What should I expect AFTER birth?

[Nelle]

Good on you for thinking about this Dee, it totally didn't occur to me!

1. Failed souffle isn't far wrong, it goes all floppy and jelly-like, I couldn't look at mine when I lay on my side, it was too weird! But funny.

2. Your vagina is designed to get back into shape! You may have some discomfort sitting if you tear a bit and need stitches, or if you graze (many people graze) - you might want to drink some Ural to help your urine not sting, use wet flushable toilet wipes, and lean RIGHT forward to wee (think, hands on ground butt in the air, so you don't get urine on your tender parts).

3. Some people find DTD just fine, others struggle. It really depends on how things go during the birth, and how you heal. I know people who've DTD within days, and others who've taken many many months. If you have stitches, you may be asked to wait til your 6 week checkup. Taking things slowly and using lubricant should help. Just go slowly and go easy on yourself.

[AJC]

I had a caesar so I can only really offer input for Q1 (and even then not sure if post caesar belly is slightly different to post natural birth - apart from the obvious scar).....

1: Jelly Belly. I am still wearing lots of my maternity clothes. I'm usually a size 10 but atm I find size 12-14 fits me comfortably. My belly has gone down heaps and I really believe that it's mostly thanks to breastfeeding.

[Trillian]

Your tummy will feel like dough for a few days afterwards. It's really quite a strange feeling - it's been sooo taught for so long and then it's all squidgy and floppy and just not pretty LOL. Although some women I've seen still have a very rounded belly like they are pg - a friend of mine left hospital just as big as she was when she went in. But if you had very good muscle tone before pg, then it's very likely that you will look like that again, but don't expect it to happen right away - your body needs time to get used to not being pg again and for everything to shrink back. And if you can leave hospital wearing your skinny jeans, then that's also fab LOL.

No, it wont be damaged beyond compare, but it will feel like it's gone ten rounds in the boxing ring ROFL and will feel delicate for a while, but a sitz bath (salt bath) will heap with that immensely. If you tear or have an epi, you'll obviously be left with some battle scars, but these will fade in time - I can't even see my scars now. And it will shrink back in size.

As for DTD - the first time after our first baby I felt like a virgin again LOL, only I wasn't drunk It was great though and no way did it feel like I'd just had a baby. I've never had problems with DTD after baby though. There is an article about this with members stories on the BB main site (mine is on there too).

[OceanPrincess]

... 2. Your vagina is designed to get back into shape! You may have some discomfort sitting if you tear a bit and need stitches, or if you graze (many people graze) - you might want to drink some Ural to help your urine not sting, use wet flushable toilet wipes, and lean RIGHT forward to wee (think, hands on ground butt in the air, so you don't get urine on your tender parts).

I now understand something - my sister (who gave birth 7 months ago) came round on the weekend and threw into my hossy bag a packet of Ural and some Voltaren! The Voltaren I understood but the Ural I scratched my head and thought "There must be a reason she gave me that" but we were on our way out to a wedding and I forgot to ask!

Now I get it!!!! Thanks Nelle for clearing that up!!!