The First 30 Days After Childbirth

In the first week of your postpartum, while you’re busy nuzzling and cuddling your baby, your hormones are going through a constant change making you.

You’ve endured several challenges during the nine months of your pregnancy. Once you’ve given birth to your baby, start the postpartum phase. Having said that, the postpartum phase starts with the “Golden Hour” – the first hour of connection of love and bonding with your newlyborn little one. But the making a heart-to-heart connection with your baby, both your body and mind are going to undergo a sea change. Along with this, you’ll go through several changes in the first month of your postpartum.

Here’s what you need to know:

First 30 Days of Postpartum: Physical and Emotional Changes

In the first 30 days of your postpartum, while you’re busy nuzzling and cuddling your baby, your hormones are going through a constant change making you: 

Bleed

In the first week of your postpartum, you’re expected to bleed heavily. The blood is bright red with a combination of mucus and tissue in it. However, over time, the vaginal discharge may be watery. 

Lose Your Weight

During your pregnancy, your weight is inclusive of the weight of your baby and the placenta, amniotic fluid, diet, and less physical activity. So, after your baby’s birth, with the baby, there’s the placenta and blood that comes out makes you lose 10 to 15 pounds of your weight.  

Uterine Contractions

During your pregnancy, the uterus weighs around 2.5 pounds. Once you’ve given birth to your baby, it takes its own time to shrink back down. Having said that, it takes around 6 weeks.  

Breast Changes

Breast engorgement is a common occurrence during your pregnancy, as your body is preparing yourself to give birth. But breast engorgement is also a noteworthy symptom in the first week of your postpartum. Your hormones start declining after the delivery of the baby and the placenta, and your breasts will feel full, tender, as well as sore. 

Tired

Since you’ve been through so much in the nine months of your pregnancy, once you give birth to your baby, you’ll feel tired as well as sleep-deprived. 

Hot Flashes

Due to the changes in hormones and the increase in milk supply, it’s common to experience hot flashes or night sweats in the first week after childbirth. As you start feeding your baby more frequently, you may also notice an increase in sweating. 

Swelling

Due to the soaring pregnancy hormones, and preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension, you must have felt pregnancy swelling or oedema. This happens, as 50% more blood as well as fluids are needed for the placental as well as the baby’s growth.  Even after a week of your baby’s birth, the swelling doesn’t reduce.  

Baby blues or postpartum depression, c-section scars, as well as bowel movements are also common postpartum symptoms.   

The Second, Third, and Fourth Weeks of Postpartum: Physical and Emotional Changes

By the time you enter the second, third, and fourth week of your postpartum, you’ll start feeling much better. Thanks to the declining hormones. But, during this time, the physical and emotional changes that you’ll be undergoing will be the following:

• The vaginal tears will feel a little itchy
• Nipple sores will be common, due to improper latching of your baby 
• The signs of depression seem to be fading by now 
• The C-scars may feel itchy

Changes in your body after the birth of your baby, along with the stretchmarks are the rewards of motherhood. The new mommy journey has begun. Enjoy it to the core!