How much did you do after giving birth?

[TheUnmentioned]

I had dd who is amazing 10 days ago. I was kept in due to blood loss for one night but since I got out Ive not really been taking it as easy as i did when I had ds who is 3. I havent been running marathons but have been taking him to nursery, doing the shopping, out for lunch, diriving etc.

A few people have said i have been doing too much and I have been having a few problems with heavy bleeding especially the last few days (went to hosp, got checked out).

Am I doing too much or is it just a fact of life that you cant be as cosseted with your second and subsequent babies? To be perfectly honest I am BORED when Im stuck in the house!

I would say after a heavy blood loss you need to take things slightly easier than you are.... hindsight is a wonderful thing.

After my DD1 was born, I was up and about and raring to go - got to love the endorphine rush of a new baby, however I severely paid the price for it! My iron levels dropped to a worrying 6.1 (normal is over 10) and the docs were gobsmacked I was still walking let alone carrying on - apparently I was an ideal candidate for a blood transfusion! The results were that I ended up basically on complete bedrest for 6 weeks to build myself up again.

With my second and third babies I did take it more easy, rather than worry about housework, I sat on the sofa with them having time reading books or watching a DVD.

I would say as long as you are feeling well in yourself, do as much or as little as you feel able, but do take time to relax and unwind. Keep an eye on the bleeding, and make sure you are taking in enough iron to stop you getting aneamic. x

i did what i felt comfortable doing

with ds1 that was not much tbh! i was battered and bruised and needed looking after

with ds2 and ds3 i did more. i didn't have to, i had dp around to look after me, but I just felt much better after their births than I did after ds1

so, do what you're comfortable doing, but make sure you look after yourself

listen to your body, the blood loss means something! I feel OK and now DS is 4 weeks, so not long to rest for

thanks for the replies

I was up and about with DD1 from when we left hospital. Like you, I was anaemic and had a reasonable size blood loss during labout, so we were kept in.

I would have gone crazy without fresh air every day, and I loved having visitors. I think in hindsight (she's nearly 8 wks now) I should have taken it a little easier and taken advantage of the opportunity to rest, but it would have done my head in at the time!

The thing is I want to get out because its an easy way to keep ds occupied too, he is much worse behaved when cooped up at home. I want some quality time with him too and thats easier and more enjoyable if we can go for walks etc.

Thing is that over teh weekend I did the supermarket shop then attempted to go into town but had to turn round and come back I had blood pouring through my trousers. I dont remember it being like this with ds. I feel Im stuck indoors because of it.

This might be a long shot, but if walking is making the bleeding worse is there any way you could get hold of a temporary wheelchair and get a friend to push you around the park with it or something? It'd give you and ds some time outside without you having to physically exert so much.

I packed up a 5 bed house, saw every family member and friend, hosted open house to rent out house and then moved to Canada with a 3 week old baby - INSANE! Not to be recommended, almost had a nervous breakdown, with DC 2 will make a nest and sit on sofa for atleast the 1st month. Rest as much as you can, life is too short!

Can you drive to places e.g park/playgroups etc and just sit and watch ds whilst he plays? Also do shopping on-line/get someone else to do it for you? And could someone else take your ds out to the park or something whilst your body recouperates a bit? It won't take long I'm sure, but sounds like you need to rest properly for a good week or so. If you can get a break to rest with the baby get some good dvds or books to keep you entertained.