Congratulations! The wait is finally over, and you just met your little one for the first time. Your body has been through a lot of hard work for the past nine months and will inevitably feel and look different now. It is entirely normal to feel like there are so many “imperfections” all of a sudden, and you wish to have your body back. In this article, we will focus on postpartum imperfections after your pregnancy.
This is a guest post by Dr. Ammar Mahmoud. Take it away, Dr. Mahmoud!
Imperfection is part of human nature. There won’t be a perfect baby, and there won’t be a perfect mum either! Just like all newborn babies are beautiful in all shapes and forms, moms are too! But, if you do notice postpartum imperfections and are concerned about them (either mentally or physically), there are ways to deal with them.
#1 Stretch marks
Stretch marks are one of the most common imperfections that 75% of women struggle with. They show up during a normal process when the body rapidly expands, tearing the tissue underneath your skin. Even teenagers can get them during puberty. So think of it this way, stretch marks served a good purpose – to make room for your baby. Treat them not as a scar or imperfection, but a badge of honor.
Stretch marks fade with time
Over time, stretch marks will become less visible, and several healing methods can speed up the process. Start with the most basic care for any skin condition – hydration. Prevent
stretch marks during pregnancy with the best stretch mark creams, which are dermatologist-approved and specially formulated to moisturize your belly daily, nourishing and protecting your skin effectively.
Use of topical products
For example, hyaluronic acid is a key molecule involved in retaining water. It is naturally found in the skin, and the use of hyaluronic acid on mothers has been reviewed by dermatologists to be beneficial.
You probably have also heard of many anecdotal benefits of different topical products. Indeed, there are a variety of oils, lotions, and creams out there, but not all of them are safe. The rule of thumb is to choose nature.
It is generally safer to massage with grapeseed oil, aloe vera, honey, and other natural products as opposed to potentially unsafe products. Before using any product, it is best to discuss with a doctor to see if certain ingredients may trigger an allergic reaction or be harmful.
Stretch mark removal surgery
What about a stretch mark removal surgery? Microneedling or fractional laser therapy may help improve the appearance to some extent, but there is also a risk for burns and abnormal scarring.
You can’t expect these surgeries to make stretch marks magically disappear, but if you do want to get one, it’s best to consult with a certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Having said that, there is a straightforward way that is guaranteed to be good for you. That is a healthy lifestyle. Fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious whole foods are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that have proven benefits in antagonizing inflammation and accelerating healing.
Gentle exercises like yoga and pilates can also strengthen your muscle tone and tighten the stretched skin.
Lastly, relax and give it time. Stress will only release hormones that interfere with your natural healing process. Embrace this “imperfection” and remind yourself that it is a shiny badge of honor.
#2 Belly pooch
No new mum is exempted from a belly pooch. Postpartum belly won’t bounce back immediately after birth, no matter what cream you put on your bump during pregnancy. However, the pooch will go away in its own time.
Natural weight loss
You start losing weight immediately after giving birth. The uterus returns to pre-baby size in about six weeks. At this point, your belly should also look noticeably smaller! For the belly pooch to completely flatten, there’s a saying “nine months on, nine months off.” For some women, it can take nine months or even longer.
You might be looking at your belly and weighing yourself every day, thinking you don’t want to wait another nine months. What can you do?
Stop weighing yourself
Well, the first thing is to stop weighing yourself every day. It adds to the anxiety and doesn’t help with your recovery anyways. Also, weight doesn’t necessarily reflect fat content. For a new mum, the weight can simply be the residual fluid that is still emptying in the first month postpartum.
How to speed up the removal of your belly pooch
To speed up the departure of your belly pooch, healthy eating habits and exercises are the most effective. Your body needs a tremendous amount of nutrients to heal your body and provide nutritious milk, so calorie restriction is a terrible idea at the moment.
However, the good news is that most natural whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are nutrient-dense but calorie-friendly. Instead, processed foods with added sugar, oil, and additives are the real enemies for weight loss.
A colorful food plate, or “rainbow plate” is one that you should aim for. A variety of colors is a perfect indicator of nutrients. It also helps to plan with a weekly meal planner and bulk buy ingredients from farmers’ markets so that you don’t end up getting quick unhealthy foods.
Photo Credit: Harvard.edu
Apart from diet, a postpartum belly wrap may also help tighten your stomach. It doesn’t cause weight loss but simply enables you to tighten the area similarly to high-rise fitness leggings and pilates. Before you use any products, it is best to consult your doctor about its safety.
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#3 Pelvic floor problems and incontinence
Nothing is embarrassing about incontinence and pelvic floor disorders! They are incredibly common among new mums but never talked about enough! Pelvic organ prolapse affects 1 in 4 women, and nearly half of the women who have had children experience prolapse and/or incontinence. This is a common postpartum imperfection.
Pregnancy is hard on your body
Pregnancy is physically demanding; I’m sure you would agree. The pelvic floor tissues are under massive strain to support a growing fetus. Vaginal birth can also stretch the pelvic muscles and nerves, which lead to weaknesses and reduced sensation around a woman’s vagina, bladder, and bowels.
Vaginal bleeding and frequent urination is normal
During the 6-8 weeks postpartum, vaginal bleeding and frequently going to the toilet are normal. This is because your body is still trying to get rid of the extra blood volume and excess fluid accumulated during pregnancy. Also, temporarily damaged nerves in the bladder can make you unable to feel the urge to go to the toilet. Inconvenient, but all completely normal.
Pelvic floor strengthening exercises
Fortunately, there are ways to strengthen the pelvic floor and fix incontinence by working out your core through Kegel exercises, pilates, yoga, and physiotherapy.
These exercises will teach you how to engage deep pelvic muscles, which can improve symptoms of incontinence, prolapse, and lower back pain. When you get started, be sure to seek professional help from a certified pilates instructor or clinical physiotherapist so that your forms are correct. This is crucial as incorrect postures can put you at risk of injuries.
Practice good lifestyle habits
Also, maintaining a healthy weight through good lifestyle habits can help with pelvic floor recovery. Research has shown that a mere 5% decrease in weight can lead to a 50% reduction in incontinence frequency.
Remember, pelvic floor problems and incontinence are not shameful imperfections to talk about. Taking care as early as possible can potentially help you avoid surgery! Treat them not as nuisances, but a reminder for you to love your beautiful body.
#4 Vaginal tearing
95% of first-time mums experience one of the four types of tearing. It is not considered a sexy topic to talk about, but it should be. No matter what your post-baby vagina looks like, it doesn’t make you any less beautiful!
Healing happens with time
Recovery may take longer with more severe tears but will happen with time. Give it at least six weeks and lots of love. For example, an essential recovery kit, including ice pads, comfortable underwear, and healing foam is the minimum care for your perineal area. They are designed to cool, soothe, and relieve pain in the first few weeks after childbirth.
Sitz bath
If you have had an episiotomy, good hygiene and extra care may be needed. A sitz bath looks like a normal-sized toilet, where you can allow water to flow over your perineal area and soothe the tears. Sometimes herbal medication is added to the water to boost healing, but be sure to consult with your doctor if it is safe to do so.
Surgery options
After six weeks, if you are still not happy with the way your vagina looks, you may consider vaginal rejuvenation surgeries. Labiaplasty surgery is the medical term for improving the appearance and sexual function of the vagina.
Childbirth often disrupts the natural anatomy of your perineal area, causing discomfort during exercise or intercourse, as well as a less “tidy” look. Labiaplasty surgery can trim away enlarged labia tissues and restore a natural, symmetrical appearance.
There are also different types of vaginoplasty surgeries where surgical alterations are made to the genital area to increase vaginal laxity and function. Importantly, your surgeon can assess your unique condition, including tears and scar tissue formations. Then, surgeries can help tighten the vagina and surrounding muscles.
#5 Cramps and pains
It’s frustrating that the pain continues after nine months of hard work, but some pains are necessary for healing. For example, the uterus is contracting back to its usual size in the six weeks postpartum and the contractions may feel like cramps. Fortunately, the cramps usually don’t last for the entire six weeks. For most women, it is only the first week after delivery. You can use a heating pad or warm water bottle on your belly to help soothe the pain.
Lower back pain
After the first week, you may start to experience another type of pain – lower back pain. This is mainly due to a change in your body composition. Bigger belly and breasts mean that your upper body weight has grown disproportionally compared to your lower body, therefore requiring more back support.
In addition, the body makes hormones that loosen joints and ligaments during pregnancy. This helps push a baby through your pelvic space, but it also means higher instability after your delivery.
Stabilization belts
As a result, you need to be mindful that your postpartum joints are looser. It’s a good idea to get stabilization belts that can help with load-bearing.
Also, watch out for triggers of back pain such as lifting your baby to a high chair. Whenever you need to do something like that, first tense your core because activated pelvic muscles will provide you with better back support.
Exercises
It’s also a good idea to ease into gentle toning exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor and joints. However, wait for the bleeding to stop and take it easy as your body is still weaker than normal.
You can follow a month-by-month workout plan. A physiotherapist or chiropractic could also give you personalized advice on how to strengthen your back with better alignment and posture.
Sore nipples and breasts
Another common type of pain is sore nipples and breasts. This is normal for the first few days of breastfeeding. However, if the pain persists, it could be because the baby is latching incorrectly. You could try changing feeding positions or seeing a lactation expert to improve the soreness. Note that if your breasts are swollen, painful, and feel hot to touch, it might be a sign of breast infection that needs to be treated by a doctor.
#6 Mixed feelings
You may have imagined having only one type of emotion after finally meeting the little one – happiness. But the reality is, “baby blues” is a real thing! This is an extremely common postpartum imperfection.
It is perfectly normal for you to feel overwhelmed, scared, sensitive, and even sometimes guilty or worthless. Please know that these emotions are primarily due to big swings in the sex hormone levels.
Hormonal changes
Sometimes, these hormonal changes are just too much for the mind to handle and can escalate into postpartum depression. Although fewer than half of women seek help, postpartum depression and emotional rollercoasters are entirely treatable.
Practice self-care
Firstly, we need to help you change self-critical thought patterns and replace that with self-love. You’ve done an incredible job and deserve it! Consider getting a self-care journal that can prompt you to be more positive and calm. Notice the emotions you are feeling each day and use them to learn more about yourself.
Taking a physical break can also help you feel better. Remember, you are not the only one looking after the baby and don’t feel guilty about resting.
- It’s okay to take a nap during the day while your family member is watching the baby.
- It’s okay to enjoy a hot shower and a warm meal.
- It’s okay to spend some time chatting with your friends or spouse about your emotions.
- It’s okay to see a doctor and request for cognitive behavioral therapy.
Conclusion on Postpartum Imperfections
Postpartum recovery is a journey as extraordinary as pregnancy itself. It may not be easy, but you can do it with self-love and support. Remember that imperfections are always part of human nature, but how you look at them makes all the difference.
Being a mum gives you a perfect chance to learn ways of embracing imperfections and loving yourself. You can work on improving the so-called “imperfections,” but never lose sight of the remarkable achievement of bringing a new life to the world!
About the Author:
Dr. Ammar Mahmoud is a board eligible gynecologist and highly trained cosmetic surgeon that specializes in cosmetic and functional gynecological medicine.
Weight Loss Posts You May Like:
- The Sirtfood Diet Plan and How You Can Lose 7 Lbs. in 7 Weeks!
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- Top 10 Store-Bought Keto Diet Snacks For Weight Loss
- My Keto Journey: How I lost 50 lbs and Kept It Off
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