Returning to normal

During pregnancy, your spouse’s body went through tremendous changes. Now that she has given birth, she will experience more changes as her body returns to its normal state.

These are some of the changes that the new mom is likely to experience:

• Increase in temperature up to 100.4 F for about 24 hours after delivery
  
  
  
• Weight loss of about10 to 12 lbs. immediately after the birth, followed by another five pounds soon after.
  
  
  
• Discharge from the vagina
  
  
  
• Shrinking of the uterus as it returns to its original position
  
  
  
• Gradual closing of the cervix
  
  
  
• Recommencement of the ovulation cycle
  
  
  
• Gradual fading away of stretch marks on the belly
  
  
  
• Gradual toning of the firmness of the abdomen as it returns to its pre-pregnancy state
  
  
  
• Increase in breast size along with lactation
  
  
  
• Increased sensations of hunger and thirst
  
  
  
• Symptoms of flatus, or gas in the stomach and intestines, especially in case of a cesarean delivery
  
  
  
• Reduced sensation of the need to urinate and/or urinary incontinence
  
  
  
• Symptoms of a chill— quite normal unless accompanied by fever
  
  
  
• Increased sweating, especially at night, as accumulated waste matter is discharged from the body
  
  
  
• Pains caused by intermittent uterine contractions
  
  
  
• Reduction in the swelling of legs or ankles