✕
☰

Common Postpartum Pains

by

We don’t talk enough about the aftermath of birth. We can’t wait to post that first picture of our perfect newborn with her birth stats on social media. We compose something like, “Mom and baby are doing great!” But what about after that moment? I’m talking about when the nurses have to walk you to the bathroom for the first time after your epidural wears off. Spinal headaches. Mesh underwear. Giant pads. The gross, uncomfortable, less magical postpartum pains. Let’s talk about those.

Bleeding

The most obvious postpartum pain is all the bleeding. There is so much bleeding. Of course there is, because you just pushed out a whole tiny human. It will take a while for your uterus to get back to normal. Your body needs a break. Take Tylenol, put your feet up and feed your baby. Try not to overdo it after that.

Constipation

It’s not the most fun word to hear, but it’s a very real part of postpartum life. Your nurses will probably prescribe an over-the-counter stool softener until you become more regular again. Try to incorporate some fiber in your diet and be diligent about hydration.

Hemorrhoids

Also the opposite of fun, hemorrhoids are extremely common after childbirth. I mean, you just pushed out something the size of a watermelon, so it’s pretty normal. This is where witch hazel comes in handy. The symptom is annoying but goes away over time.

Breast discomfort

Breastfeeding moms know the feeling of their milk coming in for the first time. Or the sting of Baby’s first latch. It’s enough to cause some moms not to want to breastfeed at all. Discomfort for a while is normal. Don’t let it discourage you, but listen to your body if it tells you otherwise. Breastfeeding is not a requirement to “nail” motherhood.

Night sweats

Almost every night for the first couple weeks, I had night sweats. I would fall asleep for an hour or two while my baby slept, then suddenly wake up drenched in sweat. I, of course, did some “Googling” and figured out this was normal.

Chills + fever

No, you’re probably not sick. Sometimes as your milk supply increases, your body develops a slight fever and chills. I panicked and grabbed every blanket in the house before I shivered myself back to sleep. That only happened once, and again, it was completely normal. 

Spinal headaches

After my epidural, I developed what they call a spinal headache, which lasted several days after birth. I was miserable. I didn’t have this with my first kiddo. Honestly, this was more debilitating for me than contractions or the actual delivery. On a scale of one to 10, the pain from a spinal headache rates—easily—at an eight or nine. It’s no joke. Your whole head feels like it’s going to burst, your back stings, your neck is sore. Your only reprieve is lying flat. When this finally ended, I felt like a whole new woman. I wish someone had told me about this thing.

Mini contractions/cramping 

Throughout your day you might notice mini contractions or cramping while walking around. Or while breastfeeding. Though it sucks, this, too, is normal. You may have to cringe through it, but eventually these mini sharp pains will subside.

Depression

Postpartum pains can be emotional, too. Not every woman experiences it, but many suffer from postpartum depression, which actually is very serious and should be discussed with your OBGYN as soon as possible. Most doctors have you complete a quick survey or screening for this, and you’ll know if something is off. Reach out to a professional, your partner or a trusted friend if you ever feel low.

A few typical signs of PPD: feeling sad, hopeless, isolated, worthless or anxious, usually for more than two weeks. This affects one in four new moms.

Sleep deprivation

Before you even got pregnant, you knew sleep would be hard to come once your bundle of baby arrived—this one’s a given. Try to find moments when your partner is holding Baby to take a quick snooze. Try to actually sleep when your baby does sleep (every two hours). It’ll be hard at first, but your body will adjust to the sporadic sleep patterns (eventually).

Postpartum healing usually takes about six weeks but can definitely last longer than that, depending on each individual mama. It’s a wonderful time filled with moments of bonding with your baby, while also a slightly painful (emotionally and physically) window of time. To survive it, there are a few postpartum essentials you’ll want to keep close by.

Fourth Trimester lifesavers:

A few technically nonessential (yet very essential) self-care items include ...

Emily Morrison is a freelance writer, former copy editor, full-time mommy and Disney fanatic who lives in Independence with her husband, son, daughter and dog.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.

Back to topbutton