It’s common for most women to worry if their bodies will ever go back to normal after birth. Generally speaking, there will be significant changes. But these changes might differ because not all bodies are the same. It’s different for every woman. Moreover, it can also depend on the recovery and the whole pregnancy experience.
People often focus on the first few months, but did you know that your body is postpartum for two years after pregnancy? This is the whole period after giving birth.
Pregnancy is hard work. Your body will go through significant changes that you might not like. Many of these changes will naturally disappear after you’ve given birth. Still, some changes might need some time to go back to normal. They can even stay permanently.
Whether you are a new mom or an expectant mother, it’s essential to be aware of these changes. In this article, you’ll learn about the expected changes in a pregnant woman’s body and what they can do to manage them.
Your Breasts
It’s common for breasts to grow during pregnancy. They will also constantly change if you breastfeed your baby as breasts typically shrink and grow after feeding. Breasts do not have muscles, but ligaments connect them to your chest wall muscles. These ligaments might stretch while pregnant, and unfortunately, they do not tighten back. It means that your breast might droop, and you might never have the same breasts you had before.
Your breast will keep changing while breastfeeding, but the fatty tissue will replace milk-producing tissue once you stop. This whole process can take at least half a year, so it’s crucial to wear bras that can support your breasts.
Your Body
One of the most apparent changes is how your whole body will look like. You will become wider and bigger during pregnancy. This size change happens because your body needs to make room for your growing baby. Your ribs will expand, and your hips will widen. This change is essential so the baby can exit through the birth canal. Some women regain their normal ribs and hip sizes, but the effects can be permanent for some.
You will also gain weight after giving birth, which is pretty standard. You don’t have to force yourself to exercise excessively to lose extra fats. In most cases, the body will go back to its average size after two to three months. That is assuming if the mother performs moderate activities and eats nutritious meals.
Allow your body to heal and recover first before enrolling yourself in fitness programs and weight loss centers. Remember that you need to have enough energy to care for your body and your newborn baby, so take it easy.
Your Pelvic Floor
It’s vital to look after your pelvic floor muscles whether you’ve had a caesarian or vaginal birth. Your pelvic floor muscles support your uterus, bowel, bladder, and other organs.
While you are pregnant, the baby’s weight can put additional strain on the pelvic floor muscles. Sometimes, they get damaged during vaginal birth. As a result, you end up leaking when you cough, laugh or sneeze.
Luckily, there’s a way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, and you need to prioritize this after pregnancy. Consult your physiotherapist for the proper pelvic floor muscle exercises after pregnancy. These exercises can help you build muscles to go back to your daily routine without worrying about leaks.
Your Skin
Stretch marks are another common effect of pregnancy. They can appear darker than your skin in the first few months, but they will fade naturally over time. Eventually, they will become less noticeable, and their color will turn whiteish. There are numerous creams and oils n the market that claims to remove stretch marks, but there is no reliable evidence to support these claims.
Some women can also develop dark patches on their faces while pregnant. This is called chloasma. Chloasma typically fades on its own a few months after giving birth, but many women had to wait several years.
You can also notice skin tags during pregnancy. While some women experience this, it doesn’t happen to everyone. You don’t have to worry as skin tags often disappear after a few months. But if they don’t, you can consult your dermatologist for the best removal solution.
A woman’s body is impressive in many ways. While you might find the changes unpleasant, you should remember that these changes have brought life to this world. And that is more than enough to embrace the changes in your body. The most important thing to do is to take care of your well-being so you can nurture your precious baby.
