14 Common Postpartum Surprises (and How to Handle Them Like a Pro)

The symptoms you may experience during your postpartum recovery may be a little…shocking. 

I don’t want you to be caught off-guard and think that there is something wrong with you like I did the first time around. 

In this post I’ll be sharing with you 14 after-birth symptoms and what you need to alleviate them all.

Bad Postpartum Body Odor

I was sick of my own smell after giving birth to my children. It was really bad.

It didn’t matter how many times I showered or how many layers of deodorant I put on, I smelled like a bag of raw onions! In fact, it was so bad that I came up with my own super-effective and affordable postpartum odor-busting remedy.

Once I did my research, I realized that changes in hormones during postpartum contribute to BO. What I also realized is that many moms complain about bad BO after giving birth! What helps me stay fresh? My all-natural Postpartum Body Odor Remedy

Excessive sweating

I remember waking up one night in a cold sweat. This was right after I had my first baby. I was wet and so was my spot on the bed! I was drenched but my body felt really cold. 

Night sweats are something that many moms experience postpartum and it is due to hormonal changes.

Although this is very common, it can be quite uncomfortable and troublesome to have to change the bed sheets in the middle of the night. Sleep with a towel under you and a high-quality mattress protector on your bed.

Temporary Incontinence

The degree of temporary incontinence can very widely from woman to woman, however it is a problem that is quite common after giving birth.

I remember having a weakened pelvic floor after giving birth to my first baby. I did not know how to push properly during labor the first time around, and I strained my pelvic floor muscles. It took visits to a physiotherapist, many kegels, and some time to for me to heal. I would highly recommend wearing pads to stay dry until you’ve fully recovered. See a pelvic floor therapist if you can, too.

Postpartum hair shedding

I’ve always had extremely thick hair, and it wasn’t until I had kids that my hair started thinning. The same hormones that can make you look like a hair model during pregnancy can easily betray you during postpartum.

What fixes this?

For me, it was a lot of experimenting but mostly a combination of Jamaican black castor oil, a hair supplement, and time. Many people swear by this thick, dark, vitamin and mineral-rich oil to help strengthen and promote healthy hair growth. Read more in 8 Tips to Help Relieve Postpartum Hair Loss.

Gas

Remember those pelvic floor muscles we just talked about? A weak pelvic floor can cause you to pass gas whenever and wherever you don’t want to. Don’t neglect pelvic floor strengthening exercises during your after-birth recovery. And don’t be afraid to get professional help if you need it.

Childbirth can do a number on these muscles, so really be mindful of this going into childbirth and learn how you can avoid vaginal and pelvic floor trauma during childbirth.

Once you have your baby, focus on strengthening your pelvic floor and your core muscles.

Lots of bleeding

Once you give birth to your baby, your uterus will begin to contract back to its pre-pregnancy size and those contractions will expel lochia, which is a combination of blood, mucous, birth fluids, and tissues.

If you give birth in a hospital, you will be given mesh panties and very thick pads to absorb all of your bodily fluids. The heavy bleeding should only last a couple of days, and then you will go on to bleed mildly for a couple of weeks. 

Drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea is beneficial not only during your pregnancy but also during your after-birth recovery. It helps regulate hormones and control bleeding as it is rich in tannins. It’s a very powerful uterine toner.

Skin changes

Again, changing hormones can wreak havoc on your skin. After giving birth to both my kids, I went from having fairly balanced skin, to combination skin.

What helped keep my skin under control was good hydration (drinking a lot of water per day), and quality skincare. When my skin does need an extra dose of moisture, I use raw shea butter overnight.

Engorged breasts

Once my milk came in my breasts ached… really bad.

I know some moms swear by frozen cabbage leaves to alleviate the pain, but what helped me other than nursing and breastfeeding regularly was actually being in the shower and letting hot water just run down my chest, and letting the milk drip out on its own. That gave me much-needed relief, however I also wasted quite a bit of milk.

To avoid wasting milk as I did, check out the Haakaa which is a popular manual breast pump that is very well-loved by moms. It is 100% wireless and hand-free. It simply suctions on to the breast. Check out this demo to see how to use the Haakaa:

Mood swings

From joy, to anxiety, to anger, to sadness, you will go through a roller coaster of emotions during your postpartum journey.

What helps? Getting some rest and taking an Omega 3 supplement. Studies show that there is a link between baby blues/PPD and the intake of Omega 3s. Having trouble relaxing and actually falling asleep? Create a relaxing atmosphere in your room.

Lower backache and back spasms

If you’ve ever experienced back spams, you know just how painful they are.

What helped my body recover was doing core strengthening exercises, and getting frequent chiropractic adjustments, as well as taking this omega 3 supplement. I also used a heat pack to help take the edge off the pain.

For a quicker recovery with added physical support, I would highly recommend a postpartum girdle. They help with diastasis recti, help drain excess fluids, and provide lower back pain relief. They’re breathable and comfortable, allowing for a safer and quicker postpartum recovery. 

Hemorrhoids

These are no fun. They’re itchy, they can be painful, and they’re gross.

Pregnancy and childbirth hemorrhoids are caused by hormones and added pressure on your rectum. 

Sitz baths are very effective at soothing and relieving the discomfort and pain caused by hemorrhoids. A sitz bath is a shallow bath for your bottom. It’s generally  safe and actually highly recommended by midwives during postpartum as it promotes vaginal and perineal healing, soothing, and cleansing.

Also remember that drinking a lot of water and having a high fiber intake will prevent you from being constipated which can, of course, worsen your hemorrhoids.

Low libido

Not only will you not be allowed to have penetrative sex for quite some time after birth (doctor’s orders!), you’ll be sore and most likely exhausted. 

You never know how long it will take for things to feel normal again for you, so I encourage you to keep the fire burning and try to explore new things. Learn each other’s love languages and find other ways to be intimate until you’re feeling ready.

Exhaustion

Nothing will ever leave you feeling as exhausted as giving birth and caring for a baby around the clock. Pumping and breastfeeding, in addition that, can really drain you physically.

The only remedy for this is: REST.

Leave those dishes alone, put the vacuum down, accept help when it’s offered and REST. Nap whenever you can. If you have a hard time falling asleep, I recommend taking a warm shower, putting your phone on silent, turning off the light, and resting well.

Extreme hunger

Remember the type of hunger you may have experienced during your second trimester?

It will come back during your after-birth recovery. Especially if you are breastfeeding and/or pumping.

Some days I ate very well after having my baby and on some other days, I couldn’t. To me, it’s all about balance. Of course, now that my kids no longer really on my body for nourishment I’m back to eating (mostly) healthy again.

I would encourage you not to be too hard on yourself but also to try and remember that your body needs the right vitamins and nutrients to be healthy and to recover quickly.