Postpartum Recovery

By Aubrionna R - February 26, 2020

Overall my recovery from this birth, compared to Brooks, has been better and faster! Even right after I gave birth in the hospital I was already feeling really good. The uterine cramps while breastfeeding were more intense and more painful which my OB said increases with each child but I only felt that the first 2 days. I didn't even use ice packs, dermoplast or tucks pads in the hospital and barely used them at home. I bought the same amount I used last time for my at home care and definitely over bought. I thought it would be pretty similar but it was better this time!

Jan 12th a week before I gave birth and the last photo I took of me being pregnant

Jan 18th at Maggie's birthday party the day before my water broke. I had no idea what was coming so soon!

At the hospital in disbelief that it was baby time!

Breastfeeding

I wasn't very worried about breastfeeding this go around, Brooks and I were very successful at it and although every baby is different it wasn't top of my concerns. I was surprised at how forceful Carson's latch was! It hurt more than I expected but not more than it did last time- it was the same. Took me about 3 days to get used to it, plus they learn how to open their mouths bigger. Those newborn mouths are hard to nurse! We spent the first two or three nights up at every hour or two feeding, burping, changing repeat- all normal and what I expected.

My milk came in around day 3 which was uncomfortable but not as bad as last time. I wasn't engorged as much or as long which was awesome but I still had to pump a bit to take the edge off. It was only a day before my supply calmed down and regulated itself. Another really good change was last time I had a very over active let down that would choke Brooks and overwhelm him. This time it's been more calm and easier for Carson to nurse.

After the first week of breastfeeding we got all the kinks worked out and everything has been going great. Carson has been gaining weight like a champ- double what anyone expected! They hope to see him at his birth weight (7lbs 7oz) 2 weeks after birth and Carson was 8lbs 12oz (almost Brooks' birth weight). He gained 22 oz in 12 days when they usually expect to see an oz a day. What a chunk!

Another big win for us has been binkys and bottles. Brooks never took a bottle and only decided to love his binky at 4 months. I threw all the recommendations of waiting to introduce them out the window and was determined to have Carson take a bottle. He actually took the bink on his own and LOVES it, no coaxing needed. I started introducing a bottle once a week right away and so far he's been taking it. I'm going to keep being consistent and hope he'll keep taking it.

Sleeping

We're 4 weeks in and right now and Carson eats every 3 hours, sometimes every 2 or 2.5 at night. Most of the time he woke up on his own, a couple times I had to wake him at the 3 hour mark in the first two weeks but since his weight and my milk are so well established I let him sleep. He finally gave me one stretch of 4 hours and it was amazing but at night we're still 2-3 hour stretches.

I'm so grateful for Dan's company! He has 6 weeks paternity leave and it's been amazing to have him home. He helps at night when I need him and makes sure I'm getting the sleep I need. More than anything else, I suffer when I don't get sleep and even sleeping in only 2-3 hour increments messes with me too. I start to feel foggy and that's when the hormones can get the best of me so this time it was nice to be aware of that and know what I need. I've been able to sleep when baby sleeps a majority of the time these first 3 weeks.

Postpartum

Looking back when I had Brooks I can definitely see now that I did have some postpartum anxiety. It was a very normal amount and it mostly stemmed from my lack of experience being a mom. I was totally expecting to experience that again but I haven't and it's been so enjoyable to not have that anxiety! Maybe it'll kick in later, we'll see. I feel like I can read Carson's needs so much better and I have a general idea of what I'm doing. I've also felt bonded quicker with Carson which has been great. It's not that I didn't bond with Brooks because I did, but I think it took longer with all that anxiety in the way.

Of the 30 lbs I gained this pregnancy, within 3 weeks I've lost 25 lbs. I was heavier starting out this pregnancy so I still have a goal to loose the last 5 and then another 10 lbs to get me at a heathier weight and BMI. I plan to purchase Kayla Itsines' Postpartum workouts through the Sweat app when I'm cleared for exercise. I've done her regular workouts but am so excited for her new postpartum ones to heal my diastasis recti (ab separation) and to heal my pelvic floor (I can't jump ha!).

At about 3-4 weeks out I generally feel pretty normal. The bleeding is minimal or just spotting, the stitches seem to be healed and the relief of not being pregnant is enormous! Being able to breathe, sit, get up off the ground is amazing. I'm definitely not 100% though, walking for a while (or anything that uses those pelvic floor muscles) is still painful and achy to me, I get light headed easily (hello less blood volume). I feel my sciatic nerve pinching every now and then but I totally expected all that. I have some more healing to do but for the most part I'm able to resume my normal life (except with a lot more naps! Give me alll the naps!)

We went to the park and Brooks spiked the football in the ground and it came back and smacked him in the face. Too funny not to take a picture of his injury! And then Brooks took this picture of me and I love it because I want to remember the raw and real