Now that I find myself in the beginning stages of the “fourth trimester,” I’m so glad that I decided to continue my pregnancy updates into the postpartum period. It’s nothing like I thought it would be and nothing could have prepared me for all that I am feeling and experiencing.
First, I’d like to thank you guys for giving me glimpses into your postpartum experiences. It’s been so reassuring to remember that many of you commented you felt or experienced similar things when I’m dealing with tears, night sweats, bleeding and pads, breastfeeding struggles, etc. I definitely don’t feel alone, although I am working to adjust to a new normal.
So here goes the first seven days postpartum…remember, I am going to keep these more focused on motherhood from my experience versus a documentation on Finn and his development and milestones.
THE FOURTH TRIMESTER: WEEK ONE
Arriving home from the hospital: my doctor cleared me to go home after two nights in the hospital. Most c-section stays are three nights but he said as long as I had help, that I would probably feel better and recover better at home. Leaving the hospital and arriving home was an incredibly emotional experience for me. I couldn’t believe how much my life had changed since I arrived at the hospital on Thursday night. Driving home and seeing everything “the same” when I felt so different was so crazy and so surreal. I cried the whole way home.
Body changes: since I had an epidural and a c-section, I was pumped full of fluids while I was in labor and delivery. Upon arriving home I was SO puffy and swollen. I actually had lost less weight than the baby weighed when I left the hospital because I had so much retained fluid. I had pitting edema that lasted until 6 days postpartum.
My stomach has been going down as my uterus contracts back down but my breasts have grown into a size that I’ve never known in my life! My lactation consultant said to enjoy them while they last. 😉 Everything around my stomach feels overall looser but not terrible.
Breastfeeding: breastfeeding is going well but has not been without its challenges. I was able to breastfeed for the first time while I was in the recovery room from my c-section. The hospital where I delivered has AMAZING lactation support and I had a lactation consultant come in and help get the baby latched while I was in recovery. That was a blessing.
Breastfeeding was incredibly painful for the first few days as my nipples got adjusted and we worked on our latch. I carried this nipple balm around with me everywhere and was constantly putting it on my nipples. My left one cracked a little and my right one was just sore. That healed and things have gotten so much more comfortable since my milk came in.
Speaking of my milk coming in, that was an experience. It fully came in 5 days postpartum and threw Finn and I both for a loop. He started getting fussy with his latch and I was so uncomfortable. I think the letdown was overwhelming for him and I felt overfull and engorged. At one point I was up at 4 a.m. in the shower trying to hand express because I was so uncomfortable.
I called the lactation support at the hospital first thing the next morning and they were able to fit me in for an appointment. It was an absolute game changer. I could have cried with relief. The lactation consultant was SO helpful and gave me so many great tips on latching, how to watch for the letdown and readjust my positioning, how to make sure all ducts are fully cleared, when baby is done, etc. Thank you all of you who stressed to use lactation consultants. They are angels.
Since then we’ve been doing pretty well! I’m feeding on demand but sometimes, especially in the middle of the night, it’s mommy’s demand and not Finn’s!
Sleep: speaking of middle of the night feeds…sleep. It hasn’t been terrible. We’re up every 2-3 hours but since I’m on maternity leave I can sleep in pretty late. We typically get in bed around 10:15-10:30 and I feed until around 11. He’s usually up around 1 and 3 and then will give me a stretch until 5 or 6 and then we sleep until 9 or so. We spend a lot of time in bed to get those hours of sleep in!
Showering: this won’t stay a weekly topic but oh my gosh, showers have been saving my life. They make me feel like a new person. I always take one in the morning and often I take a second in the evening. It feels so good to stand under the hot water, get clean, put on lotion and face creams, etc. Also, as soon as I could bend over to shave I started shaving my legs again. Really helps me feel somewhat normal.
Symptoms/recovery: I don’t know that symptoms is the best word for it but here are some things I have experienced in the first 7 days.
- Night sweats. Y’all weren’t kidding about the night sweats. They are INTENSE. I’ve always had night sweats but these are next level. I wake up drenched from head to toe. I now go to bed with towels and a change of pjs by the bedside.
- Bleeding. My bleeding was pretty heavy for the first 7 days but has finally started to subside. I definitely wore some adult diaper type things for the first few days that a friend had given me leftover from her postpartum time. They were so comfortable.
- Pain relief. I took 800 milligrams of Ibuprofen for the first 5-6 days. Luckily, I was able to avoid taking the pain medicine that my doctor gave me once I got home from the hospital. I really don’t like taking that stuff. The Ibuprofen was very effective though.
- Incision support/belly band. my nurse at the hospital gave me an abdominal binder to provide support to my stomach and the incision site and it’s been a lifesaver. I wore it every day during the day for the first 6 days postpartum and it really helped me with things like standing up and sitting down and moving around. It provided great counter pressure for my abs and incision so that I felt more supported and held.
- Appetite: for the first week pospartum, my appetite was really off. I was having a hard time eating meals. I think it was just my body getting back to normal after all the stress of surgery and birth and the surge of hormones coursing through my body. It’s better now.
Emotional well-being: this one deserves its own topic. I have never cried so much in my life and this comes from someone who’s pretty emotional in general. Sometimes I just look at him and start to cry because I’m still working out how my heart can be so full of love for someone I just met. I’ve burst into tears sitting at the table with girlfriends after breastfeeding for no reason that I can explain. I’ve cried because I’ve felt overwhelmed and tired. I’ve cried because my mom left and I miss her. I think I cry every time I talk to her on the phone. I’ve cried when friends come by to bring food and meet Finn.
The postpartum period is truly interesting. Your life changes dramatically in a way that it never has. For someone who is pretty on the go like I am, it’s quite an adjustment to go from go, go, go to sitting and being with an infant, often alone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in NO RUSH to get back to being busy but it’s an adjustment. I’m trying to soak up this time with him because I know it will be so short-lived and pass in an instant. I’ve got my whole life to be busy and to work.
The girls: I’ve received so many questions about how the girls are adjusting to their new baby brother. In short, they’ve been wonderful.
Zoey is definitely missing her daily long walks and full of energy but she’s doing great. She follows us around from room to room and always comes running if the baby is crying. She brings her ball everywhere and throws it into your lap wanting to play.
Sullie is just being her normal sweet self. She also is wanting a little extra attention but overall she’s adjusting great. She comes over to check out Finn and give him some sniffs from time to time but that’s about it.
Workouts/activity: needless to say, NONE! I have done a couple very short and very slow shuffles around the block (I can’t even call it a walk yet) because the fresh air made me feel a little more human/sane. You can read my postpartum fitness plan in this post. It will be adjusted given the fact that I ended up with a c-section and my return will likely be even slower and gentler than first anticipated.
Kindness of others: one thing that has blown me away in my first week postpartum is the kindness of others. I have received so many encouraging messages on social media, especially from other moms, and here in Charlotte I have had so many friends reach out to check in, bring food, offer to run errands, etc. It is such a blessing to feel not only seen but also cared for in this postpartum time when your life has just so drastically changed.
I could probably keep going for 1500 more words but I have a sweet baby to feed! Let me know if I missed anything that you’d like for me to cover in upcoming updates.
QUESTIONS
What did you do while you were breastfeeding?
Any tips for little things that helped you feel a little more like yourself when you were in the fourth trimester?
Tips for staying hydrated/well-fed when breastfeeding?
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! He is absolutely gorgeous! Your stories bring back so many wonderful memories to this mom of 4 (twins, then single then single). I read a lot when breastfeeding – like whole novels! It really helped pass the time. With my fourth, I breastfed for a full two years Bc it was always ‘our time’ in a very busy life and I cherished it. I tried to get my babies on a schedule but didn’t stress horribly if it wasn’t what the books said, fed them more on demand than on a rigorous schedule (some of my friends were really disapproving but you know what you do what works for you.) enjoy every single minute! Even the horrible ones when you are up at 3 am googling ‘why won’t my baby fall asleep?’! It really does pass more quickly than you’d think. Best wishes and congratulations!!!
I also ended up with an emergency c section & ended up being in the hospital for 4 nights after due to a kidney infection (me). We ended up getting discharged at 11:45 PM. I also remember driving home & everything was so quiet because it was the middle of the night. I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe all these people are sleeping like it’s any other day. I don’t even feel like the same person!’
Motherhood is a ROLLER COASTER. Very high highs & very low lows. My son just turned 6 months. The first two months were absolute CHAOS. There is no schedule at all. These babies decide your whole day for you. My OBGYN said, ‘the quicker you can accept your baby doesn’t give a shit about your schedule, the easier this will be’
You look amazing & are doing a wonderful job!!
I was never without water (or watered down apple juice a lot too!) while nursing. I just kept drinking and drinking which I guess worked as I became a nursing champ and my son gained a few lbs a month, every month. the first month was the hardest. Sometimes I don’t know how I did it but then at the 4 week mark, everything just synced. It stopped hurting and the 3- week growth spurt was behind me. I think I watched a lot of tv while nursing. Great time to catch up on shows! Wishing you the best, enjoy this time. I know it’s so hard to do because it’s new and totally exhausting especially as you try to recover from labor and the c section (that’s the hardest part- you get no real time to recover!) but it really goes so fast and one day you look back and miss it. Xoxox
Nursing my son we watched a lot of tv!! Once he got older and I could manage one handed I was able to kindle read especially in the middle of the night!!
Also, Once he gets a little older and if you baby wear apparently it is possible to nurse and wear him!! I plan to try with my second so it gives you a little flexibility in what you do.
Once you get in a routine you begin to feel more like yourself! I think around 8 weeks our pediatrician said are you putting him to bed at 7:30? I’m like umm no he is nursing and sleeping on me until we all go up. It took us a long long time (I’m talking months) to get on a sleep/eat/go out schedule with actual routine and structure but once we did I felt a little more like my self. Just getting dressed every day, putting on a little make up and fresh air helps.
I drank a lot of vitamin water zero and crystal light pure there is just so much water you can drink!
Oh, hello gorgeous boy 🙂 The emotions in the first few weeks postpartum are like none other. With my first, I cried all the time for weeks. With my second, it just lasted a few days, mainly I think because it wasn’t as intense of a change as the first one is. One of the things you mentioned, about everything being the same but you feeling so different, is so completely spot on. I remember a few days after my first was born my best friend (who didn’t have kids yet) came to visit me for a few hours and when she left she told me that she was headed to a baseball game with her husband. And I just started crying all over her because I couldn’t believe that people were going on about their every day lives and doing such normal things like going to baseball games when I felt like a bomb had just gone off in the middle of my life.
You will slowly start to feel more like yourself and you’ll be surprised how fast this strange new world starts to feel normal to you. In the meantime, do the things that make you feel good, be kind to yourself, and definitely dont be afraid to ask for any kind of help you need.
I wish I could give you a big ole hug. My heart goes out to the new moms! It’s no joke! So many adjustments and the hormones take you on an emotional rollercoaster! I agree with you about the hot shower! I felt like a new woman after I would shower :). You are doing such a great job! You look fantastic! Finn is beautiful! 🙂
I also found Gatorade or coconut water to really help me to stay hydrated and keep my supply up ( especially when I went back to work). Always have water near, especially one of those big camelback types so you can easily suck it down since a lot of times your hands are full.
And give yourself a lot of grace. A lot. You’re doing great momma!
I also watched a lot of tv when I was nursing. I think postpartum can be especially challenging when you’ve been a very fit, active person and all of the sudden you’re home so much and not in your normal routine with all the movement as an outlet. Seems like you’re doing a great job taking care of yourself and knowing that this is a phase that moves quickly. I felt like the first 3 months were bootcamp (a tough but a wonderful bootcamp:) and then each month was easier and more fluid.
Good lord is that a gorgeous baby! He is just precious. Love, love, love the newborn snuggles!
I feel you on the hot showers to feel more normal. I swear it’s what helped the most, both times. That and finding a way to get out of the goose when I felt up to it – either taking my little one for a walk outside or running an errand. Find some type of self-care and keep it up as much as you can, because it’s so easy to feel like you lose yourself in your new role as mom. You’re the best mama to Finn when you take care of yourself, too.
For breastfeeding, I just drank a lot of water and drank the mother’s milk tea a lot, ate oatmeal and other foods they say increase milk production. It sounds like it’s going well, so keep up the great work. And you’re right – the lactation folks at Presbyterian Hospital are incredible! I delivered both times at CMC but was recommended to the Nursing Mother’s Place by our peds office and they were wonderful.
Last – re nursing, if he starts within the next few days to weeks to suddenly seem rry want to nurse constantly, he’s probably gearing up for a growth spurt. Cluster feeding is disconcerting, but totally normal!
Good luck mama!
I read a lot while nursing, or nap..
I went back to work about a week after both my girls, but only for a few hours. I really needed that time out of the house. (they did come with me, but it was nice to do something for myself) I also would take my dogs to the park and walk, I really needed the fresh air.
I had a water bottle that I made sure to refill 4x a day. I also left a tall glass beside the bathroom sink so every diaper change/ hand wash I would fill up the glass and drink the whole thing.
I didn’t do a very good job with food the first time round, but since I had a little kid to feed the second time I made sure to have lots of washed fruit and veg at the ready for snacks. also hummus, yogurt and hard boiled eggs.
Emotions are always a wild ride after a new baby, you are doing a great job.
My mom stayed with me the first 3 weeks after I had my son, so when I was nursing during the day we were binge watching Mad Men! At night I would online shop or scroll my phone but when I have #2 (due in July) I want to try not to be on my phone as much while nursing at night because I felt like it made it harder for me to go back to sleep after I’d finish nursing.
With my first, I wasn’t good at making myself a priority so I’m hoping this time to get a shower every day and change out of pajamas into other comfy clothes for the day instead of wearing pajamas 24/7 🙂
Thank you for sharing!! I’ve been waiting to hear how things are going ?
I also had my water break with meconium… my doula later said that was the first time that’s happened for her! I asked her if that made contractions hurt worse when we were at the hospital and she said no- but I’ve read online since that almost everyone says YES it’s much worse!
I breastfed my son for a year and while I didn’t notice a huge difference in appetite and thirst, next time around I plan to let my baby fuss a little more before immediately tending to me and giving a bottle sooner. We had no problems really w the bottle (a few issues that lasted a few days, mainly with him preferring the bottle) but next time I plan to give bottle more frequently. My son slept amazing but woke 1x a night from 4 months to 12 months – it wasn’t a huge deal and he went immediately back to sleep so I never sleep trained but the week I weaned he slept thru the night. I’ll be doing that sooner next time ?
Thanks for sharing your journey and being so honest! I def. experienced many of the things you mentioned like the night sweats and emotional rollecoaster. I will be 6 weeks post-partum tomorrow, and I’m feeling so much better! I can tell you things will slowly start to come together and you will start feeling more like yourself again. Yesterday was my 40 day post-partum and I had not been away from my baby since he was born. my husband literally kicked me out of the house and told me that I needed to take a break from the baby and to go do something nice for me by myself. He sent me to do my nails. Hehe. At first I felt so emotional and I called to check on my baby like 3 times! Lol. But slowly I started to feeling better and by the time I got back home I felt so relaxed and like I had re-charged myself. Also, my mom suggested that I closed my 40 day post-partum with a bath in the tub and a hot tea and OMG!!! I totally suggest it, I felt so good afterwards! I played my fav. Music layed in the tub for 20 mins. In an epsom salt with eucalyptus and peppermint bath and I felt amazing after.
Motherhood has its challenges, but it is def. the most amazing thing I have experienced in my life. Women are incredible creatures! We can do it all!!! Best wishes on your recovery and take one day at a time! 🙂
I’m loving reading your transition into motherhood. My youngest is only 3 but pregnancy and the fourth trimester feels so, so long ago. I cried a lot too with my first baby. It’s amazing the way your life changes in an instant, isn’t it?
I read a lot while I breastfed. E-books, and the ability to read in the dark with them, was helpful during night feeds, especially.
Keep snuggling that sweet baby! ❤️
First, Jen you are a rockstar! You are so honest and real. I love that. Thank you.
Second, I love your Mom and her loving support to you through all of this. Please give her a gigantic hug from me the next time you see her.
Third, my heart sang when I saw the Boppy ❤️
Congrats on your beautiful baby boy! The first month is intense. Going from being an independent person to having a baby on you 24/7 to nurse is hard! But slowly you’ll get into a rhythm and after a few months you won’t feel so tied down to nursing. I read from a Kindle which is much easier than holding a physical book, watched a ton of TV, and spent way too much time on my phone! I used to dread waking up in the night to nurse because I’d feel so lonely even though my husband was in the next room. Think that was part of the crazy hormones. My son did cluster feed for awhile late at night, and even though they couldn’t help me, just having my mom or husband there to keep me company made it easier to get through.
I recommend taking walks as much as you can since shopping and eating out can be overwhelming at first. Also seize any opportunity to get out by yourself to run an errand. I remember going to Target by myself soon after my son was born and I couldn’t believe everyone else was just living their normal lives when mine had completely changed. It was so nice though to carry a normal purse and not a diaper bag, walk around without my huge belly weighing me down, and feel like my “old” self for a bit.
I swear I had worse cravings postpartum than pregnancy. I was SO hungry and gave myself grace to eat whatever I craved. My body was clearly asking for it. That goes away after a few months.
You are doing a great job! I know these moments are chaotic and physically painful, but enjoy them as much as you can! Also, don’t stress about schedules for the first few months. Babies are so unpredictable at first!
He is an absolutely gorgeous baby boy! My kids are 7.5 and almost 5, so it’s been awhile, but I can relate completely to your story. The drive home from the hospital – completely surreal. I remember seeing my neighbors out cutting the grass and thinking, “How can they be out mowing the lawn like today is just a normal day?!” From a different perspective, I formula fed both of my babies. I have so much respect for breastfeeding moms and understand all of the benefits of breastfeeding, but I just needed my body back to myself for my own post partum healing, if that makes any sense. My husband also helped out on the weekend with the night shift, which made a huge difference for me. With my first, I definitely didn’t take advantage of all of those nice quiet moments that the baby is asleep during the day to sleep and rest myself. With my second, I made an effort to get more rest. Enjoy this time – it will get easier and a new “normal” will develop very soon. ?
First congrats ! Second I am a super active person as well and I can remember with my first one day I cried because my husband vacuumed and it was the only thing I had wanted to accomplish that day and he thought he was doing me a favor. Hormones are no joke !
It gets easier I promise ! I am 6 weeks postpartum with my second and while i nurse her I generally am trying to watch my 20 month old, read, scroll on my phone or watch Tv when the toddler isn’t around.
Always have a water bottle with you and I love having Milkful or Oat Mama bars to keep from getting hungry. I have them in my diaper bag and car so i never get to hungry.
Hi! Long, long time reader but first time to comment but I am reliving my early days with my daughter reading this post and so relating to what you are saying. I just want to hopefully provide comfort that this stage is SO SO hard. Like you said, you can never be prepared for it. I hope you always trust your instincts and never, ever feel bad if you feel lost/confused/not as happy as everyone wants you to be for a while. I remember just going to the mailbox to try and feel better and get outside. It’s a heavy and hard adjustment but you will adjust. I hope you can also accept all the help that friends and family offer. That saved me! You’re going to appreciate your mother even more during these times as well. To think they did this for us is crazy! Babies also get a lot cuter and easier when they sleep longer and start interacting 🙂 You will probably be like me and once my daughter was 2 it was the greatest thing of all time! We are always on the go and I do so much better with toddlers than babies! I promise it will get so much easier! Thank you for sharing your struggles, friends sharing similar struggles was the only way I got through my newborn phase! You are helping more people than you know.
Oh my gosh the crying. It will get better, but wow, I remember how intense it was. I didn’t know how I was ever going to leave the house! After about 2-3 weeks, the emotions calm down. Showering, like you said, was one thing that helped me feel normal. The early days are very hard and overwhelming and I have to say that while I enjoyed them, I am glad I am past them because it just gets better and better as they grow and develop.
I’m still breastfeeding (my babe is 11 months) and it gets SO much better and easier the longer you do it. You are doing great! After about 6 weeks it became much easier and painless. I watched TV while breastfeeding, especially in the early days.
I started to pump at 1 week so my husband could feed the baby in the middle of the night and I could sleep a solid stretch. That helped so much. Plus, the baby got used to a bottle and has never had any issues going from breast to bottle.
You are doing great!
What an amazing and crazy time in your life! I hope you have lots of help and support around you as you get used to your new focus. Finn is so sweet. Congrats Mama.
Congrats Jen! Have loved following along as I’m about three weeks behind you. Would be curious to hear your thoughts now that you’re on the other side about help post-partum. Obviously everyone is different but have you wanted someone there with you? Or are you doing better finding your own groove without support?
Maybe something you can include in your recap next week!
Hi!
I usually just nurses and zoned out at night, during day talk to friends or watch tv. I was pretty self conscious at first so it was isolating!
I always carried a large water bottle when nursing the thirst is crazy!
Thanks for sharing your experience, new babies and hormones are so hard. You will probably feel better in a week or so, the really intense feelings taper down. Thank goodness! I related to you a lot and I’m so happy you’ve been real. Me and so many other women admire you for that.
Your son is adorable!
Jen, You look radiant! I love your honesty. All my babies are grown…30’s, and it feels like my time with them flew by. I encourage you to savor each moment with your baby. Life, Work, will always be there waiting. Blessings to you and Finn. I love his name by the way!
You look amazing! Glowing from head to toe and your baby boy is as sweet as he can be. ?You’re doing such a great job. Love hearing about your experience, thank you for sharing!!
Loving these updates- I feel so invested in sweet baby Finn and your journey as a mama. And yay for Sulley and Zoey rockin it as big sisters (I knew they would!) My heart is melting at Zoey following you around and being so attentive ❤️
I’m sure you’ve heard it all, but I feel the need to share this with every new mom. I was the anti-newborn parent. I had a really hard time with this stage, because new babies are so needy and your life is thrown into such a spiral. Any negative/not so good feelings you feel are NORMAL NORMAL NORMAL.
There is a gigantic light at the end of the newborn tunnel, it’s just hard to see when you’re in the thick of it and you haven’t done this before.
I found getting out of the house (once you’re able–now is the hardest part) as much as possible is a lifesaver.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of talking to your doctor about possible post-partum depression or post-partum anxiety–I know a lot of moms who have been treated for it even for the first 6 weeks until your hormones start evening out.
Congratulations! This is a crazy, difficult, wonderful, confusing, magical, fleeting time <3
xoxo
Erin
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I had my first baby in September. My husband and I joke that the first month or so were “dark days” ha – even though we were so in love with our sweet baby, it was the biggest shock to the system EVER to figure out how to care for an infant. I think the hardest thing for me the first few weeks was adjusting to so little sleep and also feeling like the baby was SO dependent on me. Even though my husband was wonderful, the baby needs mom the most at this stage. 🙂 I think the biggest thing to tell yourself is that it will get better! It really will! The sleep will get better, breastfeeding will get easier, and by the time he is 3 months old (that’s how long it took me at least) things will feel way more normal. People always say this, but it really is true. I think the best way to help yourself feel normal is to to do the things that are most “you” if that makes sense. For me, it was actually spending a few minutes each day tidying up the house, taking good showers like you mentioned, going on even a 15 minute walk around the block and listening to a podcast, spending 15 minutes alone reading, etc. Just small increments where you can take a deep breath. Just know – you are doing great! You really are!
He’s beautiful!! I’m also so in love with his name… he looks like a Finn!
Maybe you don’t plan to discuss this, but how is Tanner handling becoming a dad? Is he able to be around to help you much or is he too busy at the studio since you’re not there as well?
LOVE your honesty in your birth story, and now here. So important for women to know what this really looks like! Agh those first few weeks are so emotional. It sounds like you have a great support network, which is wonderful.
While nursing… I watched a lot of lighthearted television and chick flicks with my first. With my second, I tried to just *be present* during a few nursing sessions each day, which is easier said than done. But sleepy nursing sessions morph into gym-nurstics by 8-9 months, so I tried to enjoy the non-mobile baby while it lasts!
Hydration… man those first few months of nursing are filled with crazy hunger and thirst. Water, coconut water, Gatorade, popsicles, bone broth. As for being well-fed, I highly recommend a postpartum doula who knows how to cook! Some will come to your house and meal prep, while others sometimes offer food delivery of 1-2 weeks worth of food. The book The First Forty Days also has some really nourishing recipes!
As for feeling like myself, showers and walks (often walking while listening to a podcast) make a world of difference, which you’ve already discovered haha!
I didn’t realize you had a c-section! Both of my kids were scheduled c-sections because they were inverted. Holy moly, it felt like I had done a billion situps in those first few days. I do remember that. And the night sweats. I have never had such things, and then I woke up drenched. My night sweats actually went on longer than they should have, so they adjusted my hormones to get me back on track. I love to see your pics on Instagram. Keep it up!
How did you decide the name Finn? What was G?
Thank you for sharing!! You are doing incredible and motherhood looks wonderful on you!
Jen, thank you for being so honest and transparent! It’s really refreshing. Sending you big hugs. I hope the days and weeks begin to get easier and more normal for you. ?
I appreciate your honesty. Not enough bloggers talk about how hard it is postpartum and I think it does a disservice to women.
Postpartum and breastfeeding hormones were NO JOKE. I seriously thought I was going insane. Thankfully I didn’t get PPD but I was on high alert for it. Once things even out a bit, it gets easier and the crying is less! But my hormones didn’t really go back to normal until after I quit breastfeeding.
I TOTALLY agree. I swear that nothing could have possibly prepared me for what it’s actually like to bring a newborn home. HOLY CRAP! He’s amazing but this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done with the most emotions attached to it. Thank you for sharing about your experience with the hormones. It’s very helpful and reassuring.
I watched a lot of TV while nursing. I would DVR all the things I was too tired to stay up and watch and watch them the next day while nursing. I also spent way too much time on my phone.
To feel normal I made sure I got out every morning for a long walk with my son. I would nurse him and head straight out the door. I also made sure I showered every day because everything feels better after a shower.
Enjoy those newborn snuggles; they grow up fast!
Yes, I totally feel like I’m spending too much time on my phone. 🙁
I just got to do my first real walk yesterday and oh my gosh, I felt like a NEW person after it! It was amazing.
I love how you describe riding home. Everything is the same, but it’s not the same at all for you. Oh the crying! I remember how little things would set me off for no reason. I had PPD with my first, so I was really on alert for that with my second. I would cry out of nowhere and my husband would look concerned and I would tell him, “I’m ok. I feel ok, I just can’t help crying.” Fresh air definitely helped keep PPD away the second time (it hadn’t helped the first time) and I frequently went outside for for a breath of fresh air in the evening or even a quick (slow) walk down the street when I could. It helped revive me and keep my head above water.
Thank you for sharing Laura. It definitely makes me feel less alone in how I’m feeling. <3
Congrats! Finn is so handsome, and you are doing an amazing job. I also had an emergency c-section, and I felt like it took a few months to really come to terms with everything. Like you mentioned, your entire life is turned upside down and add mourning the loss of what you had dreamed to be a peaceful and exciting experience and it definitely makes for an interesting recovery. But at the end of the day that beautiful healthy baby will help you to cope with it all. My son and I are going on 9 months here with our BFing journey. It has been such a special and rewarding experience. One tip the LC at the hospital had recommended was to fill up a glass of water before sitting down to nurse and drinking every time baby feeds. It was a good reminder to stay hydrated! Best of luck in your new role, be gentle with yourself and soak up every cuddle. Time truly flies! <3
Thank you Jillian. Yes, I’m definitely working every day to make peace with my birth experience. <3 So wonderful that you’ve been able to share that breastfeeding experience with your son. I am hoping for the same! And thank you for the tip on the glass of water. That’s a great one!