect during the early stages of your postpartum recovery as well as which postpartum symptoms not to ignore.
Some of the postpartum symptoms you will experience after birth may shock you (I know they did for me as a first time mom).
This post is all about the most common postpartum symptoms you may experience.
Most Common Postpartum Symptoms
Abdominal Cramps
After birth, your uterus has to shrink back down to its original size. Uterine cramping and discomfort is usually felt in the first few days after birth, especially during breastfeeding.
Your nurse in the hospital will perform many fundal massages to encourage the shrinking of your uterus and prevent postpartum hemorrhaging.
A fundal massage involves the nurse finding the top of your uterus and pushing downward and inward on your stomach.
Vaginal Bleeding
Postpartum bleeding is also known as lochia. It’s a period-like discharge women have after giving birth. It’s made up of the mucous membrane that lines the uterus during pregnancy as well as blood, endometrial lining and placental tissue.
The bleeding is a way for your body to get rid of the extra blood and tissue in your uterus that helped your baby grow.
Bleeding can last from about four to six weeks after delivery. You can expect it to be heavier in the first few days after giving birth and gradually decrease over time. You may also notice it’s heavier during certain times of the day or after you’ve been more active too.
Constipation
Constipation is very common during pregnancy and after birth. Things like dehydration, hormonal changes, pain medicines, epidurals and a c section delivery can all play a role in constipation.
Constipation should resolve itself within a week after birth but stool softeners can be very helpful at home. Walking can also be very beneficial. It might seem intimidating at first but a little bit of walking (if you’re able to) can really help your bowels.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are the least fun thing during pregnancy and postpartum. They can be itchy, painful and so uncomfortable!
Pregnancy and delivery cause added pressure on your rectum which can lead to hemorrhoids. Plus, constipation can aggravate and worsen them too.
Drinking a lot of water and eating fiber rich foods can be an easy way to prevent constipation.
Sitz baths can be soothing and relieve the discomfort that hemorrhoids cause. Witch hazel pads can also be very helpful! You can pick up these wipes and use them several times throughout the day.
Postpartum Night Sweats
When you are experiencing postpartum night sweats, you will wake up in the middle of the night completely drenched and feeling like you need a shower.
During the postpartum period, your levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones are decreasing as they adjust to pre-pregnancy levels. This leads to changes in your body temperature at night and lots of sweat!
Your body also needs to get rid of the extra fluids from pregnancy that it no longer needs. This translates into postpartum night sweats and frequent urination.
Postpartum night sweats begin a few days after birth and can last for a few weeks. They typically taper off on their own as your fluid levels decrease and hormones are regulated.
Leaking Breasts / Sore Nipples
If you didn’t experience leaking breaks during the end of pregnancy, you will experience it as your milk comes in postpartum (whether you plan to breastfeed or not). Breast pads will be your best friend so you aren’t leaking through your clothes all day and night!
If you decide to breastfeed your baby, sore nipples come with the territory initially.
Mood Swings
Being a newly postpartum mom comes with every emotion you can possibly imagine: love for your new baby, happiness, exhaustion, overwhelm, and at times even sadness.
These types of postpartum emotions are a very real and common occurrence among new moms, whether it is your first baby or a second. And we can blame postpartum hormones for that.
Postpartum hormones begin changing as soon as you give birth and play a big role in how moms feel during the fourth trimester or the first twelve weeks after delivery.
Many moms experience the baby blues in the first two weeks after giving birth but postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression are common as well. You can read more about the difference between them here.
Exhaustion
It’s no secret that life with a newborn is exhausting. You are not only recovering from labor and delivery but you will be up round the clock with your baby.
You may feel like a zombie those first few days to weeks but know that it will get better. And the short naps you can get throughout the day are a game changer.
Pain or Numbness Around C Section Incision
If you had a c section delivery, you can expect to feel pain and numbness around your c section incision. The pain will get less and less as you recover but the numbness may remain.
It’s a weird feeling at first but you will get used to it.
Postpartum Symptoms Not To Ignore:
- Heavy bleeding that doesn’t slow or stop
- Chest pain
- Blurry vision
- Rapid heart rate
- High fever
- Leg pain
- Severe headache
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe pain in the lower abdomen
- Thoughts of death, suicide or harming your baby
This post was all about postpartum symptoms you may experience.