Recovery, something you don't know what to expect until you are experiencing it. No one can prepare you for the sensations, the lack of bladder control, the possible swelling, the fear of pooping. But the big question on every mums mind is when will I feel normal again?!
I know I asked friends this question, but no one really has an answer. Some say you don't for months, others feel better after a year, it just depends on your birth and what you are recovering from. Maybe it is something that you don't go back to what you were, but you learn to feel normal in your new body.
Currently, I am 6 weeks post partum and feeling pretty good (well besides the sleep deprivation and exhaustion!). I had stitches after a forceps delivery and a very long labour which lead to some significant swelling. However, the swelling went down after about a week or so which made all the difference. It felt better to walk and better to sit and a lot less painful. Yet I still have that "feeling" of a soft belly and wondering whether my insides are back in place.
To be honest, I am starting to feel more normal the longer my baby sleeps at night. It is amazing to sleep 3-4 hours in a row and makes a huge difference on the next day and what you can achieve. Recovery is just as much about the mental recovery as it is the physical. Having a positive mindset is one step you can take to assist you in getting through the first 6 weeks!
When I experience being "normal" again, I will write another post!
In the end, I think it comes down to what you consider normal. There is a different normal now, both with sleep, with routine and with recovery and your body. What I have learnt in the last 6 weeks is that you can't properly prepare for it. Every baby is different, I have read so many things on when they should sleep, what they should eat, their poop, their routines and you can't really call any of that "normal" anymore! As with so many things, it is just going to take time, so I have found that just getting through each day one at a time to be the best way forward.
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