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The postpartum period lasts around 6-8 weeks after your babies birth. I’d argue that it lasts a lot longer as it can take a long time for our bodies to recover. For the purposes of this article I am writing about the first 48 hours. Below I share my experience and the things that surprised me about the early days of having my baby.
My Postpartum Period
Due to birth complications I had an emergency c-section. This meant that my recovery was different to my expectations. The hospital let me home 1 day after the birth of my daughter which really surprised me after a c-section. Admittedly I really wanted to get home so was definitely relieved when they said I was allowed to go home. I do, however, feel that I should have been kept in longer.
The first 24 hours of the postpartum period
These were spent in the hospital, and it’s all a blur. After my daughter was born we were taken to the high dependency unit which was incredibly noisy and very overwhelming. The main thing I remember about this time is crying because my partner went home to get some sleep. I felt helpless because I couldn’t get up to hold my daughter if she needed me. The entire lower half of my body was still numb and I was attached to a drip and a catheter. In a hospital cot my perfect little daughter lay and slept for the entire stay in this room. They brought me food which I could barely eat.
After a couple of hours they moved me to the normal maternity ward. This was a lot more comfortable. The main feeling at this stage was tiredness and disorientation. I was only in this room for around 20 hours but it felt like a lot longer. Other babies there were making a lot more noise than mine. This worried me. I thought there was something wrong with my baby. In reality my baby was tired from her birth, just like me. I got very little sleep that night and kept looking at my baby in disbelief that she was actually here.
During this period, I remember there was either no one on the ward. Or everyone turned up at once to check on me and my baby. During the night I had to buzz nurses along if the baby needed anything. It was very upsetting that I couldn’t do anything myself.
This whole experience was very stressful. It was a very good moment when the paperwork to go home was presented.
Things I wish I had in the hospital
There were a lot of hospital bag lists online. Honestly? I barely used anything I had brought. Admittedly I was not there for very long though.
A large water bottle. I ended up being incredibly dehydrated during birth. This is one of the reasons a c-section was necessary. I wish I had a larger water bottle to take with me. You can find a similar one at this link – https://www.stylink.it/ZDJd0Up3MeG
Decent food. The hospital food did NOT taste good. Not that I was particularly hungry anyway. I managed a chocolate brunch bar. This was about the only good I could actually stomach other than toast.
Going home
My mum and my partner supported me. With their help, my daughter and I got home on New Years Eve. Possibly one of the first New Years Eve’s that I haven’t stayed up to see in the new year. I was sore, tired and my entire life had just changed.
The next day we had both my mum and my partner’s mum here to help us out. I honestly don’t know what we’d have done without them. I felt like I could barely move because of the pain from my c section scar. My baby had so much love around her and for that I am very thankful.
Things that surprised me about the first 2 days
How disorientated we were
Thinking about it now, it makes perfect sense. All 3 of us were adapting to a new way of living and learning. I guess it took me by surprise how disorientated we were. The first month is an absolute blur in my memory now. Those first 2 days in particular felt really taxing and scary. Now we’re 3 months in and it definitely feels easier.
It was difficult to move
Getting in and out of bed was difficult for me. This was due to my c section scar. Every time I moved I would feel every single stitch they put in me. It was painful. Also a little traumatising. The entire birth experience was a little traumatising for me actually. It’s absolute madness that with all that recovery I also managed to keep my little one alive.
How many people were suddenly interested in me during my postpartum period
I was surprised by how little people were interested in my pregnancy. The opposite happened when my baby was here. Suddenly I was getting messages from people I hadn’t spoken to in years. Everyone asking how I was doing, and personal questions about my baby. It was quite overwhelming. Surprisingly this has completely disappeared 3 months in and barely anyone asks questions again. It’s such a strange period of time!
Read more about my pregnancy journey here.
