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1. Yeah, after sitting for a while, sleeping or coughing... it is COMPLETELY normal to have little gushes of blood come out of your who-who... you are NOT bleeding to death... this can go on for several weeks! Just remember, unless you are filling more than a pad per hour, chances are you are fine.
2. Post postpartum bowel movements: Oh, these are lovely. You'll be wondering why it's so big... where were you storing all of it and you'll feel like you're giving birth again... except without all of the pain. I swear, the evacuation process that happens a few days after having that sweet little bundle of joy... it's just terrible! It may also be a weird color: Green, yellow or normal... these are normal bowels for afterwards.
3. OH MY WERD... BOOBS!!! Stinging, swelling... ROCK SOLID! A comfy but supportive bra and some cool compresses helps with engorgement if you are not BF. Be sure to have plenty of bra pads accessible. After stepping out of the shower, I have to have my DH hold a towel on them while they leak everywhere while I get dressed. It seems impossible to have them out of a bra and get milk all over myself! Tylenol and/or ibuprofen seems to help with the pain and a small fever is appropriate while you are engorged. They will also engorge if you hear a baby cry, water running or while you're changing a diaper... we're wired that way.
See your Dr. if the pain is unbearable or if they seem very swollen and red, there may be an infection starting.
4. Peeing... yep... lots of it. All of that water weight gain... and a for a few days you won't necessarily feel the "urge" like you normally would. All of a sudden you'll just have to go and you'll go A LOT! It will possibly burn and sting for a few days... remember you may have stitches and you're completely raw down there. If you notice you have the urge to pee every few minutes... it may be a UTI. But probably not.
5. Make sure you clean yourself up well... like after the little sits bath or even peeing, make sure you "dab" all over, you may even need to hold a piece of toilet paper against your privates while you stand up or you'll just drip all over the toilet, the floor, and onto your pants. UGH! You'll be changing your clothes as often as you're changing Jr's.
6. HOLY LIPS! Yeah, lots of swelling.. You'll be wondering if you'll ever be.. uhmm.. "attractive" down "there" again! You will. I promise. Just like at the hospital, soak some pads in some water, freeze them and use them! Keeping the area clean with that handy little bottle they give you will help keep out infection and help keep you feeling more human too.
7. For me, witch hazel pads, lidocain, whatever other horrible little sprays and pads they give you to desensitize your area... OMG, STING!!!! Never again! Not for me!!!! Buyer beware... you may need to get your little bottle of warm water ready to squirt on there for some sting relief. I cried like a little girl.
8. Feeling faint? A little verdigo? A little queasy? Normal!!!! This is my third baby, had it with every single one. Light headed, kinda weak... you just had a baby!!! Give your body time to recover, woman! No housework, no cooking, no standing for long periods... seriously. You NEED to take it easy. You are NOT wonder woman and making yourself relax does not make you a bad mother, it makes you a great mother when you take time for yourself. Be healthy for your baby.
Anyone else like to contribute? I just had my baby, if I come up with more, I will write them down for you!

I also forgot about the sore shoulders and back, especially in the epidural area-if you opted for one (which I did for two of my three pregnancies.. actually, I opted for it for all three but I was too far along into the labor process to get one for my DD). The epidural area was very sore for many months. Almost like my back was "out" in that spot. But, it was well worth it for me... I enjoyed a pain free birth, it's not for everyone though.
Drink plenty of water for several days afterwards, too. It has been my experience that drinking a lot of water helps with those large BM's and will also help with water weight gain.
I had my son 5 days ago and can already fit into pre-pregnancy pants. (I realize that this is not the "norm" but water has always helped me shed a ton of weight within the first few weeks-maybe it's unrelated? Not sure. Either way, drinking water is the best way to start on a healthy track anyways to lose the pounds).
I've never had a c-section, maybe someone that's had that experience can shed some light on what happens in the after math of that?
hmmm....I had forgotten just how miserable I was after baby arrived. I think I'll be more patient waiting for this one now

-You WILL be sore. You just had major abdominal surgery. You will need help sitting up at night (and whenever you lay down) for at least a week, maybe two.
- You may not walk upright for the first few days after having your little one. But as hard as it seems, it REALLY helps you recover the sooner you are able to get up and move around.
- You can still breastfeed just fine after a C-section. It helps with the side hold so the baby isn't resting right on your scar.. or use a bobby
.- If you choose to breastfeed, your nipples will HURT for a couple weeks afterwards. What helped me the most, was putting a piece of cold cabbage on them between my skin and my bra inbetween nursing. It helped more than ANY cream I tried.
- Oh, and try to take as many of those 'mesh underwear' they give you at the hospital. I know they aren't the most stylish.. but I loved them for the first few weeks after my C-sections - not too much pressure on your belly!
Yay!! And good luck with all the new babies

Another thing that nobody told me was normal post partum was your hair falling out. After I quit breastfeeding and stopped taking the prenatal vitamins, strands of my hair would fall out all the time. It wasn't noticable when you looked at my head, but my brush would be full of hair after just brushing once. And I would find hair all over the floor and on my clothes. I bf my son for over 3 months and now he is 8 months and my hair is just now getting back to normal!
My hair fell out like crazy at 3 months too even though I kept taking all the vitamins, etc. It's just hormone changes. Unfortunately the only time I have decent hair is during pregnancy the rest of the time it's super thin =P
Also, something I didn't really expect, just because it's a csection doesn't mean you won't be bleeding heavily after, you will... just as much as a regular birth... SO, be prepared!
Your BM after delivery - either type of delivery - is going to be extremely painful even if you take the stool softeners. TMI - I know - but mine hurt so bad the nurse came running in cuz I was screaming like a banchee! It will also take awhile to happen too - you will probably be sitting on that toilet for at least a half hour.
For c-sections, the longer you can keep your staples in the better your scar will look in the long run - you also run a smaller chance of your incision popping open at the corners. My suggestion is to try & talk your doctor in to letting them stay in at least 7 days - 10 at the most, it gives the cut more time to heal.
Don't feel bad or guilty about sending your LO to the nursery over night or even during the day. You're going to need rest. I know, people say this over & over again - but it's the truth, especially if you've had a section. Your body heals better while it's at rest & believe me - you're not going to get much at the hospital so take it when you can. I had a very hard time sleeping in the hospital, so DS spent every night in the nursery. You can always call down & have them bring him/her back to you if you're not sleeping - but only after you've given it a try.
For swollen feet - I advise to try & squeeze your feet into your sneakers as soon as you can get out of bed & walk. It really does help disburse the fluid build up in the feet - it only took about 8 days for my feet to go back to normal after doing that.
If you bf & have to pump give it to the nurse to store (with your name & info on it) or what I did was use 1 of the pitchers filled with ice & put the bottle/bag in that as storage - especially if it will be used within an hour or 2.
Take as much as you can from the hospital - pee-pads, reg pads, bacitracin, vasoline, diapers, formula (if you bottle feed), the mesh undies. Don't be affraid to ask for more if you need it. When it's replenished, put 1/2 in your bag & leave the other 1/2 for the room while you're there. You're insurance is paying for it, so take it.
Another thing, now 2 1/2 weeks PP for me... If I do "too much" around the house, I start getting period like cramps and bleed a little more than I have when at rest. My bladder is also still a little sore-kind of feels like a small stinging near the end of urinating-I believe that this is from having a catheter during my epidural (it doesn't stay in, but they empty your bladder frequently during labor, you won't feel it when you're numb down there). I had this with my last two as well.
Bleeding may be more first thing in the morning-blood has pooled in your vagina over night, so when you stand up, it'll feel like a small gush.
I agree with Kamls=take everything they give you and ask for more!! They love giving you all of that stuff and really load you up! I didn't need to buy pads after.. although I did buy the ultra slim overnights just for comfort. I don't really like the mattress between my legs, heh.
I also agree with letting little one go to the nursery when you want to sleep. It was a life saver after giving birth!! They take great care of your little muffin so you can get some rest, take a shower, eat in peace, whatever you want to do.

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