Bringing a whole new life into the world is probably going to be the biggest mission your body accomplishes – and you won’t just have your new baby to prove it!
Whether you’ve had a caesarean (c-section) or a vaginal birth, be prepared for a few changes. Some, like stitches, will disappear in a few weeks, while changes to your breasts or tummy may stay a while longer.
How will my body change after my baby’s born?
One day after giving birth
Here’s what you can expect to experience one day after labour:
- Your precious bundle may be safely in your arms but you may still look around six months pregnant. That’s because your womb will take time to shrink down.
- If you’ve had a vaginal birth, you’ll probably be swollen and bruised around your vagina. Top tip: If you’re sore from a tear or cut, try pouring warm water over the area when you wee to take the sting out.
- If you’ve had a c-section, you’ll have a wound just above your pubic hair. You’ll need to take painkillers during these early days so you can move around and care for yourself and your baby.
- Whichever type of birth you had, you’ll have quite heavy vaginal bleeding at first, so have plenty of maternity pads to hand.
- Your breasts will be producing colostrum, a concentrated form of breast milk that has all the nutrients your baby needs.
At MSI Tanzania, we provide postnatal care to mothers and their newborns in the first six weeks after birth. Contact us to arrange your care.
One week after giving birth
Here’s what to expect one week after giving birth:
- Your tummy will probably still feel baggy, but gentle walking and stretching can help start to strengthen your muscles, if you feel up to it.
- Your breast milk will come in at around day three or four, making your breasts feel tender and full. If you decide not to breastfeed, your milk will dry up by itself.
- Pregnancy and giving birth will have stretched your pelvic floor so you may find you wee a bit when you cough, laugh, or move suddenly. Top tip: Pelvic floor exercises can improve this over time. To work your pelvic floor muscles, imagine you’re trying to stop yourself from weeing and pooing at the same time, then release. Repeat 10 times daily.
- You may feel emotional or teary around day three. These ‘baby blues’ are due to hormones and are normal but they usually only last a few days. Looking at, cuddling and feeding your baby will help release bonding and calming hormones.
If you’re struggling with your emotions after pregnancy, remember you’re not alone. You can call us toll-free on 0800 753 333 or send us a WhatsApp to arrange pregnancy counselling.
Six weeks after giving birth
Here’s how your body will change six weeks after giving birth:
- Your womb will be nearly back to its pre-pregnancy size, whatever kind of birth you had. You may have lost around half your baby weight, particularly if you’ve been breastfeeding.
- Stretch marks on your tummy may look obvious now but they should gradually fade over time. There may be treatments you can have to fade stretch marks further, but you should speak to a health professional about this.
- If you’ve had a c-section you should be healed and may well feel able to drive, although your scar could feel a bit itchy and numb. If you had a cut or tear during a vaginal birth, it should be healed by now too.
- Once you’ve had your 6 week postnatal check-up you may be able to start doing more higher impact exercise, such as running and exercise classes. Top Tip: Consider postnatal yoga for a gentle way to get in shape. Make sure you get the all-clear from a health professional first before getting started.
- It’s natural to feel tired and overwhelmed – looking after a baby is exhausting! However, if you feel hopeless or anxious you could be experiencing post-partum depression. Visit your nearest MSI Tanzania clinic and we can help.
Six months after giving birth
Here’s what you can expect six months after giving birth:
- You may still be carrying a few more pounds than you did before pregnancy. Don’t put pressure on yourself to lose weight quickly, as your focus should be on your healing and well-being, as well as caring for your newborn. It’s normal to take around 9-12 months to lose baby weight – around the same amount of time it took to gain it!
- You might notice your vagina feels more dry than normal during sex, especially if you’re still breastfeeding. This is due to your hormones. Top tip: Try using a lubricant to make sex more pleasurable and comfortable.
- Your c-section scar will be less obvious now and closer to your natural skin colour.
- Oxytocin – also know as the ‘love hormone’ – is still working to help you bond with your baby. It’s released during sex too, so will help you and your partner to feel connected.
What will happen to my stitches after I have given birth?
If you had stitches for a tear or cut during a vaginal delivery, they’ll dissolve by themselves. This should happen by the time your wound has healed, which will take a few weeks.
You may worry about your stitches giving way when you have a poo but that happens very rarely. If you’re worried, hold a sanitary towel against your stitches to support them while you poo.
You will also most likely have dissolvable stitches for a c-section, but it’s possible to have staples, clips or non-disposable stitches instead. If this is the case your midwife will usually take them out after five to seven days.
When can I start having sex again after having a baby?
It’s normal for sex to be off the menu for a bit, especially when you’re bleeding, sore and feeling sleep deprived.
Some experts say it’s best to wait to have sex until you’ve stopped bleeding and your stitches have healed properly. But if you didn’t have a complicated birth, you can start whenever you feel comfortable and ready.
Just be aware you can get pregnant again as early as three weeks after giving birth, even if you’re breastfeeding and your periods haven’t started again. So be sure to use contraception if you’re not quite ready yet to take on the next mission!
Some women change their contraception after having a baby. Talk to us about finding a method that suits you now.
