one week postpartum

I'm not going to do this every week, but I think in the beginning it will be interesting to see the changes my body is making during recovery from delivering Truman.

So here's me, exactly one week after popping my son out of my innards:)

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And just to remember my pregnant belly, here was my last weekly shot taken right before we left for the hospital at nearly 38 weeks pregnant. It seems like so long ago already!
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38wks

Isn't it totally insane to see the changes already? Obviously, my tummy is not even close to being back to my pre-pregnancy status but I'm amazed how much it's shrunk already. The first time I touched my stomach after delivery I was totally freaked out. It was, and still is, a bit 'mushy'--for lack of a better word. I mean, my abs are trying to flex in there somewhere but they are totally stretched out. My skin is really soft and wobbly for me and my belly button has sunk back in but just looks odd to me. Every day it gets a little smaller and my boobs get even bigger (more on that later) which makes me feel like I'm sort of getting my shape back. Score for me! And although I spent countless hours worrying about stretch marks I took after my mom and didn't get any of those badges of honor this time around. I know, I know. I'm lucky for that one.

Now that it's all over I feel comfortable sharing how much I gained during pregnancy. On the day that she put me on bedrest due to a sudden increase of 6 pounds in 3 days, my weight registered 43 pounds higher than pre-pregnancy. Now, I know my OB had mentioned that a 40 pound weight gain for me would be more than acceptable since I was on the 'underweight' side before getting knocked up but I didn't think I'd actually hit that goal. But since my 34 week appointment when I was first diagnosed with Pregnancy Induced Hypertension and had a 6 pound weight gain in 2 weeks, I knew I'd probably get there just from fluid retention alone. I'm sure my last 15 pounds or so at the end were all related to PIH and edema which sucks but it's just what happens when your body is holding water.

When I got home from the hospital I weighed myself and had lost 12 pounds already. But that was when I was the most swollen ever and worried I'd never see my ankles again. On Monday, exactly one week postpartum I weighed myself and was shocked to see that now I've lost a total of 21 pounds! Isn't that crazy? My body is shedding the extra fluid now and I know breastfeeding has to help a lot but I never thought it would be coming off THIS fast. Thank the Lord! :) I am anxious to get back to my old body and starting to feel a little more like my old self again, but I know I need to be healthy about it at the same time.

As for the boobs: on Thursday and Friday of last week my milk officially came in. I woke up and looked in the mirror to find that I had porn star boobs complete with hardened cleavage up to my chin and expanding under my armpits. I could barely put my arms down at my side and yelled for Nate to check out the freak show. He was obviously in shock and didn't even know what to say---his wife, with her previous flat chested A cups---was now putting Pam Anderson to shame. Once the milk was in and we got into a good feeding routine they aren't as hard anymore although they are still big. I must say that leaking milk onto my son's face while breastfeeding is one of the strangest sensations about my changing body. I find major comfort in the fact that my body is producing enough nutrition to grow my baby properly and the look of satisfaction on his face after a feeding makes a momma feel pretty darn good about herself. But dude, the boobs are totally out of control.

As far as recovery 'down there', it's getting better each day too. I'm not sure how much of the gritty details you all want to know about so I'll keep it pretty G-rated but some of this stuff might be a little much for anyone squeamish about blood and private parts and bodily fluids:)

I mentioned that I had a second degree tear from delivery and it's slowly becoming more comfortable to sit, stand, and generally move around. But the first few days were not easy. I couldn't find a good position in any chair and every time I stood up I felt like my uterus and colon were falling out. True story. In fact, the first time I got up with the nurses I was afraid that I'd have hemorrhoids the size of grapefruits hanging out back there (I don't, no worries) but apparently that is just what it feels like after pushing a 7lb 10 oz person out of there. The gear that they give you for 'personal hygiene' is sort of overwhelming at first but you get used to taking 15 minutes to pee just so you can spray, pat, pad, and cool the area down there. Tucks pads were my best friends as were those giant diaper-like ice pack pads they gave me the first day. Within 24 hours the bleeding got a lot better and it's slowly improving each day since. I can totally use this as a gauge for whether or not I'm doing too much around the house. For instance, when Nate got our BOB on Saturday I was bound and determined to take a short walk around the block with our little family to get fresh air. Let's not mention that my OB told me I was on bestrest for a whole week because of my Pre-E, this lady needed some sunshine! So we literally walked around ONE block and by the end my girlie regions were really sore and I knew I overdid it. Sure enough, my flow increased significantly that night. Whoops! I know it can take up to 6 weeks to fully heal down there and stop bleeding and I think I owe it to my body to seriously take it easy during this recovery time. It's hard to feel like a blob that can't do any physical activity or major chores around the house but on the flip side, it does feel pretty good to be lazy with Truman here. Just sitting and staring at him in between feedings is an accomplishment enough in my book. For now at least, give me some time and I might be going crazy. :)

Mentally I'm doing well, despite raging postpartum hormones. One minute I'm so insanely happy that I could cry and the next I'm sad that it's all passing by so quickly already. I've noticed that when I'm tired, usually in the afternoon and definitely at night, I get more anxious about everything and worry that I'm not doing a good job being Truman's mommy. But after a nice nap or a few hours of solid sleep I usually feel much better overall and go back to that insanely happy state of being. Mommyhood is definitely an amazing, crazy, hectic, and beautiful thing and I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything. It still feels like I'm living in a dream and I don't want to wake up anytime soon. :)

25 comments:

  1. Sounds like you are doing awesome. At least is sure looks that way! Glad to know you're kind of getting in the swing of things. I think these postpartum posts are great. I feel like I can find plenty of blogs about women and their pregnancies, but not what happens afterward. Very informative!

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  2. I've been reading your blog for about a month or so (maybe longer, I kinda lose track of time), but this is the first time I've commented. In a way I think this is more interesting than your pregnancy posts because I feel like I know so little about what happens to your body postpartum. So thanks for writing about the details!

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  3. Thank you so much for doing a postpartum post. Seriously, I think it's so taboo that when I had our little girl two years ago, I was not prepared for everything that happened to my body! :( In any case, the one major thing that I learned was that I did WAY too much, WAY too soon. My biggest advice to other new moms/moms-to-be...not that I'm an expert by any stretch of the imagination...is to listen to your body and enjoy your first days/weeks as a new mommy. On that note, you look fabulous and HAPPY, which is the most important part! :) Thanks again for sharing the "not-so-amazing" part of the process with us!

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  4. Um, I am insanely jealous of your postpartum belly! Good Lord, girlie. You look wonderful! The rest of it will fall off in no time, don't worry. But I hear you on the mushy stuff. It's really weird to be all mushy on your tummy when you're used to tight abs!

    I never would have guessed that you gained 43 lbs. Don't feel too bad. I am well on my way there and I don't have PIH ;) I think I'm just baking a bigger baby the second time around!

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  5. It's amazing how quickly our bodies try to return to "normal" and heal! And I'm glad you shared some info about the healing down there - these are things that are good to know about!

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  6. great post, julia! you are looking quite fab, young lady!!! keep up the positive thoughts (and naps when needed) :)

    nicky

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  7. You look awesome Julia! I love these posts because everyone just stops talking about what happens to your body after the baby is born.

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  8. You look wonderful! And those ice pack diaper combos are incredible :D

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  9. You are doing good Momma! I couldn't believe how fast the weight came off (before Christmas forced 10 lbs back on for me...d'oh!) -- it's awesome!

    Isn't it amazing how just a little sleep will do wonders for your mood?! I would get really really angry when I was over tired. Then, sleep and I would be fine again.

    Keep getting that rest -- sleep is awesome too! :)

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  10. Dang girl ,you're bouncing back in no time! I love these post partum posts, they give me an idea of what to look forward ( or not look froward to, for that matter).

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  11. Thanks for posting about what it's like postpartum...let's me know what I'm in for (hopefully) someday. You look great!

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  12. Um, I hate you.

    No really, you look AWESOME! And I'm insanely jealous of your lack of stretch marks. I don't have any yet but with the way I've been feeling lately, I KNOW they are bound to show up with avengence soon despite my huge investment in creams, lotions and oils :)

    Your weight gain was not bad at all!!! I know what you mean though about freaking out. I gained insanely fast and now for some reason, I've plateaued for the past 4 weeks. At this rate, I *might* actually come in under 35 lbs...please, God, please! :)

    Keep up the good work, mama.

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  13. Oh girl, I hear you on the massive boobs and the crazy hormones. Good news is in another week the anxiety will be gone and I'll bet you've lost almost all of the pregnancy weight. Lookin' good :).

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  14. The horomones are the worst. I was even sick of crying happy tears after awhile. So many freaking tears. You seem have a positive attitude, though, so good for you!!!

    You'll be surprised how quickly you'll be able to regain muscle tone in your abs (or maybe not.. but i was). Looking great!

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  15. Thank you for sharing. The whole pregnancy/baby/post pregnancy thing is absolutely fascinating to me (since we're not quite there yet but will be within the next few years). You and your blog are very inspiring.
    PS Truman is a great name and he's gorgeous!

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  16. Oh, you look great! I admit, it was the biggest shock of my life when I realized that women don't come out of the hospital after giving birth looking like they did before they were pregnant. Um, duh. But, it's equally amazing to me how quickly most of the weight comes off afterward.

    I am sure you are a fabulous mother to Truman. He is lucky to have you.

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  17. I mean, how cute are you? If I hadn't told you yet, I have been so grateful for all of your posts. Pregnancy and childbirth is such a strange, scary thing to me and just the thought of it overwhelms me! We're not there yet, but will definitely come back here when its time :) BTW, how is Henry doing with all these changes??

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  18. I LOVED my ice packs!!! The "lovely" postpartum time . . . it sounds like you're doing great.

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  19. Wow you really do look amazing! Would never have guessed looking at that photo that you just gave birth a week ago!

    I agree with everyone else please keep us informed on the postpartum stuff, I need that info more than anything else. I worry more about after the birth than the actual pregnancy, I know I am weird.

    Keep up the good work both with the new family and the blogging.

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  20. You look GREAT! I'm not at all surprised at how quickly you've bounced back. Also..totally jealous of the ta-tas. Guess I'll have to wait until babies for mine to grow.

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  21. awesome to see everything come together, mommy!

    we did pampers full-time for about 6wks. i really wanted to start with the cloth but that wasn't good with the transistion and the food issues we had with our little man. it's okay to through a diper a way once in a while. you're got to get the handle on so many other things don't worry about cloth until life settles down a bit

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  22. The font is 'Pharmacy' and I use it for nearly everything! Love it.

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  23. my belly still isnt as flat as yours, since I had my baby..........19 year ago :-)

    Jules, every mom thinks she doesnt know what she's doing, and isnt doing a good job. Trust me girl, you are a wonderful mommy!! You have made it through the first week with flying colors! I am so impressed and proud of you!

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  24. I love how completely honest, open, and real you are. It's unreal how fast the baby weight comes off! You are such a cute mommy!!

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  25. Reading this some three years later- as I am just 1 week postpartum myself has me happy to see I'm not the only one. Love the paragraph about "down there" and the 15 minute bathroom break. Thanks for sharing- it was exactly what this mama needed : )

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