POSTPARTUM: What do you wish you would have known?

Question

I am a nurse in an OBGYN clinic and our postpartum mamas always say stuff like “No one tells you about this” or “I wish someone told me it was like this so I could have prepared myself”. I would love for all of you to tell me what you wish someone would have told you about the postpartum experience, so I can better inform moms, and who knows maybe I’ll write a book about it one day!

Answer

I wish someone would've told me how non painful the epidural was instead of scaring me with the thought of a huge needle going in my back, and how massaging the uterus to go down to normal size is not massaging but rather quite painful.

Answer

I feel they lie to you in those classes. They make it seem like labor takes hours and hours. They never tell you that they can come super fast. I thought I had plenty of time to get to the hospital.🙄

Answer

that some cases healing from hemorrhoids can be worse then healing from your tears. 
and even with stool softener it's burtal.

Answer

oh, and if you are going to get an epidural,  wait as long as possible to get it. I was induced with my first born and got the epidural as soon as I got there. so when I was actually in active labor they said I couldn't have any more and that was when I really needed it. my first labor was a horror story honestly. My second was beautiful.

Answer

no one told me about being constipated after csection

Answer

I had PP depression and my doctors never really warned me of it or let me know it was normal.
Before they put me on medicine, I felt completely horrible about not being joyous.

Answer

PPD depression is totally normal and it's okay if you're not 100% joyous. Placenta encapsulation helps tremendously with PPD and you won't have to start taking prescription pills. You might be constipated for like a week. Your breast milk coming in HURTS, but it does get better. It's okay to not have a million people with you the day of and weeks after delivery. It can be extremely overwhelming for you and baby and takes away from precious bonding time. Skin to skin daily for the first month or so helps with PPD and helps baby grow and thrive. Honestly, so much. There's tons people don't talk about because it's "embarrassing" or admits "faults" (basically that doesn't fit the expectations of social media or a bragging family member or friend) it's sad. that's why I always recommend joining mommy groups. you'll learn a ton and it really does help.

Answer

I wish someone would have told me that spinal blocks can fail. After 3 attempts they switched to an epidural for my c section. Also, how excruciating the after birth cramps are!

POSTPARTUM: What do you wish you would have known?

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