What Happens In The First 24 Hours After Giving Birth

Are you going to be a mother for the first time? Then this might be a phase full of mixed emotions for you. Sometimes, you can feel exhausted as well as, at times, you may feel very ecstatic.

The toughest journey of 9 months pregnancy might have been over, but the procedure of the baby’s birth can carry on for several weeks because your body begins to recuperate and adjust to the new settings.

Apart from all the preparations that you had done for your baby before his/her arrival, you also need to know about what happens in the first 24 hours after giving birth to your little one.

The body undergoes sudden changes and you may feel the effect both physically and mentally. Hence, it is best to keep calm and take as much as rest as possible.

Thus, this article highlights about the various challenges that you can encounter after the delivery of your baby. Do have a look at the changes that take place.

Surplus Water Weight

The first thing that happens is, your body loses around 10-13 pounds, which involves the placenta, your baby's weight and the amniotic fluid.

However, you will still carry this extra weight in the initial 24 hours, in which the majority of this weight is water. Gradually, you will shed this water weight in the form of perspiration and urination within 7 days after your baby's delivery.

Pelvic Cramps

Another important thing to expect in the first 24 hours after giving birth are the pelvic cramps. After the baby's birth, your uterus starts to come back to its original location and size. This reduction is about 2 pounds to 2 ounces and goes downward into your pelvis.

These cramps after delivery become obvious, specially when you breastfeed your baby. The oxytocin hormone produced triggers the cramps. These annoying cramps are fleeting and become less within one week.

Bleeding

After a caesarian section or vaginal delivery, you will go through a vaginal discharge known as lochia, which includes the mucus, the leftover blood and the discarded tissue from your uterus lining.

A majority of women experience a heavy bleeding in the initial 3-10 days after delivery. This is a normal condition and reduces after a few weeks.

Mood Swings

Mood swings are also the thing to expect in the first 24 hours after giving birth. Mood swings are mainly due to physical uneasiness, hormonal changes, demands of your baby and lack of sleep.

To deal with your mood swings, you can take help from your friends and family. Take enough rest, whenever you are free to calm down your mood.

Soreness

After a vaginal delivery, your perineum becomes enlarged, expanded, painful and sometimes tattered. Even after getting the stitches, you can find it quite painful to sit down.

Using ice packs on the area can be quite helpful in lessening the pain and swelling. After a caesarian delivery, which involves a main abdominal surgery, soreness around the cut also results. Pain relievers recommended by your doctor can be helpful to alleviate the soreness.

Changes In Breasts

Another very notable thing that happens in the first 24 hours after giving birth is the colostrum formation, which is a thick yellow-coloured milk. It is very essential to feed the baby with this milk within the first 2 hours after the baby's birth.

Initially, your nipples will be soft and painful, which will mellow down within a few days when you have learnt how to feed your baby correctly.