Eleven months postpartum. As I near my firstborn’s first birthday, I am at the end of my “recovery period” from the physical strain of carrying inside and pushing outside my baby. Of course there is emotional strain, but I predict the mom worry will be a life-long condition for me. So least I forget, I wanted to record the realities of this healing period, for I feel on the verge of repossessing my own body. As my baby weans, my breast feel lighter (and literally are as he only drinks four to five ounces of breast milk twice a day now); thus I am transitioning from being my son’s food source to just his in-home chief. Furthermore, with baby Matt on a good schedule and our home settled into a fairly predictable flow, I finally feel the motivation to start running again. This takes me back to my college days of cross-country cruising down park trails; but now, pushing the stroller and sticking to the smoother streets. So as I am feeling recovered, let’s recap my personal postpartum physical struggles.
1. Still pregnant?: During pregnancy I pigged out, (craved too many donuts plus holiday season sweets) so gained 70 pounds. Luckily in the birth room, I dropped (quite literally) 30 pounds. Since then, I’ve lost about 25 more pounds; but those last 15 pounds hang around as lovely love-handles. I don’t carry the weight evenly, no, it loves jiggling like Santa’s belly. No worries, I am encouraged about how far I’ve come sense my late-pregnancy super swollen days, but the midsection belly fat definitely is my greatest postpartum struggle!
2. Eve’s Vengeance: My postpartum periods, I affectionately named “The Curse of Eve” returned when my baby turned about 6 months. And oh boy, did she come back angry! The first several days, feel as massive and as gross, but unfortunately not as fast, as the afterbirth. Now, quite frankly, I am unsure if my periods are heavier than pre-pregnancy because of the year and three month gap, but I am willing to bet that the first women’s gift came wrapped in fury after such a long absence!
3. Mom Bod: The marks of a fierce birth warrior who sustains life: stretch marks and saggy boobs. From carrying my precious son, my war paint includes streaks on my stomach and around my breast. I treat them with coconut oil and vitamin e; however, they linger still. From almost a year of being tugged on by an eager little mouth, my breast definitely lost their perkiness (a slight tragedy because I am still in my twenties). I’ve earned my momma body, a badge I wear well.
4. Internal Struggles: My unexpected struggles are not visible to the eyes. My digestive track return to its prior sensitivity. So again, I pursue a gluten-free diet. When pregnant my baby gave me gluten-tolerance super power; however postpartum I returned to a need for a healthier diet or else a lot of stomach churning. I’ve also been struggling with ear infections for the first time in my life. My primary care physician shared that sinuses change during postpartum. Thus my allergies returned stronger (again my baby gave me allergy immunity when pregnant). The whole ear-infection thing is tethered by Mucinex and allergy medication, yet this new issue definitely surprised me!
5. Honorable Mentions: Other postpartum issues I have not struggled with this go-around but are common include: pain during intercourse, and peeing when sneezing. I definitely recommend seeing a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor exercises. Treat your lady parts, mommas!
Now ladies, I apologize if this read as a horror script or is just TOO MUCH INFORMATION!
I am sharing honestly about my own experience physically so I can conclude with my mental resolution: Motherhood, like all of the best loves means sacrifice. So yes, you sacrifice your body, quite literally. Yet, in this surrender of self, I love my body so much more. This vessel holds and sustains life! It is not a girl’s body, nor just seductive lady’s curves; but a full-fledged and powerful woman’s body. So, I truly cherish my postpartum self, tiger stripes and all.
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