There’s a lot that goes on the first 6 weeks after having a baby. Not only are you caring for this demanding new little human, but your body is hard at work healing physically from pregnancy and birth. Each week, and even day, can come with it’s own new set of challenges. But overall, things do typically start to get easier as the weeks progress. Below is a break down of what you can expect out of postpartum life those first 6 weeks after having a baby.
While In The Hospital
Those first few days after having a baby can be somewhat of a whirlwind. You may be in a blurry state of sleep deprivation and pain mixed with sheer love and adoration for this new being you’ve just birthed into the world.
Depending on if you had a vaginal birth or a c section, you may be staying in the hospital with baby for up to 2-3 days. The length of your stay can also be dependent on things such as if your baby is jaundiced, how their little body is handling transitioning to the outside world, as well as how they’re doing with feeding.
While in the hospital, really utilize the help available to you. If you are breastfeeding, make sure you’ve had a lactation consultant verify that baby has a proper latch. It’s so helpful for your future nursing journey to ensure adequate latch and breastfeeding techniques from the very beginning. Your postpartum nurses and lactation consultants will have a wealth of knowledge in this area, so ask any questions and voice any concerns you may have.
This also applies when it comes to your postpartum recovery. Hopefully your nurses will help teach you all about caring for yourself after delivery and what things to expect, as well as what to watch out for. I plan to write posts in the near future going much more in depth about these topics. But just remember if you have any questions or concerns, your nurses are your greatest resource.
After You Make It Home
Once you take that monumental step of getting both yourself and baby home, you’re likely to feel completely exhausted. People may be chomping at the bits to come visit you and see your new bundle of joy. If you feel up for this and are excited to show your baby off, then by all means, allow whatever visitors you’d like! It’s a bonus if those visitors bring you food or offer to help in some way! But if you’re anything like me, and many moms I know, you may not feel like having any people over so soon.
Those first days and weeks are such a sacred time of bonding with your baby and healing. Your main priority is to care for your baby, and for yourself. It is imperative that you are protecting your energy physically, emotionally, mentally, etc. during this time. If that means telling grandma, auntie, or your cousin’s boyfriend that your little family needs some space right now, then it’s crucial that you set those boundaries in place.
And hear me when I say this, Momma: Do not feel any ounce of guilt for advocating for yourself and your baby. Protecting your peace and trying to ensure adequate rest is so much more important during that postpartum phase than appeasing anyone. And for the most part, people should be pretty understanding.
Now Let’s Talk Pain After Having A Baby
That first week or so after you have a baby, you will have some physical pain.
Vaginal Pain
If you had a vaginal birth you may have sustained lacerations (tearing) or episiotomies varying in degree. You may have swelling and/or hemorrhoids as well. Hopefully you have a peri bottle, witch hazel pads, and some numbing spray that was sent home with you from the hospital. Use those items each time you use the restroom. Taking sitz baths often can be really helpful as well in reducing pain. They also help facilitate the healing process of the perineum and hemorrhoids if you have any.
Ice packs are also wonderful at reducing swelling and can feel extremely soothing. They were seriously my best friend after having both of my babies for swelling. A DIY perineal ice pack can be made by pulling apart a disposable newborn sized diaper, pouring ice into the middle, folding the top down, and using the tabs to secure it shut. Ice packs are especially important the first 24 hours after delivery, but feel free to use them any time you feel the need.
Incisional Pain
If you’ve had a cesarean birth, some of the things listed above may still apply to you. However, you’ll also have the pain from your abdominal incision. It may feel sore or have a burning or throbbing sensation. You can also place an ice pack over your incision site, and that can help to reduce pain. You may also take any medications your OB may have prescribed to you for pain. It’s also important to move around some, early and often, after having a c section. This can help aid the healing process as well as treat gas pain that often accompanies having a cesarean.
Cramping
Another major source of pain the first several days and weeks after having a baby is cramping. Your uterus expanded up to 14X its original size while your baby grew inside you. Now during the first 6 weeks after having a baby, it has to shrink all the way back down to about the size of your fist. This can get pretty painful, especially after the more kids you have.
Breast Pain
In the first days and weeks after having a baby, there will likely be some pain associated with breastfeeding. This is a huge reason why it’s so important to ensure a proper latch before leaving the hospital. But even with a great latch, some pain can come along with those early days of nursing. Before your milk “comes in”, baby may suck more aggressively which can be uncomfortable. If this is your first baby or first time breastfeeding, your nipples are doing something they’ve never done before. And even if you’ve nursed many babies, you likely haven’t for at least several months. So there may still be an adjustment period for your breasts. Use either lanolin, vitamin E oil, or some other type of nipple balm or cream in between nursing sessions.
Engorgement is another cause of breast pain during the first 6 weeks after having a baby. When your milk “comes in”, your breast will feel very full and hard. This isn’t actually only due to them becoming full of milk. It is also caused by swollen tissue in the breast during this time. There’s a few things you can do for this, which I’ll talk about more in a future post. But just make sure to be nursing your baby very frequently during this time. Ice packs can also be helpful in reducing that swollen tissue and can feel wonderful on engorged breasts.
Medications
Your OB may have sent you home with pain medication that you can take PRN (as needed) for pain. You can also stay in a routine of taking Motrin (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) around the clock on a schedule. You can take Tylenol up to every 4 hours and Motrin up to every 6-8, alternating between the two.
Bleeding The First 6 Weeks After Having A Baby
You will be bleeding like a heavy period the first several days after you have your baby. You may bleed the entire first 6 weeks after having a baby, or maybe even 8 if you’re like I was with my second daughter! This can be normal, but just make sure you’re watching out for excessively heavy bleeding that saturates a pad within an hour. Also keep an eye out for any large clots. If either of these happen, contact your OB.
Rest And Self Care The First 6 Weeks After Having A Baby
Right after having your sweet new baby, you may find yourself on a high of adrenaline, bliss, shock, love, and all kinds of other waves of emotion. The combination of this, having to be awake at least every 2-3 hours around the clock to feed your baby, and nurses and possibly visitors coming in and out, it can be extremely difficult to get any sleep those first couple days.
If you’ve chosen to deliver at a hospital that has a nursery, sending your baby there so you can get a couple hours of sleep at a time is a great option. Once you get back home, it’s so nice to be back in the comfort of your own bed. I really like the method that goes something along the lines of “5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed, and 5 days near the bed.” Essentially this is just to ensure that you are taking it easy as much as possible and allowing yourself to have the rest you need.
If it’s an option, have your partner or other loved ones help you as much as possible during the first several weeks after having a baby. Whether it be with cooking, cleaning, caring for any other children you may have, or watching your newborn so you can have some uninterrupted time for sleep or self care. Ask for and accept help whenever you can. It is so vital for you and baby during this time that you are well taken care of. I know adequately caring for yourself can sometimes seem impossible during the postpartum/newborn phase. But try to remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Just as it’s important that your baby is fed, changed, and attended to often, it’s equally important that you stay well fed, hydrated, and rested.
Above all, please give yourself grace. Those first 6 weeks after having a baby can be such a rollercoaster in numerous ways. Your body has just gone through an extraordinary transformation. You’ve brought forth human life into this world! It sustained that little life inside of you for up to 10 months! You may still be sustaining that life by being their food source. You’ve been reborn into a new role and identity of becoming a mother to your precious little one. None of those things are anything short of amazing, and you should give yourself the love, credit, and appreciation that you very much deserve.
Leave a comment below about your experience the first 6 weeks after having a baby! And stay tuned for many more posts to come about some of the topics mentioned in this post!