Chances are you’re so focused on getting through your pregnancy and going into labour that you haven’t given a second thought to what will happen once that lovely baby is out!

Mentally preparing yourself for the emotions and physical changes that will take place after the birth will make you feel more confident going in. We’ve pulled together a quick rundown, but for more comprehensive advice head to BabyCenter, this article here is a wealth of (highly reassuring!) knowledge.

How will I feel straight after the birth?
Everyone is different and so everyone’s post-birth experience is unique. But just remember your body has been through a lot - you need rest and you need support to recover quickly. And don’t put too many expectations on yourself – you may feel elated, but there’s every chance you might feel depressed and disappointed so take your emotions as they come.



What about my body?
BabyCenter has a great article that talks about the physical changes you’ll notice immediately after the birth. Click here to have a read – it covers everything from how your vagina recovers (which I know you’re wondering about!) to dealing with side effects like back ache and piles (no one said this was going to be pretty).

Just because you’ve given birth, doesn’t mean that baby weight will melt away like it does for those pesky celebs. Expect your tummy to be flabby and wrinkly and your waistline to be still be non-existent – but hey, in the bigger scheme of things (ie. the beautiful newborn baby cradled in your arms) this isn’t such a big deal!

Hmmm, I’m not so sure – is there any good news?
Yes! As the level of progesterone in your body drops, the tone of smooth muscle throughout your body improves, heartburn is swiftly relieved, and constipation and varicose veins improve, although piles generally take a little longer. So don’t think there’s nothing to look forward to!

The big question: When will I lose the weight?
In the first few days you’ll lose weight rapidly as your body sheds the extra water it was carrying, your blood goes back to its usual level and your uterus gets smaller, but after this the weight loss slows down. This article on BabyCenter gives you a good idea of how weight loss generally goes. Just remember it took nine months of pregnancy to do this to your body, you can’t expect an instant reversal!

What happens to my body a few months down the line?
Hopefully things are going back to normal, but if you have problems like sore stitches, excessive breast tenderness or discomfort during sex make sure you tell your doctor... these things are definitely not worth suffering through in silence. Click here to read more about things you can do to help your body go back to its pre-pregnancy shape.

How can I speed things along?
Eat well, get lots of sleep, start exercising gently and just be patient! Your body will be different after going through pregnancy and childbirth but that’s not a bad thing – embrace your hot new womanly shape and enjoy every moment with your beautiful new baby. Oh and click here for info on pelvic floor exercises, we cannot emphasis their importance enough!

Gemma

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