Things nobody tells a New Expectant Mother

When you are expecting you would be receiving a lot of well-meant advice. But there are things nobody tells a new expectant mother. Why? It could be because it is not a comfortable topic or they do not want to scare you.

But, if you are well-informed, you would be better equipped to take the right decisions for yourself and your baby. We have addressed a few questions that can prop up in a mother’s mind just after childbirth.

1. You may or may not feel the bond at the time of birth: Some mothers might feel an instant connection as soon as they see their baby. But, some may feel it after a few days time once they recover from the experience of child birth. Don’t worry and please give yourself time and grace as childbirth is overwhelming.
2. Your tummy might look dark and wrinkled after delivery: The skin of your tummy might look really dark and worn out after childbirth. The stretch marks might not go away. But, your skin will regain your natural skin colour in a couple of weeks.
3. The first time you pee and poop after childbirth might be difficult: The first time is going to be painful, gassy and difficult just after childbirth. It is better if you are mentally prepared so that you can face it better.
4. Your tummy is going to make you look pregnant even after the delivery: It’s normal for the tummy to still look big. You may look like you are still pregnant. This is because your uterus which expanded itself for accommodating your baby will take time for shrinking back to its original size.
5. Breastfeeding your baby cannot be a foolproof contraceptive measure: You may or may not get your periods for a while if you are breastfeeding. There is enough chance for you to get pregnant even when you have not got your periods while breastfeeding.
6. You may experience urinary incontinence even after childbirth: You may experience urinary incontinence* even after childbirth. If you experience incontinence 6 weeks after delivery, it’s advisable to consult your doctor.

Please feel free to share these pointers to a new expecting mother to keep her informed and well prepared. Are there any more aspects that actually helped you? Please do let us know if any other pointer would be useful for a new mom.

*Urinary incontinence is the the inability to hold your urine.