Here are things I am learning through my postpartum labor

It has been 12 days since I have given birth to my beautiful baby girl. Pregnancy is a long and challenging journey, and most people focus on the 9 months when the baby is sleeping soundly in your womb. However, and as many people know, there is the postpartum stage which might not be as long, but it is challenging.

You are warned by doctors and those who have already gone through it that it can lead to depression and things can be very hard for you. Your emotions will be all over the place, and most of the time you will feel helpless. That's why they encourage you to have support and extra help when needed, so that you don't break down.

But there are also other things that I have learnt during this stage, and no matter how much I prepared myself for it, there are just some things that are not always discussed.

The nightmares

Recently I have had a lot of nightmares and dreams that have taken a dark turn. I would wake up sad, scared or shaken and I would remember them clearly. Before that I rarely had nightmares, but it has been occuring often - almost every night. It is not uncommon to have 'postpartum nightmares', and most mothers even dream about their baby being in danger.

Restlessness and sleepless nights

Once a newborn baby enters your home, you're guaranteed to have sleepless nights. In fact, you will be so overtired that you will become restless and it'll become hard to even take a nap. People were not exaggerating when they wished me luck for the first couple of months, because those sleepless nights do happen right away. Your body also needs time to heal, and your energy levels are low, making you feel like you are at war with time.

The bond is instant and strong

They say that the moment you hold your baby in your hands, your world changes. That's of course true and the feeling of your maternal instincts instantly kicks in. The love you have for your baby is so strong that the feeling is different from anything else that you have experienced emotionally. You also instinctively can't help but to be protective about your baby, and be on alert for any small changes you might notice in the infant's behavior. There is a feeling of transition inside of you that just clicks and makes you want to give everything to this little being in your arms.

The pregnancy belly is no show

Once you give birth, you still have your bump and it doesn't deflate like a balloon. However, a week later is does go down quite drastically, but this can be different for every woman. That feeling of not having a fetus moving around inside of you is strange, since it is something that you have been used to and attached to the last 9 months of your life.

You can't enjoy all of the foods just yet

I always thought that once I give birth I would be able to enjoy eating freely without any restrictions. Well, that is not the case. If you are breast feeding, you cannot have caffeine (only a small amount), and that is including chocolate. Yes, chocolate can only be eaten in very small amounts, as well as black tea, coffee and sodas. But, I can now eat raw fish and enjoy sushi and sashimi again.

The takeaway

The postpartum stage is a challenging one because you are making drastic changes in your life and creating a new routine all over again. However, once you push past this stage, I can imagine that things will start to get easier.