DAY OF BIRTH vs. 2 WEEKS POSTPARTUM - How has it already been 2 weeks since giving birth?!?!!
It feels like it just flew by so fast and that's probably how it goes for most parents. Funny, cause even though it's our 2nd time being "new parents" again, there's so many things you forget you did the first time. You're almost like in a deja vu phase where it feels familiar but also new again.
Being parents to a newborn is - no lie - VERY TIRING. You're running on increments of a couple hours of sleep and it can be mentally and physically exhausting. As the mom, you're also trying to recover and heal "down there" aka still bleeding (which can feel like you've got lots of little paper cuts) and trying to produce enough breastmilk to feed your little one.
Did you know: sometimes it can take a couple days after giving birth for your body to start producing breastmilk?? I DID NOT! Cause I didn't have this issue with Kai but did this time around. Luckily, and thankfully, we had some formula at home to feed her with. By the 3rd day post-birth (and doing lots of power pumping - ugh, I hate pumping), my milk production finally kicked in a lot and was producing/leaking almost every hour after. So I've definitely built up a freezer stash now.
Two weeks postpartum checklist:
1 :: Day after leaving hospital (or within 2 days) - 1st pediatrician office appointment.
You'll need to schedule this before leaving the hospital - yes, that means shortly after you gave birth. During the 1st doctor's appointment, your newborn may have lost a little weight which is normal and happened to us.
2 :: Two weeks after birth - 2nd pediatrician office appointment.
By this time, your newborn will usually have gained weight back to original birth weight or more. Our baby girl has been eating a lot so she gained almost 1lb. since 2 weeks ago!
3 :: Two weeks after birth - postpartum depression screening.
Your hospital may send you a postpartum depression screening questionnaire to complete. It is very normal for new moms to be experiencing so many different emotions (aka hormones are everywhere and you're trying to get it balanced again) and they just want to check in with you to make sure you're (mentally) okay, healthy, and safe.
FYI: Your newborn is usually under your health insurance plan for the first 30 days after birth but you need to make sure to contact your employer (or whosever employer your health plan is under) within that 1st month to *technically* add your newborn to your health plan officially.
What are some of your postpartum experiences after giving birth? Was it similar to ours?
We've been adjusting to being parents to a newborn again and lack of sleep - or having lots of interrupted sleep - definitely takes a toll on you and your mental health. Trying to squeeze in naps when we can and drinking matcha when needed. I do gotta admit though - some days I feel like I may need coffee. The first 3 months usually feel like you're in "zombie mode" as you adjust to so many life changes. So try not to be too hard on yourself and take it day-by-day.
As always, thanks for reading and sending you air hugs!
#motherhood #momlife
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