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Postpartum can be scary in more ways than one. Let us clear up a few unnerving things to be ready for 6 weeks postpartum! They won’t be unnerving once you read this.

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Six weeks postpartum is a big milestone, but it also comes with sometimes some new and unnerving experiences that I know I wasn’t ready for at all. When the baby first arrives, six weeks feels so far away.

Everything is new, exciting, and exhausting. But, before you know it, I promise you will be walking into your doctor’s office or meeting with your midwife to get the all-clear for a normal life.

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The all-clear is exciting, but the reality after can be unnerving and surprising because you don’t always feel “all-clear.” My third postpartum experience has, by far, been the best one. I felt all-clear and had a great healing experience (not to mention super fast delivery), mostly because of all the nutrition and fitness lessons I learned. I put together a postpartum recovery program that goes over how to nourish your body postpartum for recovery. Your body needs nutrients. It is so important. I can’t stress the value of nutrition enough, and an amazing bi-product of good nutrition is an awesome milk supply!

Most of my unnerving experiences happened with my first baby, and I was desensitized for my second and third. Here are 5 unnerving things you can be ready for.

The Doctor Says All-Clear, But Some Things Are Still Not All-Clear:

The doctor or your midwife will check you to ensure you’ve healed in terms of tearing or stitches. They check to ensure there aren’t any open wounds or infections, which is basically it. I wasn’t clear after my first baby in terms of jumping back to the bedroom. I had developed scar tissue from tearing a bit, which was SUPER uncomfortable.

I went to physical therapy after convincing my doctor’s things weren’t right. Don’t be surprised if you don’t feel all-clear down there, even if the doctor says you are. You may be healed on the outside, but it will take some time to get used to different things. Give it more time. Don’t be afraid to see a physical therapist, and don’t feel pressure to FEEL NORMAL. Things are a new normal.

The Postpartum Period (not bleeding) is Scary:

This was the actual period that came after my 6-week check-up, NOT the postpartum bleeding directly after birth. Because I was so freaked out about what happened to myself, I was scared to even put a tampon in. But I needed like 5 tampons in 15 minutes…or so it felt. There was a lot of blood, my back ached, and I didn’t even want to leave the house. It wasn’t a normal period. Don’t be shocked if there is just a heavy flow that comes and goes.

I would think it was lightning up; then it would return with a surprise. Nothing is normal about this, but things do get much better. Just survive the first one, then you may never even get another one if you are solely breastfeeding your baby with no pumping. For some, that’s a great form of birth control! (me!!). Also, don’t be surprised if you try to work out and your tampon wants to fall out. Without doing a recovery program, it is normal and can be fixed!

Breastfeeding Hunger/ Eating ALL THE SUGAR!

I was very surprised at how much sugar I WANTED to consume while breastfeeding. I didn’t want to eat anything but sweet/carby food. This is not proper nutrition for breastfeeding, which can affect milk supply and weight loss. Luckily this protein powder is a LIFE-SAVER.

I found protein shakes to be amazing for helping me attack that sweet tooth while also being able to have something sweet. Knowing all the essential nutrients and milk-boosting herbs were in a simple protein shake encouraged me and helped me lose the baby weight quickly. So, don’t be surprised if you find yourself eating ice cream for breakfast because…well, breastfeeding cravings.

Your Bones Moved and It Feels Creepy:

I do a Pilates routine to help my core and pelvic floor heal. I go over this in the program, too. In some of the moves, you can tell your bones haven’t completely regained strength because there’s pain. I could feel my pelvic bones, which was very interesting. I am not used to feeling my bones or really thinking about them, but the pain and uncomfortable sensation with certain moves creeped me out. I waited to make some moves until my bones felt better, which took more time. Sometimes things need months to heal, which is okay.

Your Boobs May Leak A Lot at Awkward Times being 6 Weeks Postpartum:

The most awkward time is obviously in the bedroom. I won’t go into too much detail on that one, but be prepared. Other times, you’ll be shopping, making dinner, working out…and that tingling feeling comes, and so does the milk. Be prepared with pads, extra shirts, or a milk catcher to save the extra milk. Don’t worry about dressing cute post-baby because most of the time, your outfit gets ruined somehow. This leads me to the next unnerving issue.

If you are 6 weeks postpartum…You Will Pee Your Pants!

Ugh, this is not fun. Laughing, sneezing, or jumping are the typical triggers causing some leaking. I noticed the inconvenience of being out and about and trying to go to the bathroom with a baby and a toddler or a baby and two toddlers. So annoying to drag everyone in, so I would hold it until I got home…BUT as soon as we got home, I would have to go so badly that I couldn’t always hold it.

I swear, I need a potty in the car for myself. It is much more difficult to hold your bladder post-baby, so drag the kids to the bathroom when you need to. It is inconvenient, but not as inconvenient as completely letting it go in your driveway!

Doing a recovery program and focusing on strengthening your pelvic floor control (contracting and relaxing!!) helps with this. I go over the CORRECT way to do Kegels in the program. It’s not just squeezing!

These were the most unnerving experiences I had postpartum. Focusing on healing helps minimize these experiences, but know they are normal as your body puts itself back together!