Dumb-assed question re. post birth

[McSnail]

Hello - to all of you who've squeezed babies out already. Does your body feel 'normal' again once the baby's out? I know it's a bit of a daft question, but my body's feeling so alien to me right now. I really dislike the physical symptoms of pregnancy (apart from feeling the baby kick - I quite like that )
and I am looking forward to the day I don't have gastric weirdness, bowel-related unpleasantness, dodgy skin, constricted organs and all the hundreds of other little things that came as a horrible surprise to me...

How soon did you feel back to normal (stitches and sore front bottom aside)

Please don't say 'never'. It'll ruin my day.

Dunno about normal, - but all those things you mention do go away.

Absolutely honestly, hormonally it can take a year to settle down and feel 'normal'.

The getting the baby out gets rid of a lot of the problems you describe but actually feeling yourself can take some time.

I'm still breastfeeding my 23 month old so that has somewhat of an effect but otherwise I feel entirely normal!

I actually felt not too bad almost immediately (had a terrible pg so was glad when dd came out. I think 6 weeks tops though for most people. You will feel 'normal' again, whatever that is once you start the stress of being a mother.

I think it depends on what your defintion of normal is. It takes nine months to have a baby and probably nine months to recover. I doult that your body will be 100% the same as pre baby. I still have stretch marks from when my son was born 7 years ago and I never quite regained my 22 inch waist.

A lot of the symptoms of pregnancy will disappear within 6 weeks of having the baby. However it may take a bit longer to get your figure back, if you have put on weight.

I've no idea if I am back to normal or not - I'm so busy flustering about with bf bra's and drowning in odd baby socks.

It all just gets blurred in the new baby in the house bedlam.

Gastric issues not a problem as living on caffine and chocolate with no time to eat. They agree with me 100%

Its all good fun

I'm sorry - 22 inches??

Thats about my thigh. Lower thigh. Respect!

Thanks for all your replies. I don't so much care about the weight or stretch marks (fully expecting that to take ages to shift) - it's more about the physical feelings that I'm experiencing as a pregnant woman. For example, I really do feel my organs being squashed, and I'd like to think that sensation will immediately disappear once baby's out.

"Its all good fun

"

Haha!

alot of it goes right away... some of it lasts a long time.

although i've gotton preg twice before finishing bf-ing so maybe more of it settles down once you stop bf-ing?

Maybe a chiropractor would help you with squashed feeling? You might have tension in your back or diaphram.

treedelivery - actually, I DO have tense shoulders and back. I didn't realise that could contribute to the squashed organ feelings.

x posts... organs being squashed disappears right away... albeit is temporarily replaced with 'organs falling out the bottom' sensation

windiness doesn't disappear sadly though

Well, your ribs need to flare in pregnancy. So tension in the back might inhibit this I guess.

Chiro for you my girl - I swear by mine. Only discovered postnatally which is a shame.

Physically the change is absolutely immense right away. Your uterus should be back to its normal size within 6 weeks. The water, baby, placenta and swollen uterus are your main problems and they go straight away. Well, the baby doesn't 'go' anywhere but it does take its feet out of your ribcage which is pleasant.

Hormones take a wee while to settle, especially if bfing, but you also produce lots of lovely hormones that make you feel lovely and sleepy and content if you're bfing.

I felt a bit anxious, suffered a lack of libido and was anaemic for quite a while which was unsettling but it goes and the baby makes up for it.

Thanks folks.

I know how you feel - I really didn't enjoy being pregnant at all - for a lot of the reasons you have outlined. All I can say is that when your little one arrives it really does makes all the discomfort worth it. I'm only 8 days into being a first time mum, and although there are different things to worry about/get stressed about, most of the physical things you've described do go as soon as the little mite comes out. I had a forceps delivery and lots of stitches and although it's only been 8 days, every day I feel that little bit more comfortable. My hormones are all over the place and I cry for absolutely no reason at all, but I gather this is "normal" in the first few weeks! I'm new to this site and already it has given me some reassuring insights and made me realise I am not alone! I hope this offers you some reassurance anyway, I promise when he or she arrives into the world you will forget everything that came before

yes the squashed feeling goes straight away. but like the others have said it's quickly replaced by other feelings of soreness.

Oh yes, I can remember stumbling round the house going 'thank god I'm not pregnant any more'! The uterus takes a while to contract back, and the bleeding might go on for a few weeks, plus the wierd days where you keep crying but going 'I'm fine, I'm fine' through the unstoppable tears - but feeling like you are just 'you' again is immediate and brilliant! Mind you... there are other wierd hormone things that might happen, like I lost my appetite totally for a couple of weeks (unheard of for me!), and had really bad night sweats for months. Still would take that over being pregnant though, and can't wait again (am 32 weeks and getting fed up again!)

I did not really enjoy being pg apart from feeling my baby move but I do love being a mummy to my DS.

I felt loads better as soon as DS was born, no more heartburn, could do up my own shoes and that heavy feeling was one.

I had all the usual tiredness you get with a newborn and the first few days were a bit achy and sore but I would say I felt physically better than i had in months.

Now, nine months on, I really do feel the same as before I had DS, just happier

McSnail I had DS my first a month ago and apart from feeling tired and having heavy milky boobs with sore nipples the rest of me feels quite normal really. Weight wise I have a complete muffin top which I'll have to make some effort to shift at some point. When DS is bawling head off keep repeating to myself 'at least i'm not pregnant any more...'

Thanks everyone - totally helpful and answers my questions. I've been awake since 4 am with insomnia (which I've had since November) I know when the baby comes it'll keep me awake too, but at least there'll be a tangible reason for lack of sleep - preferrable to inexplicable, frustrating wakefulness anyday (in my as yet unfounded opinion... )