Before we have children we think the pain ends in the delivery room. How very mistaken we are!

I was speaking to a girlfriend this morning who has just given birth to her first child. After congratulating her on her scrumptious newborn I asked about her labour experience. Her response made me laugh, more so because I’ve been there, I was there, I kind of still am there.

“…..was still the most amazing experience and best day/night ever. I have absolutely no negatives despite it being the complete opposite of what we had prepped ourselves for.”

My response to her was simply “Welcome to parenthood, the complete opposite of everything you have prepared for!”

In my previous post Life with a newborn – day 4 I touched on issues that they don’t teach you about in prenatal classes.

That moment you first lay eyes on that slimy, screaming, tiny parcel of joy, nothing else matters. Although in the days that follow, there are changes that happen within both yours and your newborn’s body that are nothing short of miraculous. I feel that these changes need to be spoken about just as much, if not more so, than what happens during labour. Which is why I’ve decided to do a series of posts that are dedicated to the aftermath of birth that focuses on what they don’t tell you at prenatal classes, but what I think you should know in order to make the experience with your newborn as beautiful as it could be.  

Today’s topic: After birth pain.

When you go through labour, there is a little thing called a contraction that helps you remember you’re alive!

A contraction is when your abdomen becomes hard to the touch as opposed to when the uterus relaxes and feels soft. The level of intensity differs between women. Some women feel it in their cervix, while some experience it as back pain. Unfortunately contractions are a necessary part of a vaginal birth as each contraction helps to dilate the cervix wide enough for that internal tenant of yours to comply with his eviction notice.

Before having children I thought that the intensity of pain ended once the baby was born. Alas, it was not to be.

Once you have your gorgeous miracle in your arms and you think your time on the front line is over, you are placed right back in there. You may have thought you were out, but trust me, they will pull you back in. There are certain things that must happen inside your body in order to get it back to it’s functional pre pregnancy state.

If you were not aware, post baby, comes the after birth. The after birth is the placenta and other vital membranes discharged from the womb once the baby has been delivered. For some women, it comes out naturally and mimics the birth of a baby. For some, it doesn’t happen as easily and the nurses may administer a needle to help it along it’s way.

When growing a baby, your uterus becomes larger in size to accommodate the growing, what sometimes feels like, the Incredible Hulk of a child you are carrying. Once you have given birth, the uterus needs to shrink back to it’s normal size and return to it’s lower position within your body.

Photo by Robert Stribley

Enter: after birth pain.

Your cervix needs to close back up again, the uterus must shrink and this rarely happens without pain involved. Although once you are aware, you can take steps in order to prevent or minimise any discomfort you may feel. If you are breastfeeding, it may be beneficial to speak to your doctor regarding certain medication available if things get too unbearable. Ask for help if you need it! The first few weeks are tough!

If you have chosen to breastfeed you will find that each time your child latches on and begins to drink, you will feel as though you are having minor contractions. Breastfeeding stimulates the uterus to contract back to it’s natural state.

It is true when they say that the after birth pains intensify with each child. I myself can testify.

I was a bleeder, and it got worse with each birth. I hemorrhaged after my fourth child and they administered Syntocinon (oxytocin) in order to continue with the contractions to help stimulate my uterus back to it’s natural state and contain the bleeding. They also did the same after my fifth child was born.

I remember holding my newborns whilst still having contractions. The after birth pain left me emotional, and drained. I recall crying and ripping the drip out of my arm pleading with the midwives to let me be as it I’d already just had a baby, the contractions weren’t necessary!

Although they were in fact necessary as part of the whole birthing process. Dammit.

Becoming a parent is a painful experience I’m not going to lie, although a woman’s strength is more potent than any after birth pain could ever be. During this time, remember that the pain is temporary and the love you have for that tiny baby in your arms lasts forever. Although more than anything, during this time be kind to yourself and remember that chocolate releases endorphin’s which help to reduce pain and lessen stress, and you could do with some serotonin right now!

A hot water bottle, a shower, or clenching your butt cheeks individually may help you through the pain (don’t knock it till you try it).

What methods did you use to help you through the initial stages of after birth pain?