Baby2Body’s Guide To Postpartum Recovery: What To Expect In Week 1

Every woman is different, every pregnancy is different, and every delivery is different, so what to expect after birth varies a lot. But there are some common postpartum symptoms that you can expect, and so over the next 6 weeks, we’re sharing what to expect in your postpartum recovery, why these things happen, and what you can do when you get these symptoms.

If you had or are having a c-section, then the below still applies to you, but of course, you’ll have different considerations to make as well! On Wednesday, we’ll be sharing exactly what you can expect when you’re recovering from a c-section.

Here’s what you can expect in week 1 of postpartum

1. Bleeding

Bleeding from the vagina after birth is called lochia. It can be quite heavy at first and you’ll need super absorbent sanitary towels. The bleeding may last a few weeks but you should avoid using tampons until your 6-week check as it may increase the risk of getting an infection. If you are losing blood in large clots then you should tell your midwife. 

2. Constipation & piles

It’s common to experience constipation and piles after birth because of all of the wear and tear down there. The good news is, it usually disappears within a few days!

What you can do to be more comfortable: Try not to strain too much when you use the toilet, eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, salad, and wholegrains — and drink plenty of water!

3. Tender breasts

Almost immediately after birth, your breasts will produce a yellow liquid called colostrum for your baby. After 3 or 4 days, they may start to feel tender as they produce milk.

What you can do to be more comfortable: try wearing a supportive bra. See our top picks. 

4. Sweating

This isn’t one that a lot of women expect, but around 1 in 3 mamas find that they sweat a lot after giving birth. This is due to all of the changing hormones in your body.

What you can do to be more comfortable: If you’re uncomfortable - especially at night - then try sleeping on a towel that you can switch out easily, wear light clothing, and remove heavy covers from your bed

5. Your tummy won’t return to ‘normal’

After you give birth, your stomach will still look like it has a baby inside and that’s totally normal - it takes a while for your womb to shrink back to its previous size. 

What you can do to be more comfortable: wear comfortable loose clothing! We know that you might not want to keep the maternity clothes out now that you’re postpartum — try some of your loser pre-baby clothes that allow a little space.

6. Your emotions will be all over the place

In the first few weeks after birth, it is common to feel a mix of emotions, including feeling irrational, crying out of the blue, and feeling depressed or ‘low’ — this is known as the “baby blues”.

What you can do to be more comfortable: Try to sleep and rest as much as you are able to, ask for help or support from your partner, friends & family, and connect with other new mamas who are experiencing it too!

If symptoms last longer than a few weeks and are unmanageable: you may be experiencing postpartum depression. Speak to your doctor as soon as you can to help manage symptoms.

Our top 3 tips for week 1 of postpartum

For your fitness:

In week 1 of postpartum, you shouldn’t do any strenuous exercise as your body is in full recovery mode. If you feel like you want to move your body, you can try light walks or light guided stretches which are designed for postpartum recovery — we have these in the Baby2Body app!

You can also try pelvic floor exercises to aid your recovery! Try doing them a couple of times a day so you can begin to feel the muscles working. 

For your wellness:

As we mentioned, it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions, including stress and anxiety. Daily breathing exercises will help reduce these feelings and give you a minute or two to clear your mind and feel a bit more like yourself.

For your nutrition:

This week, focus on getting lots of protein in your diet. It can help your tissues repair and replenish themselves post-birth!

Come back next week for What To Expect In Week 2 Of Postpartum Recovery.

Have a question for us? Let us know in the comments!

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