Your Body after Baby

Written by Anvi Sharma

Giving birth is an emotional experience, and your hormones are doing all sorts of crazy things during pregnancy, labour and even after giving birth. You’re not only going to notice changes mentally, but physically too as your body goes through changes yet again. Here are 6 ways your body changes after pregnancy.

• Bladder issues 

A common post-childbirth issue many women face is bladder leakage and also some swelling loss of sensitivity in urinary organs. As mentioned previously, your body will be looking for ways to get the extra pregnancy fluid produced to get out, usually in the form of urine. Expect your bladder to fill up rapidly and to feel the need to urinate frequently. If you’re having difficulty doing so, talk to a doctor. Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, wholemeal foods and drinking plenty of water should prevent any constipation, and make it easier.

It’s also pretty common for leakage to occur when laughing, coughing or moving suddenly. Incontinence or urinary tract infections may also occur, so speaking to a doctor or your midwife about any concerns is a must.

• Breast changes 

Your breasts will most likely be larger at first considering that you’ll be breastfeeding, and even if you don’t intend to, your breasts will still feel heavy and tender at the same time. Within a week or so, your breasts should get smaller again. You may also notice your breasts beginning to sag as a result of the milk produced. Milk leakage may also occur for a few weeks, even if you don’t breastfeed.

• Weight loss 

An obvious change you’ll notice in the weeks after giving birth will be a loss in weight, particularly around the stomach area. You won’t lose all of the weight immediately, and nor will you return to your pre-baby weight automatically, but a few kilos will start to shed on their own during the first few weeks. All the extra fluid in your body that was catering to your baby will start to look for a way out as well (usually through sweat and urine). Also take into consideration that breastfeeding burns calories too. The amount of weight lost is dependent on how much weight you actually gained during pregnancy.

It’s important to remember not to work your body too hard in an attempt to slim down quickly. Give yourself time and don’t overwork yourself. Simple exercises when you’re ready, eating healthily and drinking lots of water is a good start. Some new mothers feel more energetic after giving birth, perhaps due to all the hormones and adrenaline. Others feel exhausted and sluggish, particularly in the first few weeks. It’s up to you to decide what works best for you and cater any exercise around your energy levels.

• Stretch marks 

Unfortunately, those dreaded stretch marks you developed during pregnancy are here to stay. After a while, these pinkish-red lines across your stomach and perhaps other parts of the body, will begin to slightly fade and resemble the shade of your skin. They usually occur when you gain or lose weight quickly, and are a common symptom of pregnancy. To find out more about stretch marks and what they are, as well as how to possibly prevent them, read our article in the May Issue.

• Back aches 

It takes time for your body to adjust after giving birth, particularly the muscles around your abdomen. While your stomach and abdomen are becoming strong again, the body puts extra strain on your back, which is why you might feel increasing back pains. Other causes can also be bad posture, especially during pregnancy. It’s important not to sleep or sit in uncomfortable positions for too long, or positions that are deemed as bad for your posture as this can affect you in later life as well. If you still continue to experience back pain a few months after giving birth, you should see a doctor or specialised chiropractor.

• Loss of hair 

On average, a person loses around 100 strands of hairs a day. This number is reduced a lot during pregnancy due to changes in hormones and many women notice their hair is a lot thicker during the time they are pregnant. Hence, after giving birth you may lose a lot of hair in the first few weeks, even in handfuls. This is no cause for concern and you’re not going bald! It is only normal for your body to return to its’ normal functioning self and the growth cycle it was previously in, usually in the first six months or so after childbirth.