Post Birth Body..tips to heal please

[ThinkPink71]

Hi Everyone :)

So gave birth a couple of days ago and baby is doing really well...had a straight forward waterbirth, went quick, just had the water for pain relief.

Was expecting to feel delicate after but I feel like my body is wrecked...which I know is totally normal...my body has essentially been through a trauma.

Does anyone have any tips? To be fair my lady region is fine and I didnt have any stitches..it just feels like my bum is really heavy and as a result im scared to have a number 2!

Also, im just aching everywhere and walking like an old woman. Just feel really weak.

My nipples are also killing me as baby is struggling to latch properly.

Any tips would be grateful. I have a really supportive partner who is bringing me food etc x

Try doing pelvic floor exercises for the heavy feeling.
ou can do these exercises lying down, sitting or standing. With practice, they can be done anywhere and at any time:
Squeeze and draw in your bottom as if you're holding in wind.
Squeeze around your vagina and bladder (urethra) as if you're stopping the flow of urine or squeezing during intercourse.

Long squeezes – hold for as long as you can, but no longer than 10 seconds, then relax.
Short squeezes – quickly squeeze the muscles and then let them go immediately. Do this until your muscles get tired.
Aim to build up to 10 repeats of each exercise, at least 3 times a day.
It's important to keep breathing normally while you do these exercises. Make sure you don't pull in your stomach when you squeeze.
-taken from the NHS website

Try taking a hot bath daily, they really helped me with the aching. after 6 weeks, straight after you come out of the bath, try doing some basic yoga, like , to help get your strength back.

congratulations!

I had a c section so cant help there but nipple shields helped my prem baby latch and lanisol nipple cream helped with soreness.congrats on your new baby!

Plenty of rest
Painkillers
Laxatives for going to the loo!

Congratulations!

I had baby 12 weeks ago, similar straight forward but with stitched 2nd degree tear so I know the feeling of 'my insides may fall out at any minute'!
One of the key things I found is rest as much as possible. Keep communicating with your partner and when you can, ask them to watch or take over a few duties so you can get some time to rest and heal. Don't stress about house work like I did!

Make sure what you're eating is fairly healthy just to keep your strength up and fill up on lots of healthy snacks but if you need the odd treat go for it!
I poured water into myself as well, helped flush me out, bring after birth swelling down and did feel better for it.

If you need to, make yourself a comfy nest on the sofa with cushions/throws, whatever you have. This helped me be elevated so I could get off the sofa easier and without putting as much pressure on my sore bits.

First after birth poo was horrific, I'd have rather given birth 10x than that!! No advice other than keep drinking water as it will help and I just had to kind of sit there and try and allow it to come out without forcing it, took a while 😂

Keep an eye on your mental health too as a few days in I was a crying mess and had to rely on my partner a lot. Look out for any changes and keep track of whether it is 'blues' or anything more.

The fact you feel really weak and are walking like an old woman is concerning because after u gave birth I felt the same, also very breathless, and ur turned out I had retained placenta as my uterus has drawn up too high too quickly. Maybe speak to your midwife asap

*i

Drink lots of water, take stool softeners and go easy on yourself. The heaviness is from the immense pressure on your pelvic floor from pushing out a small human. It will get better over time and with pelvic floor exercises.

1 word for now....Rest.
As much as you can. And eat well.

Exercise can come later.