Postpartum Surprises – Part 1

TweetShare via email

“Have they told you about the hair loss yet?” A mom toting a tiny baby in a front carrier asks a heavily pregnant woman browsing the baby bedding at Pottery Barn Kids. I eavesdrop from the book rack where I’m picking out books for my own two little ones and chuckle. 

The hair loss issue is always a surprise for new moms. One day you wake up from yet another sleepless night you find hair all over your pillow. You take a shower and clumps of hair fall out. Over the next couple days you develop a bald patch or two, maybe in the front, maybe in the back. Most of us panic, wondering what’s wrong with us that we’re loosing hair so fast. Some of us know better because a sister or a friend has warned us about the postpartum hair loss. But even when you know something in the abstract, it still catches you off guard when it finally happens to you. 

New motherhood holds countless surprises, even for those who have done lots of research in preparation. Here are a few things that might catch you off guard.

Postpartum Hair Loss

Increased levels of estrogen in your body during pregnancy causes your hair to be fuller and more luxurious and keeps you from shedding the little bit of hair you normally lose every day. A few months after your baby is born your estrogen levels drop and your head releases the hair it had been holding on to for all those months.

The result? Your hair falls out in clumps.

The solution? There’s nothing you can do about this hair loss. You can minimize the damage to the hairline by avoiding tight pony tails or wrapping your hair in a towel after your shower. Your hormones will even out and your hair will stop falling out probably some time before your baby’s first birthday.

Postpartum Middle of the Night Insanity

I know you know you’re going to be tired. I know people have warned you about the lack of sleep. But people aren’t always honest about how crazy sleep deprivation can make you. Let’s face it, there’s a reason it’s considered torture.

The middle of the night is when the crazies hit worst; when you’re the only one awake with a screaming child, or even a child who isn’t crying, but isn’t sleeping either.

The result? Resentment boils up. You start to think you’ll ever sleep again. You start to fantasize about walking out the front door and not coming back. And worse, wonder if having a baby was the biggest mistake of your life.

The solution? Talk to your significant other before the crazies hit. Make sure you have a plan so that you can get some relief and maybe some much needed sleep. You might not get more rest, but feeling like someone is in the trenches with you goes a long way towards making you feel more sane.

Postpartum Lack of Bladder Control

After your baby is born you might find yourself peeing a bit every time you sneeze or laugh. It’s called stress incontinence and, among other things, it can be caused by the trauma of pregnancy and childbirth. Usually, your nerves, ligaments, and pelvic floor muscles work together to keep your bladder in place and to keep your urethra closed so that urine doesn’t leak out. Pushing for a long time, the use of forceps, or delivering a large baby can cause damage to that area and keep everything from working properly.

The result? A bit of urine leaks out when you exert yourself, when you laugh, sneeze, or cough for a few months after your baby is born.

The solution? Wear a pad, pee often so your bladder never gets too full, squeeze tight when you feel a sneeze coming, and most importantly, work on your kegels often. Kegels help strengthen your pelvic floor and the surrounding muscles. If the situation doesn’t improve after a few months, give your doctor a call, in some extreme cases surgery might be required to fix the problem.

I wish I could tell you that those are the only surprises awaiting you, but there are more! Check out part two to know all about the dreaded Mommy Brain, the changes your body will go through, sex after baby, and the truth about falling in love with your little one.  

(Photo of pregnant belly – copyright belongs to the Microsoft Office Clipart Gallery.)

Jessica Rosenberg is an aspiring novelist and freelance writer who blogs daily at It’s My Life… and posts frequent reviews at The Lemonade Stand.

Print PDF

TweetShare via email

Related posts:

1. You Are Not Alone Postpartum Depression
2. Boost Postpartum Nutrition with Herbal Teas
3. Postpartum Breast Changes
4. Postpartum Depression After 1 Year
5. My Postpartum Psychosis Journey