A month after birth
A month has passed since giving birth, and many things have already returned to normal. This process of returning to an original state is called involution.
Your cardiovascular system has coped with the increased blood volume during pregnancy. Because of this, the amount the heart pumped increased by almost 30% and the pulse increased. Now the heart has returned to its normal load and is probably beating more calmly: about 10 beats per minute less than in the last trimester [1].
For women who are not breastfeeding, the vaginal mucosa is restored and well hydrated. In nursing mothers, this process is delayed due to the reduced level of estrogen [1].
Thyroid function has also fully recovered [1], and now it will be easier for you to control your weight.
If you had a vaginal birth
One of the most common problems that women are embarrassed to talk about, even to doctors, is difficulty in having a bowel movement. Some mamas experience constipation, gas or fecal incontinence. A large study conducted in Scandinavia showed that more than 60% of women giving birth face these problems. And secondly, that the dysfunction of the pelvic floor is not associated with trauma due to tears or an episiotomy [2]. Unfortunately, this problem is not always solved with Kegel exercises, so it’s important to inform your doctor about it [3]. You don’t have to live with these symptoms forever.
If you had a c-section
There are studies that show that five weeks after giving birth, women who have had a cesarean recovery are slower than those who’ve had a vaginal birth. They are more likely to complain of fatigue and signs of depression. Doctors attribute this to greater blood loss and, accordingly, lower hemoglobin levels [4]. You may need to have a complete blood count and talk to your doctor about iron supplements.
