Dee, that is a fantastic question hun. I was the same, and didn't even realise until after I'd given birth, that I literally had no idea what to expect.

I'm not going to answer your questions specifically, because I think you have some good answers already, but instead I'll share with you the things that took me by surprise:

- The amount of blood after giving birth
- How awful it felt not being able to move around after having an epidural and how long it took to recover
- How fantastic it felt to be able to move around after NOT having an epidural and how quickly I recovered
- That pain from an episiotomy really hurts and that lasts for a couple of weeks
- The pain from engorgement when your milk comes in is horrendous - probably worse than the episiotomy
- Breastfeeding isn't always easy at first, but with the right support you can overcome it. Learn the numbers for the ABA and a local IBCLC qualified LC now, and take them to hossy with you jic.

I hope that helps you. It is so good that you are preparing for this now. Good on you.