Post-pregnancy observations

There are many things that are different about life post-pregnancy. For example, I have a waist again! It is weird to put my hands on my hips and not feel a massive baby bump. It took a week before I was able to actually sit comfortably, even with pain meds, but I'm finally comfortable and feeling a lot better. I can now cough without massive pain.

My feet were MORE swollen than they were during the pregnancy for the first five days after I had Elle ... the first day the swelling went down, my feet actually hurt when water in the shower hit them for the first time in weeks without a mega puffy encasement. (The IV and Pitocin don't help with fluid retention, which is why I went home more swollen than I went in. Even my face was puffier, which wasn't cool when combined with my lack of sleep.)

I left the hospital only about 10 pounds lighter than I went in, and eight of those were straight baby. Since then, I've lost another 10-12 pounds, including a few days where I lost four pounds each day just because of the fluid retention decreasing. I'm about three pounds off of my pre-pregnancy weight, but about 14 pounds off my lowest pregnancy weight (which is where I'd actually like to eventually be) because I lost about 10 pounds in my first few weeks of pregnancy. At the time I attributed that weight loss to working a part-time job and being super busy - soon I realized nausea was a huge part of it, too. Considering I'm only 12 days postpartum, I'm not too worried about losing the rest of the baby weight right now - I'm going for walks with Tim and the baby just so I don't go stir crazy, but I won't resume mega workouts til I get the OK from my doctor at my 6-week postpartum appointment. Since I'm breastfeeding, I'm trying to eat healthy, additional calories for the baby and not diet right now.

Our childbirth education instructor warned us that we'd basically leak everywhere for the first few weeks after delivery, but I guess I didn't really count on how right she was ... there's postpartum bleeding, hormonal sobs, milk dripping ... ah, the joys of childbirth.

I still have a belly, but it has also been shrinking. And I have a belly button! I don't have heartburn anymore! I don't wake up every two hours to pee!

It feels weird to drive sans big bump, fit through tight spaces again, sleep on my back, have clothes be loose or fit again, manage to squeeze my wedding rings back on my swollen fingers ... And for as long as I had my baby bump and for as big of a part of my life that it became, it has quickly (and sadly) become a distant memory. The bulges and tidal waves that ripped across my belly feel like they happened years ago. The afternoon after I delivered Elle, I felt phantom kicks in my belly, and when she has the hiccups all I can remember is how it felt when she had hiccups in the womb. And for all of the discomfort I was in, all of the peeing that I did, all of the swelling I had - I hardly remember it. It is amazing how distant the actual pregnancy feels now that she is here. I miss the kicks, the hiccups. Compared to where I was size-wise two weeks ago, I feel fit and trim, although I'm eager to get back to running and weight lifting to tone up.

Baby-wise, I never really thought about how much more work it takes to run simple errands when you need to prepare a newborn to go with you, too. It is much easier for me to run out and get some stuff done while Tim is home with the baby, but he's back at work now, and everything also has to be carefully timed around feedings. Once Elle is in the car seat and we're out and about, I am determined to do ALL of the errands then and not get deal with extra trips. When we go out together, it isn't bad, because Tim can take the baby and I can take the diaper bag, but the diaper bag has to be checked and restocked before each outing to make sure we have a spare outfit, extra diapers, pacifiers, burp cloths, etc. I try to time my outings not only around Elle's meal times but also around the random Florida rain storms. And right now, I'd love to stay home and nap and lounge around with the baby, but I have to get some paperwork in order for FMLA, short-term disability, Elle's insurance, etc., and we have pediatrician appointments, vet appointments, etc. to attend to - never a dull moment!