How long does it take to feel 'normal'?

[Sarahjct]

OK, I don't mean cartwheels or anything but assuming you have a relatively straightforward vag birth...

I'm 39 weeks and, at the moment I can barely walk, my back goes into spasm if I stand in the kitchen for any longer than the time required to make a quick cup of tea. I am confined to the house as a brief supermarket visit yesterday nearly killed me so I've given that up for now.

Once this LO is out and, putting aside tiredness, grumpiness, hormones etc, roughly how long does it take for your body to feel like your own...or is this one of those pieces of string questions?

I don't think my body has returned yet - the one I seem to have now certainly doesn't look like mine !

I'm afraid it is, honey. My first birth wasn't that straightforward - emergency ventouse after horribly long labour - and I felt as if I'd been kicked in the stomach by a horse for, well, a few weeks. My second was a straightforward home birth and I felt really quite human quite soon afterwards.

Thing is, your body starts...doing stuff. Your norks become huge spouty melons. Your stitches (sorry), should you have any, er ahem not in the how shall I put it absolutely best place to heal in a straightforward manner. And so on.

Having said that, I've just remembered that six weeks after having DD1, when I still wasn't really feeling the full ticket, I did go and swim 50 lengths and had my lashes tinted. Which is quite human, isn't it.

Do not ask, however, when you'll fit back into your jeans. I suggest you buy some nice jeans a size (or two) larger than you used to for the time being...

It's all relative really and as mi says it really depends on how the birth goes. The key for me was really looking after myself afterwards and getting enough rest. Make sure you eat regularly, DON'T try to be supermum - no one will give you a medal for it, and try to start flexing your pelvic floor as soon after the birth as you can (you won't be able to do much initially, but believe me, it's really important to try).

Sorry that's a bit of a ramble but it is a bit pieces of string. But yes, you will be relieved not to have to cart that belly around any more. Some women say they miss their bumps after the birth - I certainly never did!

And don't measure yourself against other people. (Especially the woman in my antenatal group who was back in her jeans four days after giving birth and went running on the day of her six week checkup.)

This is absolutely no consolation, as my children are ancient now - DD2 starts school on Monday - but I feel really pretty human these days .

LOL pretty much what I thought then!

I'm on the lardy side at the best of times so not so bothered about getting back into jeans - have big weight loss plans for this year anyway so will commence that when ready rather than aiming for the size 8's (ho ho!) immediately.

I just rather like the idea of being able to walk in a straight line and get slightly further than the dining room, not requiring a winch every time I turn over in bed and not having to have a chair in the kitchen to sit on when I'm loading the dishwasher!

If it's a vag birth you'll be able to sleep on your stomach, imagine that, straightaway. And in any case you can lounge in bed claiming the need to Bond.

In fact this is a really good time of year to have a baby because you can stay in and veg Bond quite cheerily. DD2 was born in summer, and I felt all sorts of pressure to go out and Enjoy the Glorious Weather, shudder.

I had a long complicated vag birth first time, ending w. forceps delivery and quite a lot of stitches and yet felt fantastic by the next day.

Well, OK stomach was still saggy as hell and remained so for many, many months but I literally flew up stairs to second floor flat (w. dh carrying ds) after months of dragging myself up them.

It obviously does vary person to person but I couldn't believe how much easier standing up/lying down/walking around was within a very few hours.

Am now 35+4 and can't wait

Oh yes the releif of being able to lie on my tummy immediatley was wonderful

But after a ventouse/forcep delivery I was sore and knackered. It took me a good 3 months top feel myself again.

But it is worth it

even though my old body has mysteriously disappeared it was indeed glorious to be lying on my tummy again! I had a c-section and I think I was fully back on my tummy within 3 weeks! I did find my first trip out into the real world (10 days post birth) a very strange experience - felt like I was walking in marshmallows! I'd forgotten what life looked like outside!

even though my old body has mysteriously disappeared it was indeed glorious to be lying on my tummy again! I had a c-section and I think I was fully back on my tummy within 3 weeks! I did find my first trip out into the real world (10 days post birth) a very strange experience - felt like I was walking in marshmallows! I'd forgotten what life looked like outside!

It took a few weeks to feel normal, and 8 weeks on i've given up on my pre pregnancy clothes, but I was huge and uncomfortable while pg and within 24 hours I felt much better than when i was pg. I do wish someone had warned me how sore and swollen my fanny would be - took 3 weeks to feel normal and i'm stll to scared to have sex

If you're suffering from sickness/heartburn/backache etc now its absolutely miraculous the way that just goes the minute your LO is out. Fanjo-wise, it took about 3 months but I had some messed-up stitches. A year down the line and I feel back to normal completely (apart from disappointing post-bf norks...)

Agree with SydnetB. For me, it was 1 year before I felt totally back to me. I mean fitting in my jeans, caring properley for my highlights, feeling full of beans and having lots of sex (resulting in DD2 born just over a week ago )

Straight after the birth I felt like I had been run over. And where my bump was felt really strange and empty. Though I did have horribly long birth with failed ventoose and forcepts delivery and also had post-natel pelvic problems.

This time though I felt fantastic more or less straight away. Had straight forward vaginal birth. Did have stitches but because of the none-assisted delivery this time, no swelling or bruising.

If I were you, I'd expect to feel like you've been run over, and then if you find you feel fine, it'll be a nice surprise!

I had an uncomplicated birth and was very fit beforehand, I was jogging again very gently after 3 weeks but didn't feel ok in myself till 5-6 weeks. Took about 3 months to get back in my jeans and 9 months to get my figure back completely (but never getting rid of saggy tummy!)

The main thing is to give yourself time and credit for all you've managed and to definitely make time to exercise, specially yoga and gentle stretching. I did the cindy crawford 'back in shape' dvd which was ok. Just do things like spend 5 minutes stepping on and off the stair, or doing gentle stretches of your arms, as they get so knackered from holding the baby.. best of luck!