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Comfortable basics are absolutely essential for early postpartum when your body is soft and sore. Your physical recovery will be very dependent on your birth experience but, that said, no-one is bouncing back from pregnancy and birth. The whole concept of returning to who you were before your pregnancy is unrealistic; your body has taken almost a year to conceive, grow and birth your baby, it will take you time to recover and heal.
Soft and supportive clothes that you can wear in bed and around the house are ideal because they’ll make you feel good, there won’t be any tight waistbands digging into your skin and they’ll move with you. Remember that you’ll spend many, many hours holding, feeding and cuddling your newborn; you want them to lie against soft clothing. And when you’re not wearing a top, we encourage you to practise skin-to-skin (your naked baby against your skin) because while it’s a beautiful thing to do as a new mum, it also promotes the flow of oxytocin which fosters your bond and helps establish a breastfeeding rhythm.
Your postpartum body will be soft and leaking – blood, milk and tears – and it deserves time, grace, acceptance and love as it heals. In the fourth trimester, you can expect the following:
Once you have birthed your baby and the placenta, your uterus begins a process called involution, where it contracts back to its original size. This also helps to ease blood loss. The more babies you’ve had, the more painful your afterpains may be, hence comfortable clothes that allow you to move (and squirm) freely, are essential.
Regardless of whether you had a caesarean or vaginal birth, you can expect to bleed for between 4-6 weeks after birth. This discharge is called lochia and it’s a mix of blood, mucous and tissue. In the first week after birth you can expect your discharge to be bright red and you may pass small clots. If you pass bigger clots, if you notice an unusual smell or a distinct increase in your blood loss (filling a pad an hour), contact your care provider.
About one-third of new mums experience night sweats, which are caused by hormonal fluctuations and excess fluid retained in pregnancy. It’s quite common to wet through your clothes and your sheets so yes, they can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. They’re often worse if you’ve had IV fluids during or after labour. Make sure you stay hydrated and wear natural fibres – cotton and bamboo – against your skin.
Whether you intend to breastfeed or not, your milk will come in roughly three days post-birth (expect it to take a bit longer if you’ve had a caesarean birth). You can expect to feel quite teary when your milk comes in (go on, have a good cry), as the hormone prolactin prompts the production of milk and tears. If you are breastfeeding, you can expect your breasts and nipples to be very tender; soft breastfeeding bras without underwire are highly recommended.
After birth, when you’re resting, recovering, and learning to embrace your postpartum body, comfort is key. Regardless of your size or shape, your soft core, aching perineum or healing caesarean scar, you need soft, breathable basics against your skin. Boody uses organically-grown bamboo to create supportive underwear that holds you when you need it most. Alongside their high-waisted full briefs that feature a thick and comfortable waistband, Boody has just released period and leak-proof undies, a must-have for postpartum and beyond. Pelvic floor weakness is expected after birth and comfortable underwear that catches the leaks will help you feel more confident; in hospital, at home and when you feel ready to leave the house with your baby.
Head to boody.com.au/australianbirthstories – you’ll find everything you need for this time in your life and beyond plus a code to enjoy 15% off everything in the edit.
If you feel like you need a rousing encouragement to figure out what you care about, let go of your guilt and foster compassion for yourself (and mothers in your community), listen to Sophie’s interview with motherhood sociologist, Dr Sophie Brock, in episode 384.
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If you’re recovering from a caesarean birth (c-section) it’s helpful to remember that your body needs to heal after major abdominal surgery. Caesarean births are common (roughly one in three in Australia) but significant surgery requires adequate recovery time. Here's what you can expect in your caesarean recovery.
There is so much talk about baby sleep - ‘is he a good sleeper?’ ‘How many naps does he have during the day?’ ‘Is she sleeping through the night?’ but we’re missing the conversations about maternal sleep.
If you had a caesarean birth and you’ve noticed an overhang or a bulge over your scar, we want you to know that it’s completely normal and a natural part of birth recovery. It’s not dependent on whether you had a planned or emergency caesarean nor is it a result of a bad incision or hindered healing process; it’s simply a common side-effect of wound healing.
If you’re in the third trimester you’re no doubt thinking about all that’s to come; labour, birth, and a precious newborn baby. There is so much to look forward to and prepare for. But often, we spend so much time thinking of what our baby needs that we rarely think about ourselves. So, we’re here to gently encourage you (read: implore you!) to start thinking about your post-birth recovery. It’s generally quite a slow process and for many women, especially first-time mothers, it can be quite confronting. We don’t want to scare you but research shows that realistic expectations pave the way for a positive postpartum experience
Typically occurring between day 3-5 after birth, breast engorgement is a common symptom in early postpartum when your milk comes. It can also occur later in your breastfeeding journey if your baby sleeps for longer and misses a feed, or drops a feed during the day or night. It can cause your breasts to be full and hard and this can cause pain and make it tricky for your baby to latch. Essentially, your breasts can feel like they’re about to explode which is quite disconcerting.
You may have heard some nightmarish stories about mastitis and frankly, it’s not something you want to contend with at any stage of your breastfeeding journey. It’s most common in the first three months postpartum but it can strike at any time, particularly if your baby has reduced their feeds, is starting to sleep for longer periods at night or you’re weaning.
In early postpartum, breastfeeding and sleep challenges are common and can contribute to anxiety and overwhelm. Unless you have a private midwife, there’s a distinct void of health services in postpartum which makes it challenging to access professional support. It’s definitely beneficial to be aware of this in pregnancy so you can adequately prepare for postpartum.
Firstly, if you’ve recently birthed your baby and your bleeding has increased, don’t delay in seeking medical attention. It’s recommended to present to the emergency department at your local hospital and explain that you’ve recently given birth and you’re concerned about your blood loss. You may be experiencing a postpartum haemorrhage.