10 Things No One Tells You About Postpartum Recovery

Postpartum recovery after giving birth can be one of the most surprising parts of becoming a new mom. While pregnancy gets plenty of attention, many women are shocked by what happens after giving birth. Here are 10 things no one tells you about postpartum recovery and what really happens after giving birth that every new mother should know.

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Hello friends! In case you missed it or have been wondering about what’s been going on around here, we recently had a baby! My little babe and I are doing well. We just hit the 3-month mark, so we’re ready to come off our maternity leave.

And let me tell you… I had forgotten a few things.

It’s funny how quickly you can forget certain realities of newborn life. It has been over four years since my last childbirth experience, and I had forgotten the reality of many things that come from having a new little one.

The nights of sparse sleep.

The diaper blowouts.

The constant need to change both the baby’s clothes and my own because of spit-up everywhere.

And the list goes on.

Although these things had become a distant memory since my second child, they weren’t a surprise to me before having my first baby. Most everyone shares experiences with such things — even the actual birth itself.

But there were several things that I was completely in the dark about when it came to what happens after giving birth.

I guess people just assume it’s common knowledge, or perhaps they’re too shy to talk about it. Whatever the reason, I thought it might be helpful to shed some light for those who may still be in the dark about what all takes place after giving birth — and how to prepare yourself for it.

The First 24 Hours After Birth: The “Honeymoon Stage”

Following the miraculous birth of each of my three babies, my body is running on endorphins. I am utterly smitten by this new precious bundle in my arms and am totally content spending hours upon hours looking at him.

I like to refer to the first 24 hours after the birth as the “honeymoon stage.”

The waiting is over, and the baby is finally in my arms. The baby is still living off the nourishment he received while inside me, and he isn’t even pooing or peeing all that much yet.

I call this a HUGE blessing.

God gave this very special period of time to help overshadow the nine months of pregnancy and/or the birth that may have been extremely hard.

Life couldn’t be better, right?

(If you don’t feel this way, it may also be normal — and I’ll talk more about that later in this article.)

Sadly, as we all know, honeymoons eventually end and the events of daily life come back in full swing.

Yes, the dirty diapers and late-night feedings come into play. But there are also a few things that accompany childbirth that, as a first-time mom, you may be completely clueless about.

Let me enlighten you about 10 things no one tells you about postpartum recovery.

In This Article

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

• Postpartum contractions after birth
• Postpartum bleeding (lochia)
• Your first bowel movement after birth
• Why your belly is still big
• Breast engorgement
• Breastfeeding challenges
• Postpartum hormone changes
• Postpartum depression and baby blues
• The “mama bear” instinct
• Bonding with your newborn baby

Postpartum recovery is simply the period of healing and adjustment a mother’s body goes through after giving birth.

While every woman’s experience is different, understanding what happens during this time can make those early weeks feel much less overwhelming.

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1. Postpartum Contractions

“Wait, what?! More contractions? I thought the contractions were over after I gave birth?!”

Yep — you heard right. Contractions can continue for a few days after giving birth.

With your first, you may not feel them at all, which was my case. But with each baby thereafter, the afterbirth contractions progressively grow a little more intense and last a bit longer.

It’s not a walk in the park, but it’s all for a good purpose.

Those post-delivery contractions are contracting the uterus back down to its pre-pregnancy size.

Your uterus is about the size of your fist. Now imagine blowing it up like a balloon in order to fit your baby inside. Once the baby is out, your uterus is, in a sense, “deflated” and is just a big floppy balloon.

The first time around, the uterus can bounce right back. But with each expansion (aka pregnancy), it gets a little tougher for it to scale down in size.

That’s where the contractions step in.

With each contraction, the uterus is contracted or reduced in size.

With my recent birth, I noticed the postpartum contractions felt at the same scale as some of my labor contractions. Not as intense as the really strong ones, but definitely stronger than the first ones.

Knowing ahead of time that this might happen helped a lot. Otherwise, I probably would have thought something was wrong.

To endure them, I did the same thing I did during labor — breathe through each contraction and enjoy the breaks in between.

Some women also find relief with B-100 vitamins, Calcium & Magnesium, or Motrin.

If you decide to take Motrin, remember that your milk is not going to be in for two to three days after birth. You will want to stop taking it by then so the baby doesn’t get as much or any of the drug.

If you prefer not to take Motrin, like I did, the B-100 vitamins and Calcium & Magnesium can help ease the stress and take a little of the edge off the contractions.

And of course, the knowledge they won’t last forever is a big comfort!

2. Postpartum Bleeding Is Normal

“So my period immediately starts up again?”

Well… not exactly.

Your body just went through a MAJOR traumatic experience. Aside from pushing an adorable large bundle through a tiny opening, you also now have a sizable wound in your body where the placenta was attached to your uterine wall. This area can be up to about 16 inches in diameter.

As this wound heals, your body will bleed for a few days.

This postpartum bleeding is called lochia, and it is completely normal.

Many new moms ask, “How long does postpartum bleeding actually last?”

During the first three days, it’s actually a good sign to see some type of blood (even if it’s just a speck), otherwise it may be a sign of infection. The bleeding may last up to a few weeks and will gradually decrease in amount.

During this time of postpartum bleeding, it’s important to keep the vaginal area very clean to help prevent infection.

Tampons should not be used during this stage. Pads are fine, but may not be enough at first.

What I have found that works well (this may warrant another bullet point) is… ehem… grandma diapers.

Yes, you read that correctly.

I just have my husband pick them up for me so I don’t have to be seen with them. 😉

Be sure to change them every time you use the bathroom so everything stays clean and infection-free.

A word to the wise — many women are told to expect bleeding for six weeks or more after giving birth. Hogwash! While postpartum bleeding can last that long for some women, it doesn’t have to. With proper rest and care, the bleeding period can be significantly shorter.

My bleeding stopped about two weeks after I gave birth. How? I let my body recover.

For the first ten days, I stayed down almost completely. Only rising to go to the bathroom and stretch my legs a little around the room.

After that, I was still very careful. I rested often, freed myself from additional obligations, limited my use of the stairs, and the heaviest thing I carried was my baby.

About six weeks after giving birth, I noticed a little spotting again. Thinking back of what I had done, I pinpointed what caused the onset of bleeding.

Two days earlier, I had made a trip to the store and had carried the baby while in the car seat.

My body was politely telling me that I was not ready for such endeavors. I took it easy for the next few days and the bleeding completely stopped.

So take note of what your body is telling you.

Your body, aside from growing a human being for about nine months, went through the intense process of childbirth. It needs time to heal.

Having a baby should really be treated like recovering from major surgery.

You wouldn’t immediately start walking on a leg that had just been operated on, would you?

We all know those mothers who rest a day or two and then jump back into the full swing of things. It may look impressive on the surface, but it can definitely take a toll on the body.

Even if they don’t feel the effects right away, it may show up later in the form of problems such as excessive bleeding, prolapsed uterus, or postpartum depression.

Listen to your body — and please don’t let anyone cause you to feel like a wimp because you are still taking it easy after the birth.

I realize that not every mother has the luxury of staying down as long as I did. But do the best you can! 

Prepare meals ahead of time, forget about the dirty dishes (paper plates are wonderful!), and most importantly…

ask for help.

3. Your First Bowel Movement After Birth Can Be Scary

“It feels like my bottom is going to fall off!”

Many new moms worry about their first bowel movement after birth — aka first poop after giving birth — especially if they have stitches or soreness. Knowing what to expect can make the experience much less stressful.

During birth, you do a substantial amount of pushing to squeeze your baby through a tiny opening. With all that pressure, you may have also cleaned out your colon.

Because of that, the urge to have a bowel movement may not show up for a day or two after giving birth.

But when the time finally comes… it can feel a bit scary.

Many new moms are especially worried that their stitches might tear during their first bowel movement after birth, but thankfully that’s very unlikely.

All that pushing and pressure can leave the entire area quite sore, and things down there can feel a bit disturbed. For me, I felt the same heaviness I experienced when my baby was descending during labor. 

It honestly felt like I might push out an organ or two!

One thing that can help is gathering a small wad of toilet paper and gently pressing it against the perineum (the tissue between the vagina and the anus) while having a bowel movement. That added support can make things feel a little less frightening.

Aside from bowel movements, even going pee is quite the ordeal.

During this time of healing, it’s very important to keep the area as clean as possible.

Instead of wiping with toilet paper, use a peri bottle to rinse yourself off with water.

If you have stitches or any skid marks, spraying the water while you are peeing dilutes the urine, which will help ease the stinging or burning.

I like to add a small squirt of Hibiclens to the water in the peri bottle for an extra layer of protection against infection.

And be sure to use warm water — cold water can be a bit of a shock!

If you’re nervous about your first poop after birth, just know that most mamas feel this way and it gets easier after the first time.

4. Your Belly Won’t Shrink Immediately After Birth

“I still look like I’m several months pregnant!”

Sad but true— your tummy doesn’t all of a sudden shrink back down to size after giving birth.

Many women are surprised that their postpartum belly can take weeks or even months to recover — and sometimes it never quite goes back to exactly how it was before.

But don’t be hard on yourself! Your body just created a human and survived the trauma of childbirth. Take a moment to congratulate your body on a job well done!

After birth, your insides are all over the place and your stomach muscles have stretched and separated quite a bit. It takes time, rest, and the proper exercises for things to heal. Busting out with several sets of crunches right off isn’t going to help — and in some cases it can actually make things worse.

A belly band can help kick-start the healing process. It gently supports your abdomen and helps hold everything in place so your body doesn’t have to work as hard putting things back where they belong. 

As a bonus, belly bands can also help reduce those postpartum contractions we talked about earlier.

When it comes to exercise, I personally like to wait a bit before starting any cardio routine. I wait until my muscles, ligaments, and joints feel more stable and all the bleeding has stopped.

Before I start any cardio exercise routine I like to wait a bit until my muscles, ligaments, and joints feel more stable and all the bleeding has stopped.

And when you do start exercising again, choose carefully. Jumping right back into CrossFit, running, or even certain types of yoga may not be the best thing for your body right away.

Ever heard of diastasis recti?

Diastasis recti is when the abdominal muscles (the rectus abdominis) that hold in your internal organs and stabilize your core separate during pregnancy to make room for your growing baby.

For some mothers, those muscles naturally come back together within the first three to six weeks after delivery.

For others, those muscles don’t fully close — leaving them with that “three to six months pregnant” look long after the baby is born.

Much to my chagrin, I happen to be in the latter group. 🙁

The amount of separation after giving birth can be minimized if during and after pregnancy you are mindful of those muscles and do everything you can to not separate them more.

Even simple movements like using those muscles to sit straight up in bed or lifting heavy objects can increase the gap, not to mention traditional core exercises like planks and crunches.

That’s why it’s so important not to just jump into any old exercise routine.

I know, it’s very discouraging to say the least!

But thankfully, those muscles can be repaired!

One method that I’ve personally found helpful is the Mutu System. The Mutu System focuses on strengthening your body as a whole— especially the core muscles that support postpartum recovery. The TummyTeam is another system that I have heard really good things about.

5. Your Breasts Get Really, REALLY Large!

“I’m freaking HUGE!”

After birth, your breasts miraculously produce colostrum. This is wonderful for your baby.

Colostrum helps build your baby’s immune system. It contains great nutrients and probiotics, acts as a cleanser to clear out all the meconium, and is an emetic, which causes vomiting if the baby swallows something during birth that shouldn’t be there.

It is AMAZING stuff!

Then after a few days (if it’s your first baby, it may take a little longer) your milk comes in…

And does it ever!

Your body produces an overabundance of milk at first — sometimes enough for twins — to the point of great discomfort, while it figures out how much your baby needs.

This is referred to as breast engorgement, and occurs about two to three days after giving birth. During this time your breasts can feel extremely full, tight, and uncomfortable. Your breasts are literally filled to the brim!

Your baby will be your saving grace during this period.

Nurse, nurse, nurse!

If you feel any hard spots on your breasts, be sure to rotate the position of your nursing baby to put their chin to where the harder area is. This is their strongest suck so it will help clear out the milk duct that might be clogged.

I’ve also found that placing warm compresses on your breast before feeding helps to loosen any firm spots. The warm compresses are just towels heated with warm water, being sure to ring out the excess water, and using a dry heated towel to finish so you don’t catch a cold.

If nursing isn’t enough to relieve the pressure, you may also want to express a small amount of milk just to take the edge off. But use this as a last resort because expressing too much milk will add to your milk production.

It is so critical to take care of yourself during those three to four days of engorgement to avoid developing mastitis, which is a painful breast infection that can cause fever, chills, and intense soreness.

Believe me — you do NOT want to go down that path!

Once mastitis develops, it is easy to get it again and again. I fell victim to mastitis shortly after having my first child and I had it off and on for an entire year. No joke. It was miserable.

So during this time, rest, eat well, and make sure no one bumps you!

This too shall pass.

6. Breastfeeding Doesn’t Always Come Naturally

“I thought nursing came… well, naturally?”

There is a reason why people write books about breastfeeding.

It really is an art that must be done correctly and although it is completely natural it doesn’t always come easily. Breastfeeding really is a bit of an art that takes practice for both mom and baby.

Many new moms are surprised to discover that breastfeeding can take time to learn for both mother and baby to figure out.

The baby’s latch (how the baby holds onto the nipple) needs to be just right. If the latch isn’t right, it will leave both the baby and mama frustrated — and it can also be quite painful for the mama.

Sometimes the difficulty is caused by something called a tongue-tie or lip-tie.

This is when the frenulum (little lap of skin underneath the tongue) extends too far on the tongue. So when your baby sticks out her/his tongue the tip of the tongue can look like a little heart, it will pull in.

This prevents the baby from latching properly, which causes nursing to be painful for the mama and hinders the baby from receiving enough nourishment.

Depending on the severity, this condition can often be corrected through stretching exercises, clipping, or a simple laser procedure. It’s best to have it taken care of in the first three to four days before nursing habits are developed.

A dentist is your best source for the laser procedure; however make sure he has experience in this.

My second and third babies latched on quickly after birth and didn’t have any problems nursing.

But this wasn’t the case with my first.

He arrived three and a half weeks early, and early babies often have a harder time learning how to latch properly. He had a tough time learning how to nurse and being my first, I had absolutely no idea how to help him.

Thankfully, my midwife coached me during the first several days and would occasionally check to make sure the baby was nursing correctly.

Definitely ask for help your first go around. Your breasts may be sore at first as they are adjusting to the change but eventually nursing should not hurt. If it does, something is not quite right and you may want to ask for help.

Organizations like La Leche League and Gold Lactation are wonderful resources for aid and information on breastfeeding. 

📌 Save this guide so you remember these postpartum tips.

7. Postpartum Hormones Can Feel All Over the Place

“I’m sweating in all strange places!”

After childbirth, your hormones are a little out of whack.

If you’ve ever wondered why you suddenly feel emotional, sweaty, or completely exhausted, your hormones are often the reason.

You may experience things like fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, itching, inability to lose weight, excessive sweating, mood swings, or anxiety — just to name a few. These are all symptoms of a hormonal imbalance.

The good news is that your body is working hard to bring those hormone levels back into balance and there are a few things you can do to aid your body in this endeavor.

Fill your plate with healthy foods — leafy greens, fresh fruits, and plenty of vegetables. Drink green smoothies! If you can buy organic foods, even better!

Choose grass-fed meat and free-range poultry when possible. And make sure your body is getting the vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, probiotics, and enzymes it needs. Helpful supplements such as vitamin C, B-100s, Calcium & Magnesium, Omega-3, and a good digestive aid. Above all, make sure you are staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Shortly after my second child was born, I experienced a strange symptom myself.

My hands started itching intensely — so much so that I would scratch until they bled, even in my sleep.

My midwife suggested taking vitamin D3, and within a week of taking it the itching stopped completely! If ever I missed even a day of taking vitamin D3, the itching would start up again.

8. Postpartum Depression Can Affect Anyone

“Why am I not as happy as I used to be?”

This is one that I hope you will never experience, but postpartum depression is definitely worth talking about so you can be aware of it.

The postpartum period can feel surprisingly emotional, and you are certainly not alone if you experience these feelings.

Many mamas experience what is commonly called the “baby blues” a few days after giving birth.

Baby blues may include crying spells, mood swings, trouble sleeping, anxiety, or simply feeling overwhelmed. While these emotions can be difficult, they are nothing to be too concerned about, as they are temporary and tend to pass within a few days or two weeks at the most.

Postpartum depression, however, lasts longer and has more severe symptoms.

It may begin as prolonged baby blues or develop into deeper feelings of anxiety, constant worry, or sadness that doesn’t seem to go away. Some mothers may feel so unhappy or restless that they struggle to sleep.

It’s important to watch for the signs so that you can take care of them before they increase. You know it has escalated to postpartum depression if a mother begins having thoughts of harming herself or her baby. 

Taking B-100 vitamins, getting enough sleep, eating well, drinking plenty of water, walking outside in nature, writing in a journal, and receiving help will decrease your chances of developing postpartum depression.

If you have postpartum depression, doing the above mentioned things can help you overcome it. There are those cases when professional care may be necessary — and that is completely okay.

Acknowledging that something doesn’t feel right and speaking openly about it is the first step toward healing.

9. You May Feel Like an Overprotective Mama Bear

“What if I don’t want to share my baby?”

You know how fiercely protective mama bears are to their cubs? Just wait until your baby arrives!

You may suddenly feel like an overprotective mama bear yourself — and that is completely normal.

After all, your baby has been growing inside you for the last nine months. The connection between the two of you is incredibly strong.

That bond can make it surprisingly hard to be separated from your baby, even for a short time.

It’s perfectly okay to say “no” to guests or extended family members who want to hold your newborn baby if you don’t want them to.

I learned this lesson the hard way after my first baby was born.

A friend came over to help and kindly offered to watch the baby while I got some sleep. Her intentions were good, but it actually made things worse.

I couldn’t sleep at all because my baby wasn’t with me. And when I discovered that he wasn’t even being held but was sleeping in a crib, I was furious!!!

My baby had been “taken” from me and wasn’t even getting snuggled. It may sound extreme, but those feelings were very real.

My friend truly wanted to help and simply did what she thought would be helpful. Looking back, I know she would have happily done whatever I asked — if I had just voiced my needs.

These strong mama bear instincts are often at their peak when your baby first arrives but will tone down after a few weeks so you will be more open to sharing.

When people extend their aid, it can be really helpful to let them know what would actually support you the most. If possible, you might even want to share those preferences with family and friends before the baby arrives.

For me personally, I want my baby close to me all the time for the first four weeks.

So offering to “hold my baby so you can sleep” does more harm than good. But volunteering to clean my house or make a meal for my family? Definitely good help!

After that time frame, I am ready to get back to a few daily chores and would love the help of holding my little one. Every mother is different, which is why it’s important to voice your personal needs.

10. You Won’t Be Able to Get Enough of Your Baby

“Sleep? Nah. I would much rather look at and snuggle my baby!”

You will become completely smitten with the new little one and you won’t be able to stop staring.

Nothing will be as important to you than holding your baby and memorizing every single feature.

This time period — especially the first hour after birth, often called the “golden hour” — is incredibly special and important for both mother and baby.

Your emotions are all over the place, and your body is beginning to recover from an intense experience. The whole birthing experience wasn’t easy on the baby either. Remember the baby just squeezed through a very small opening, and suddenly entered a completely new environment.

So surrounding your baby with anything familiar is important.

And what is familiar to your baby?

You.

Your baby recognizes your voice and the comfort of being close to you.

In other words, your baby needs you as much as you need your baby.

This bonding time between mama and baby is so critical and shouldn’t be rushed.

But what if you aren’t feeling that connection right away?

Some mothers, due to a traumatic birth, a c-section, or other medical or emotional reasons aren’t able to experience the “golden hour” to bond with their baby.

If this is your case and you feel disconnected from your baby, this can be healed! You can still experience the golden hour later, repairing what was damaged during and/or after the birth.

If you need more help on this, I recommend this webinar series.

Even if all went smoothly during and after birth and you enjoyed the ‘golden hour’ you can still start to feel disconnected from your little one. If that happens, it can sometimes help to slow things down — adjust your schedule, cut out things that are stressful, and be sure you are eating well to help get those hormones we talked about earlier normalized so you can feel that connection again.

Above all, try to soak in every moment.

Your baby won’t stay little forever.

Your Turn

What was your experience after giving birth?
Did anyone prep you for all of these things, or were some of them a surprise?

I’d love to hear your story in the comments!

The content in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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