Navigating Postpartum Life: 8 Must-Know Tips from Your Boise Newborn Photographer and Mom of Four
Ready for some real talk about postpartum life? At the time of writing this, I recently had my fourth baby and so the postpartum time period is once again fresh in my mind.
In this blog post, I’m dishing the honest, unfiltered truth about what to expect after giving birth.
(1) The Exhaustion is Real and Intense
When we brought my fourth son home from the hospital, I hadn’t slept more than an hour or two at a time in two days. I couldn’t wait to get into my own bed and get a night of decent (albeit broken sleep). But then my son wasn’t settling well in the bassinet and my husband and I ended up being up with him until the early hours of the morning. My body was exhausted and hurting and in desperate need of rest, but my baby was also needing me.
If you find yourself in a similar situation of exhaustion, feeling like you can’t possibly stay awake another minute, but then you hear the baby cry once again, just know that it is just a season. You will get sleep again. In the meantime, here are a few things we tried to get through those long nights:
Try trading off with your partner staying up with the baby so you can each get at least a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
If you are breastfeeding, pump a bottle at the beginning of the night (or sometime during the day) for your husband or another family member to give to the baby, then go to bed early while your husband stays up with the baby (preferably in another room so you aren’t woken up by them stirring). . You’ll get at least a couple of hours of uninterrupted sleep at the beginning of the night which can do wonders to help you endure the wake ups every 2-3 hrs for feeding.
Take naps during the day, especially if the baby seems to sleep better during the day than at night.
To help with baby sleep, try out different swaddles and sleep sacks for baby and different methods of swaddling. We used a this sleep sack for my first three, but my fourth son ended up liking this arms up one.
Use white noise near baby at night while they sleep to sooth them and drown out other noises that might startle them. We use this sound machine currently that is relatively inexpensive, but have also used the popular Hatch sound machine and night light in the past.
Keep days bright and light, and nights dark and quiet to try to help baby’s circadian rhythm to reset.
2. You might experience night sweats as your body gets rid of the excess fluid from pregnancy.
I was not prepared for the night sweats after I had my first. They can be surprising and uncomfortable, but they're a normal part of the postpartum experience.
Your body holds extra fluid during pregnancy which can even increase after birth, especially if you had IV fluids during delivery. Sweating is one way that your body gets rid of this excess fluid.
One way to deal with night sweats is to wear lightweight pajamas and use breathable bedding. Have an extra set of pajamas ready to change into if you wake up feeling too wet. Also, it sounds counterintuitive but make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated as this will help your body flush out the excess fluid.
3. Postpartum bleeding can be heavy and last for up to six weeks.
You got to skip out on your period for 9 months and now it’s back with a vengeance! If you had a hospital birth, the hospital may stock you up with a bag of heavy duty pads or disposable underwear. Don’t forget to take this home with you!
Your bleeding may taper of for a few days, then come back off and on for several weeks. This is normal. As my nurses told me, let your bleeding be a reminder that you need to take it easy as your body still has a wound (from the placenta) that is healing, not to mention if you also had any tearing and stitches or a c-section.
4. Breastfeeding is a lot of work
Breastfeeding is a beautiful way to nourish and bond with your baby, but it doesn’t always come easy and even if your baby comes out latching and feeding like a pro, it is still a lot of work. Even after having three babies, I forgot with my fourth how much time you spend every day (and night) feeding your baby. It is a full time job and can be exhausting at times.
Your breasts might leak milk and be sore, nursing pads + nipple cream are a lifesaver. If your nipples are sore, you may also want to try these silver nursing cups to gain some relief.
If you’re wondering if it’s time to get professional help with breastfeeding and where to find breastfeeding resources, I recommend reaching out to Ashlyn at Syringa Lactation.
5. It's common to feel like an emotional roller coaster in the first few days after giving birth.
Becoming a mom and meeting your baby for the first time can be an emotional high, but it’s also common to have some level of anxiety or sadness after birth. These feelings are often referred to as "baby blues" and are a normal part of the postpartum experience.
BUT, if these feelings persist or get worse, it's important to seek help from a healthcare provider. Postpartum depression and anxiety are serious conditions that affects many new moms, and it's important to get the support you need to feel better.
Over the first 2-3 weeks after giving birth, I had some days where I found myself crying more than usual, and sometimes for no apparent reason. Other days I felt anxious about caring for my baby, or if my body was healing well. My husband and older sister were key in this season to help remind me that this range of feelings is normal, that I am safe and my baby is okay.
6. Take special care
If you had a tear or episiotomy during delivery, it's important to take care of your perineum as it heals. This can be a painful and uncomfortable process, but there are things you can do to make it easier.
You can use ice packs, witch hazel pads, or sitz baths to reduce swelling and pain.
7. You will be surprised by how much your capacity for love can grow and how much you can endure
The little person you waited nine months to meet is finally here and now you know what they look like. Take time to study all of their tiny details and don’t forget to capture those newborn or fresh 48 photos to freeze them in time. You’ll be amazed at how quickly they grow and change!
On days when it feels like your baby doesn’t want to be put down, do your best to enjoy snuggling them close, this season won’t last forever, and before you know it they will be too big to sleep on your chest.
As tired as you feel, as broken as your body might seem, and as needy as your baby is, know that God can meet you in your weakness and his grace is sufficient for you. But also…
8. It's okay to feel overwhelmed and to ask for help.
Listen, it's totally okay to feel overwhelmed after bringing a new human into the world. After all, you're doing one of the most important jobs ever! So, if you need help, don't be afraid to shout it from the rooftops.
Your friends, family, and healthcare providers are there for you, just waiting to lend a hand or a listening ear. Whether you need advice on how to soothe a fussy baby, some company during those late-night feedings, or just someone to hold the baby while you take a much-deserved shower, PLEASE reach out.
We had our church community start a meal train for the first few weeks after birth and this was such a relief knowing that however the day and night went, we had a delicious and nutritious meal provided for us at the end of the day.
Remember God created us to need each other and this is one beautiful way that our community can serve us. Asking for help doesn't make you weak—it makes you wise!
Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your little one.
Now you’re in the know about some of the less glamorous, but oh-so-real parts of postpartum life.
But remember, you’re not alone in this and it’s totally ok to lean on others when you need to!!
check out some of my Boise Newborn Photography as you prepare for the arrival of you new baby!
