I know recovering after childbirth is different for everyone, but I thought it would be fun to share some of my experience. So, here it is.
The Good:
*This seems self-explanatory. A sweet, innocent babe in your arms… how much better does it get? I love newborn baby cuddles. Nothing. better. in. the. world.
*If you choose a hospital birth… the nurses. They are the most amazing people ever created. Not only are they kind, but they also help you stay on top of feedings and they usually come bearing drugs. My kind of people.
*Meals. I have been so overwhelmingly blessed by meals from my girlfriends after having each baby. It is such a huge help! Plus, my girlfriends are awesome cooks!
*There is so much good with having a babe. I could by no means cover it all!
The Bad:
*Breast engorgement. Ugh. It makes me sigh just thinking about it. If you enjoy giant, leaky bricks hanging from your chest, this won’t bother you at all. It does regulate itself eventually, but really, prepare for watermelons and enough breastmilk to feed ten babies instead of one.
*Sleep deprivation. I’m exhausted just thinking about getting up in the night with a newborn. Thankfully, they are so precious, it does make this more bearable.
*Emotional. Thanks to all those wonderful hormones God kicks into action, I found myself crying a lot. I can’t say I was even sad. Maybe overwhelmed at times. Really, I loved being a mom. Yet, somehow tears flowed freely for quite a few days!
The Ugly:
*Contactions from the pits of H%$$! No, not labor contractions. I’m talking about post-labor contractions which happen each time you breastfeed. I didn’t experience this until baby number two. I literally thought I might have not delivered the whole placenta, but it was just my uterus’ way of telling me it was really stretched out!
*Pads the size of toddler diapers. Cringe. Prepare yourself for the worst period of your life times ten. For me, this improved with each baby. But still, I dread it each time!
*Bladder control gone wacko. After baby number three, I literally peed my pants in the middle of my kitchen. I then experienced an emotional breakdown because I irrationally thought I would be incontinent for the rest of my life. The good news is, my bladder has recovered! However, I do have friends who struggle with leaking when they exercise.
*Unrecognizable body parts. With breasts the size of watermelons, a tummy the consistency of bread dough, and very swollen other female parts, I think it’s safe to say – unrecognizable.
Really, it is a beautiful process. Because, in the end, it’s what connects moms to one another. It gives us a topic to relate on! I love sitting around with my girlfriends and talking birth, babies, and postpartum. Plus, what is more wonderful than our babes? It is 100 percent worth it, but I find freedom in discussing the not so glorious parts of it, too!
I’m laughing out loud… because this is so true! I’m experience the good-bad-and ugly myself as I had my daughter just 5 weeks ago. I would add to the ugly list the exponential amount of laundry that piles up by adding just a teeny tiny little person to your family. It’s never ending!!
“a tummy the consistency of bread dough”…Hahaha! We laughed about you writing this, but you did a great job! I can definitely relate!!!