After giving birth your body changes so much. Find out 5 Ways Your Body Changes After Giving Birth

5 Ways Your Body Changes After Giving Birth

New moms are always warned about long, sleepless nights rocking the baby to sleep, never-ending diaper changes, and how often they will need to breastfeed. But many moms aren’t prepared for the surprises they’ll notice in their own bodies after giving birth.

If you’re not aware of the different changes your body goes through postpartum, it may catch you off guard when you look in the mirror or during intimacy. To make sure you don’t feel overwhelmed by these changes, it’s crucial to know what these changes might be. Knowing what transformations to expect helps make you feel more confident as you navigate your identity as a new mom. Let’s dive into each one and what you should do about it for a confidence boost.

1. Changes in Weight Distribution

You’ll lose weight right after giving birth, but you might also notice that your body’s fat distribution is different now. You might see most of your weight accumulate in places it didn’t before, such as your thighs and belly.

 

This is totally normal for moms. If you want to lose some stubborn weight or maintain your shape, you can always work out after having your baby with some gentle exercises. Go for ones designed to strengthen your pelvic floor to help your postpartum body heal faster.

1. Stretch Marks Everywhere

Since your body carried a tiny human inside it for nine months, you might notice stretch marks on your stomach, arms, and thighs after it shrinks postpartum. You might feel a little self-conscious about them at first, but think of them as beautiful battle scars for bringing life into this world. 

 

While it’s difficult to get rid of these streaks on your skin, you can minimize their appearance with lotions that increase skin elasticity. Look for ones infused with ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E.

1. Larger, More Tender Breasts

Lactating moms will have larger and more tender breasts than they normally do as long as they’re still breastfeeding. It might be uncomfortable for the time being, but it’s a small sacrifice to pay to give your little one the nutrition they need. To ease some of that discomfort, wear high-quality nursing bras with tons of support and keep a hand pump ready to go any time you need relief.

1. Changes in Your Intimate Areas

Your intimate area could also go through noticeable changes postpartum, specifically if you had a vaginal birth. Some women notice excess labial tissue and uncomfortable folds in the area, which can get in the way of intimacy when you’re trying to rediscover romance with your partner now that you’re caring for your little one. 

 

If this bothers you, know that there are options, like getting a labiaplasty to remove those excess folds and make you feel more confident in your body. As a new mom, look into labiaplasty without sedation. After all, you need as little downtime as possible now that you’re taking care of a baby.

1. Postpartum Hair Loss

During pregnancy, your body produces more estrogen, which helps keep your hair thick and full. However, after giving birth, your estrogen levels will inevitably drop, and it can sometimes lead to intense postpartum hair shedding. You might notice more strands falling out when you brush your locks or hair coming out in clumps when you run your fingers through it.

 

The good news is that this hair loss is temporary, and your hair should go back to normal in a few months. However, it’s still best to be gentle with your hair to try and reduce the hair fall. Use a wide-tooth comb and don’t heat-style often to keep it as healthy as possible. You can also take supplements that are terrific for healthy hair growth, like biotin and vitamin E.

Endnote

It might take some time to get used to these changes in your body. What’s important to remember, though, is that you’re beautiful inside and out, even if your figure isn’t the exact same as it used to be before pregnancy. On days when you’re not feeling as confident, don’t forget that you have options, whether it’s surgery, body lotion, supplements, or changes in your lifestyle to be healthier and more active. Most importantly, give your body the time it needs to recover from childbirth.