It Aches Down There (Perineum Soreness) 

You have just given birth, ready to take on the role as a new mom. However, you whole body seems to be aching and in pain. Welcome to the changes that your body is experiencing after pregnancy. Your body has had to carry within it another life for nine months, and now that your child has been safely delivered, it is slowly but surely going through the process of getting back into how it once was. One of the pains that you may feel is perineum soreness. You may be experiencing pain in your perineum, which is located in between your rectum and your vagina, due to stretching or tearing during childbirth. You can, however, take pain relievers or place ice packs in that area to lessen your discomfort. For more information about pregnancy care, tips, and tricks, visit the Northeast Doulas website to learn more. 

All Puffed up (Swelling)

Checking yourself out in the mirror, you may notice that you seem to be puffed up and swelling in a lot of places, such as your face, hands, and feet. Don’t worry! This is all normal. The swelling happens due to the excess fluids in your body and will eventually go away after some time. To help yourself feel better while you recover, you rest and put your feet up while you are relaxing. When sleeping or simply resting after a long day, you can also lie down on the left side of your body to help your recovery. Learn more about the changes that you may experience after pregnancy with Northeast Doulas. 

The Girls Got Big and Sore (Breast Engorgement and Nipple Pain)

As your baby will need all the sustenance that he or she can get, your body has a way of giving the much-needed nutrition that your child needs for the first few months of his or her life. The miracle that is the human body, can produce milk for your child that can help him grow and become strong. As you are now a milk making factory, your breasts in turn, can swell with the milk that it produces. This change, however, can leave your breasts feeling sore and tender. Breastfeeding can also lead your nipples to feel painful. The soreness can lessen whenever you breastfeed your child. You can also apply some cream to ease the pain in your nipples. Know more about your body’s changes and how you can go through the process of post-pregnancy with advice from the experts at Northeast Doulas. 

Oh No, My Hair! (Hair Loss) 

Hormones play a huge part with hair loss. During pregnancy, you may notice that you hair is at its best, as your hormones are at a high level during this stage. However, once you have given birth, you may experience hair thinning or hair loss due to hormonal changes in your body. Not to worry, as you can recover the thickness of your hair once again after some time. Northeast Doulas can help answer your queries about pregnancy and how to go about it. Visit their website for more information.  

Feeling Blue (Postpartum Blues and Postpartum Depression)

Being a new mom is equal parts rewarding and tiring. While you can feel fulfillment in seeing your baby growing healthy and strong, the child rearing part can be very stressful, especially for the first few week’s post-pregnancy. The consistent lack of sleep, your baby’s incessant crying, coupled with the changes in your body brought about by hormones, and other such factors, can leave one frustrated at the end of the day. Some of the conditions that a mom may experience post-pregnancy are postpartum blues and postpartum depression. 

Postpartum blues or baby blues, is characterized to be the sadness that a mom may feel post-pregnancy. This usually starts around two to three days after giving birth. This lasts for roughly around two weeks. As this feeling fades away after some time, treatment may not be needed. However, to help you recover from postpartum blues, it is recommended that you should get enough sleep, make time to take care of yourself, and don’t hesitate to seek help from loved ones. If, however, this condition doesn’t go away within two weeks, consult with a professional for medical help. 

Postpartum depression, on the other hand, is defined as a type of depression that happens with moms. It is estimated that one in every four new moms are affected with postpartum depression. Some of the ways that you can tell if you have postpartum depression is when you are anxious, feeling irritable, sad, and other such symptoms. If this goes on for more than two weeks post-pregnancy, you may need to consult with your doctor to seek medical assistance. For more information about pregnancy and any assistance that you may need throughout your pregnancy, consult with the experts at Northeast Doulas.