Postpartum was a shock for me

Labor for me was a breeze. I didn’t even get an epidural until 8.5 cm. I was expecting a hard labor experience and a normal postpartum experience.

Instead I got the complete opposite. From almost bleeding to death after birth to having to deal with 12 stitches for weeks. My whole world was strung out.

I wasn’t expecting postpartum to be all glamorous. I knew it wasn’t. I knew to expect postpartum bleeding and discharge but I was prepared for anything else.

The whole “it hurts to clean yourself after you use the bathroom” thing, was not going to happen. Or so I thought. I felt so naïve after giving birth. I really didn’t think I would have a terrible postpartum experience.

No one told me that if you go grocery shopping a week after having the baby that you will cry when you get home from all the movement. No one told me that sitting down for the first time will be extremely uncomfortable because you swell. No one told me that I would cry 1000X just because I made the most beautiful angel. No one told me that taking a shower becomes a chore between the baby and the clumps of hair you lose while washing it.

I was told I would bleed, have postpartum headaches, baby blues, sore nipples, not having a flat stomach until months after and sleepless nights:

I bled, and kept my area numb with spray and padsicles for 5 weeks(until my stitches came out).

Between headaches and no sleep my head felt all fuzzy some nights.

Baby blues don’t happen to everyone. This was honestly the thing I was most scared about. Between the hospital and my in-laws telling me, I thought that I would 100% end up with postpartum depression.

I wasn’t too bloated post baby. But I definitely wasn’t abs of steel like before.

Sore nipples happen while breastfeeding, it’s common. But I was in shock that I have never once been in pain while breastfeeding. Thank the lord for a baby with a deep latch.

I’m basically just ranting on the fact that I felt so clueless yet I read every other postpartum blog out there. Am I the only one who felt this way? Needless to say, motherhood is the best thing to happen to me. I feel like I was built for it. It’s been all smiles since March 29, 2018, no blues.

Feel free to share your postpartum journey.

Noah at 6w; 6w post baby; Noah at 7w; 3w post baby; last picture was a few days before bubs was born