During the first few days after delivery, a surprising amount of your time and brainspace will be dedicated to figuring out how to feed your baby. Whether your baby is breast- or bottle-fed, you can expect to feed them at least every 2 to 3 hours around the clock. Some babies will want to eat even more often.
Many hospitals have postpartum nurses and lactation consultants on site. They can help answer feeding questions like, “Is my baby getting enough to eat?” and, if you’re breastfeeding, “Is my milk coming in okay? Do we have a good latch?” Try to get as much support as you can from these professionals before leaving the hospital.
Here’s what else to expect:
- For the first day or so after giving birth, you may feel surprisingly energetic thanks to all of the adrenaline and oxytocin flooding your system. Around day three, the physical exertion of labor and sleep deprivation could start to take a toll. Your estrogen and progesterone levels will also drop, which can cause weepiness, anxiety, and hot flashes, among other symptoms. This makes the third day postpartum a notoriously difficult one. It’s also when many families transition from hospital to home.
- After giving birth, you may still look about second-trimester pregnant. It will take time for your uterus to retract, a process that could come with some cramping. If you have any symptoms you’re concerned about, please discuss them with your doctor.
- Whether you give birth vaginally or have a C-section, you’ll shed lochia—a vaginal discharge that contains uterine tissue, mucus, and extra blood that you no longer need. This is where those mesh underwear and giant pads that everyone talks about come in 🙃
Any unusual or extreme pain, bleeding, or other symptoms merit the attention of a healthcare provider. If anything worries you, consult with a doctor.
You’re discharged from the hospital. Now what?
When you arrive home, you’ll have a special new family member to care for, but no hospital or birthing center nurses in sight. And, your body will still be healing from childbirth. Over the next few weeks, your primary goals will be to give your baby the nutrition they need to thrive—and give yourself whatever you need to physically recover and maintain your mental health. This will likely mean letting go of any other goals outside of caring for yourself and your newborn, at least temporarily.
Tip: Consider setting up a bedside nursery in advance, so you have everything you need within arm’s reach.
Newborns sleep a lot, right? So, why is this time so exhausting? Can’t you just sleep when the baby does?
It’s true that newborns sleep around 16 to 18 hours per day. And you can certainly try to sleep when your baby does, if you have the flexibility. But it’s hard to feel rested when you don’t have any stretches of sleep that last for more than a few hours. You may feel like you’re feeding your baby all day and all night during this period, and it can be helpful to go in with this as an expectation.
Learn more about newborn sleep here. Have more newborn questions? Download The Lovevery App for research-backed information and support.
Posted in: Prenatal, Third trimester, Pregnancy, Parent & Family Life
Keep reading
Prenatal
Second trimester
Pregnancy nutrition: a guide to food cravings and what they may mean
Have you ever wondered if your pregnancy cravings are indications of what your body needs?
Prenatal
First trimester
The best prenatal vitamins: an expert’s review
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a prenatal vitamin. Different brands contain varying levels of nutrients, and some may even lack key nutrients that your body needs. Other factors include price, taste and aftertaste, dosage, and whether the vitamin is third-party tested for safety and product claims.
Prenatal
Third trimester
6 facts to ease your nerves before giving birth
There are so many parts of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum that surprise first-time (and even repeat) moms. Many of them are healthy, common occurrences, but can be scary if you don’t know they’re coming.