About 2 hours after the labor and delivery was over, I decided that I need to use the washroom, so the nurse helped me to the washroom (because of the epidural). I sat there for about 5 minutes and nothing and then all of a sudden 3 huge blood clots came out, and the nurse had to catch me and throw water on my face so that I wouldn't pass out, I guess from losing so much blood so fast. I was not allowed to eat or drink after this happened for about 2 hours, just in case this continued to happen, and they had to do something about it.
I was so swollen that I couldn't recognize myself; they filled me with about 3 bags full of fluid. My feet were the size of balloons, some women have this issue during pregnancy, and I only had it after delivery. This lasted for about 3 weeks post partum.
On the hospital I tried to breast feed and for me it did not workout. I ended up giving Loralai formula (her stomach was growling right out of the womb), what no one told me though was that I would get contraction like cramps because breastfeeding allows your uterus to retract faster. I thought I was dying, I did not think that it was normal because I had never been in that position before, the nurse gave me some Advil and that worked wonderful! Oh Advil also worked great for all the aches and pains you have associated with your body going through the best workout of your life too! lol.
I had a level one tear when she came out, now this is very uncomfortable and hurts a bit when you go to the washroom/shower. You have to use a spray bottle everytime you use the washroom until the stitches heal. Mine took about 5.5 weeks to heal.
I kept losing blood clots for about the first week. I had a couple of scares because I few of them were quite large, and in the hospital they say if they are over the size of a loonie (Canadian $1 coin) then to call just to make sure. I was fine everytime.
My lochia lasted for exactly 6 weeks. Some women it only lasts for 3-4 weeks but nope mine lasted the ENTIRE 6 weeks, and then I got my first period at 7 weeks! lol lovely!!
I started going out even the every first day I left the hospital, now do I recommend this? Well not exactly, I think it took me longer to recover, but I felt so much better once she was out (it is hard to do anything when your 11 days late, everything is a chore) that I felt that I could have done anything...note to self, you can't!!
It takes a while for your belly to return to something somewhat normal...well for most women anyway (some are just luckier then others) mine at 12 weeks PP today has gone down significantly, and continues to shrink everyday. Stretch marks, yes I was one of the lucky ones, start to fade and they are continuing to fade everyday as well.
Now as for engorgement and leaking, my engorgement happened about 5 days after delivery or so, I was actually lucky and it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. It lasted for 1 day and then I was fine. I started to pump at about 3 weeks into PP because I seemed to leak so much I thought why not put the milk to good use; well Loralai got milk shots as I called them. There would be half and ounce one time and maybe an ounce the next if I was lucky! I discontinued pumping after about 2 weeks, one because it was so time consuming, and because I was not getting enough to warrant all the time, plus Loralai was doing great on formula alone.
For the first 14 days I cried everyday, mostly just randomly throughout the day. Sometimes when I would look at her, watching tv, when she threw up for the first time and I panicked etc etc etc. I asked my nurse that I had (from Telehealth Canada) and she said that being very emotional for the first 14 days or so was completely normal, but if it had gone past the two weeks then see my doctor since it could have been the baby blues.
These were all the exciting post-natal experiences for me. So far I have been thanking my lucky stars I have not had any post partum depression symptoms yet, but since you can get PPD until one year after giving birth I will keep watching for it!
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