Day 4/5 after birth...is this normal?

[guiltynetter]

So i had a baby 4 days ago (a boy, very small and cute!) and have been feeling generally okay in myself if a bit tired.

Today is different. I feel like a ton of bricks has hit me. Everything aches. I’ve got stomach cramps.,My boobs are horrendously swollen and sore to point where I’ve been in tears all morning (i’m
not breastfeeding) and worst of all is the crying. I’ve cried all day! Over anything. Because DS had a sleepsuit on with sick on it...because I knocked a glass over, or because I burnt my crumpet.

Is this normal? and please say it will pass!

Any tips for the breast pain? I haven’t got a non wired bra and the wires are agony, but if i take my bra off the hanging with no support is also so painful.

Going a bit mad here...

SO normal! I couldn't stop crying when my milk came in. My boobs were like rocks and my milk was dropping out onto the bathroom floor. I was warned by a number of midwives, and my NCT teacher, that says 3-5 can be very tough in terms of emotions. They were right! If you can a warm shower or bath helps loads, and get someone to bring you some comforting treats to eat. Congratulations .

I would say completely normal! With DD it was day 3, with DS it was day 4. The first time I was trying to BF and it wasn't working and it was agony, and I cried all day. The second time I was overwhelmed with having a newborn and a 4yo, the state of my house, how I'd ruined my relationship with DD, my foot was really sore... etc etc. Both times it got better.

It sucks, but it does get better. If it doesn't, definitely speak to your HV or GP. Congrats on your new baby!

Completely normal, I had similar stomach cramps and the crying, oh the crying. I also HATED dh with the fire of a thousand suns for a day or so. Literally, hated him. It will calm down, you will find a new normal, it will be fine. Be kind to yourself, I likened having ds to being hit by a bus, physically but also mentally, and you are SO freshly pp, everything is new, scary and painful!

Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy

Sudafed can dry up milk so can peppermint oil (either in a carrier oil as a massage or swallowed in capsules) or peppermint tea.

If you don't feel like going out, Argos sell TU/Sainsbury's clothes on same day delivery.

On my first child no one had warned me about the “crash” around day 4. I felt horrendous and like I didn’t want my baby anymore and it was all a mistake. Two days later I was back to feeling much happier again.

On my second child I was prepared for it. Me and DH planned a day in with no visitors, we just told everyone we were busy that day. I felt horrendous all day, and cried, and ate and watched lots of films. I felt so much better being prepared for it and by the following day I was feeling relatively ok again.

Just seen a comment about tummy pains. Your stomach is gradually shrinking back and this can hurt a lot more in subsequent pregnancies. Don't worry at this stage bit of you're still really uncomfortable 7 days post delivery then ask your midwife / HV.

If trapped air is possible (more common with a c-section) then drinking peppermint tea does wonders.

With my first 4 dc I was fine. No baby blues and v v happy.
Dc5 took 4 years to conceive lots of ivf and operations. I was dreadful from days 4-12
I couldn’t even eat as the crying made me choke it was absolutely horrendous

Oh totally normal, such a massive crash on top of hallucinating with the exhaustion - I tried to breastfeed the bed sheets in my day 4 crisis.

Oh definitely normal. You get a massive hormone dump around 5 days after baby.

all these replies have really helped! it’s just such a crap time. it stopped raining so we’ve managed to nip to matalan and buy a crop top type bra and i also bought a cabbage! (not from matalan of course)

i’m hoping i feel better tomorrow.

Glad your feeling a bit better. I didn't breastfeed with my last three dc and food some nurofen plus really really helped both with the after pains and with the breast pain.
I'm sure you know anyway but just don't touch them! I treated them like unexploded bombs and put your back to the shower as this really stimulates them.

And I'm sure you will feel much better tomorrow

Bless you, like pp have said it's completely normal. "Netflix and feed" is the best advice I can give for the engorgement

ive had a lot of tips on this thread about breastfeeding but i think maybe missed on my first post that i’m not breastfeeding :) i’m hoping for the milk to go very soon!

You just have to ride it out OP . Your hormones are all over the place at the moment but they will settle soon. My boobs were blue boulders and so painful, even the health visitor winced every time she saw them. I had sports bras and a tight fitting stretchy vest top that I lived in for a few weeks. Congratulations on your beautiful baby.

Oh yes that was me, sorry . Glad you got a soft type bra as mastitis can get you either way (the bastard).

I don’t think peppermint helps at all to get rid of milk supply
I had TONS of peppermint water, oil and tea in the first few weeks and had a massive milk supply. Best to just wear a supportive bra, hand express a little if really engorged to avoid mastitis and hopefully it’ll dry up soon

@Hedgehog80

Peppermint water is for the stomach cramps.

Sorry, I’d heard somewhere that it was meant to help reduce milk and assumed that was whybitgwas mentioned here as well!
I just wanted to get my experience across that peppermint in manynforms had no effect at all I did t realise till after I had it for weeks (trapped wind and IBS) that it supposedly could have affected my supply but it def didn’t and I had a LOT!

It's exactly how I felt Op hope you feel better tomorrow. I'm taking it the midwife has been visiting you to check you over? And check your temperature?

Congratulations Op , hope you feel a lot better soon

Hi OP, just checking back in to see if you're through the other side of 'the crash'?
X

@Thinkofawittynamelater

thank you for asking! yes, today is day 7 and i feel much more normal. i’ve only had one little cry today! my boobs are still painful but not to the point of agony like when i posted and i think they’ll be fine in a couple of days.

very grateful for such kind replies.

now, if anybody could sort out a baby that wakes every hour overnight? 😉

That's great news - fingers crossed your boobs feeling better this morning

#thingsyouneverthoughtyouwouldsay

Totally normal. Day 3 was the worst. I physically could not stop crying, no idea why I was crying but I just couldn't stop. The after pains in my stomach were like labour all over again. Once I knew what it was I took painkillers regularly for a couple days till it settled. I never knew at the time that this was normal & so common. It will pass. Take care of yourself.