LEMME SEE YOUR HALO
During my pregnancy it was crazy how many “Why is this happening?” questions were answered simply by “Hormones”. It’s mind blowing the impact the influx of hormones can have on your body and the reality is, that the waves keep rolling in even after baby. It’s your new reality, this is your life now; adapting to change. We hear all the time that our bodies will change, and quite frankly that is an understatement. As a woman, you’re forever changed by the experience. You’ve evolved to this new level of human; you will always be a life that created life. Cue the goosebumps. But there are endless ways these hormones can play out and there is no way of knowing which changes you will and won’t experience. Essentially, each mother gets to leave the pregnancy party with their very own postpartum loot bag. Surprise!
I credit my prenatal vitamins for making my already crazy long hair go into chia pet hyperdrive, but post baby... what the hell. I was actually banking on the “hair loss” everyone warns you about. Instead my hormones had the opposite effect on my mane, then you throw in a salon free quarantine and I was about an inch away from having a teeny tiny prince climb up it (beat it your highness, this braid is taken). At one point I had so much new-growth along my forehead it looked like I had Barbie’s bangs. Only, to make matters less workable, they stood straight up (like when you would unsuccessfully try to brush Barbie’s bangs). My very own hair halo. The only actual hair loss I experienced was at the hands of Lou’s grabbing phase (pun intended). For those who are concerned about hair loss I would suggest to keep taking your prenatal vitamins, switch to a milder shampoo and reduce the number of times you condition. For those in my boat, at least salons are now open! And when all else fails, there’s nothing like a Chelsea King scrunchie to transform your messy mom-bun into an adorable top-knot. A recurring theme in my wardrobe… seriously, I live in these.
I knew my body was going to change, my skin was going to stretch, and some things would never be the same again. One area where I struggled with change the most was my chest. As mentioned in my Mommy Says Moo blog post, I was up three bra sizes at the peak of my milkmaid days. Previously I had a modest chest, with Shakira small and humble (not to be confused with mountains) B cup boobs. And I liked it that way. A barely-there bralette under a chunky sweater was a work wardrobe staple for me. Getting used to wearing a bra all the time, and I mean allllllll the time (think leaky water balloons) was a struggle. I especially hated wearing one to bed, but something had to hold those nursing pads in place. I keep saying it because I mean it, Aerie bralettes are a game changer. They are designed for boobs of all shapes and sizes, and have so many wireless options. Hallelujah.
No matter how easy, breezy your delivery, some things down there will never be the same. Pre-Lou I was notorious for not peeing once in an entire work day, then on my drive home would suddenly remember and have to race home. That’s just not an option anymore, I have to remember to schedule in regular pees throughout the day or I risk being at the mercy of a sneeze. Over the months it’s definitely gotten better, but it’s still just a new part of this new reality. Another part, my postpartum periods strongly resemble doomsday. I have to watch my diet to make sure I don’t get anemic from the sheer volume of blood loss (fact), period cramps give me serious contraction PTSD, and the bloat is enough to make any ignorant bystander ask how far along I am. Lastly, because I had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes (see my # Beat The Betes blog) it increases my likelihood of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes later in life. So a healthy diet, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight (for my body type... that’s important) is essential in maintaining my health.
When it comes to these anatomical changes, include your doctor in the discussion. Don’t be afraid to book appointments (you just pushed a human out of your vagina, now is not the time to be shy), advocate for yourself and educate yourself on the new realities of your new body. Believe it or not, understanding the why’s and how’s plays a big role in supporting your mental health. Regardless of your postpartum perks, it’s important that we do everything we can to reduce the stigma and eliminate the shame. It’s what our bodies were designed to do and their adaptability (regardless of how that manifests) deserves to be celebrated.
