Health and Wellness Check-In 12.11

[typo31]

This thread is for those of us who want some support and/or accountability as we readjust to our postpartum bodies and lifestyles.

1. How far pp are you?

2. How is your physical recovery going? Any questions or concerns?

3. Do you have any health/activity/nutritional goals for the next week?

[typo31]

1. 10 days pp

2. I'd say my recovery is at 80%. There is one area in my stitches that does not lay flat and is constantly being chafed against my pads so is healing more slowly - if it weren't for that spot I'd be feeling almost normal down there. My leg/face/feet swelling (which was out of control the first few days after the birth) has calmed down significantly. Still can't get my rings over my knuckle.

3. I'm going to reintroduce yoga this week. Starting with something extremely gentle - maybe even upper body only. My shoulders are getting so hunched from feedings!

[kensie5226]

1. 3 weeks.

2. Pretty much recovered. Done bleeding, healed up. Almost back to PP weight. But, I needed to lose some weight before I got KU with the first kid.

3. I’m trying to work out again. 4 Xs a week or so. Maybe 5. Depends on sleep. Nutrition needs to be a focus, but I’m sssssooooo hungry.

[typo31]

Bumping just to see if anyone's interested in talking about their recovery!

I'm about 90% healed from my stitches. There some residual soreness but no more stinging and I can just sit down without having to be careful about how I do it - hallelujah! I think my milk has dried up completely - haven't noticed letdown pain in a couple days.

I was pretty good about doing gentle yoga every day last week. This morning I bumped it up to a swifter practice with lots of vinyasa flows, and realized how out of shape my arms are - it was kind of demoralizing. For the next week I'm going to focus on lots of walking, since we're getting some mild weather. Plus I need to learn how to manage the baby and the dog together on walks.

[sarahandben108]

I've done zero exercising since having E. Which is probably why I still look 4-5 months pregnant. I'm feeling pretty good physically from my c-section though and have almost weaned off my meds. My postpartum bleeding is basically finished. I'm still restricted from driving or carrying heavy loads at least until my doctor's appointment on Thursday.

E nursed really well today and I'm hoping it's not a random fluke. It's possible he's finally getting this whole nursing thing.

[veganontuesdays]

1. How far pp are you? 1 week today

2. How is your physical recovery going? Any questions or concerns? So far so good. My lady business feels fine it's the hemorrhoids that need to get it together. Ouch. I'm about 13lbs from prepregnancy weight but would still like to tone up and maybe lose even 10lbs more than pre weight. I've noticed that I'm not as strong as I was and my body aches. I need to build up my core.

3. Do you have any health/activity/nutritional goals for the next week? Honestly I need to just work on actually eating. This happened last time too and I'm just never hungry.

[sarahandben108]

Oh my god, you ladies must have gain hardly anything to be so close to pre-pregnancy weight. I gained about the same this time around as I did the first time but I was 20 lbs lighter to begin with. I gained between 40-45 lbs. I'm probably down 20 lbs but I didn't really know for sure since I don't have a scale.

[sarahandben108]

Dec 18, 2017 18:45:05 GMT -6 veganontuesdays said:

1. How far pp are you? 1 week today

2. How is your physical recovery going? Any questions or concerns? So far so good. My lady business feels fine it's the hemorrhoids that need to get it together. Ouch. I'm about 13lbs from prepregnancy weight but would still like to tone up and maybe lose even 10lbs more than pre weight. I've noticed that I'm not as strong as I was and my body aches. I need to build up my core.

3. Do you have any health/activity/nutritional goals for the next week? Honestly I need to just work on actually eating. This happened last time too and I'm just never hungry.

I've noticed that I'm hungry in the morning and hungry at dinner time, but it's not uncommon for me to not eat lunch. I'm not trying to not eat, I just have no interest in lunch. 

[typo31]

I have no idea how much I gained during pregnancy. I'm very anti-scale in my home because I used to get really obsessed with weight numbers, so I asked the nurses not to update me about it unless there was a problem. I know it was a lot, though, based on the size of my legs and face at the end! I'm basing my post pregnancy size off of how my old clothes fit. I've noticed that some areas of my body seem really slim now, because I've lost a ton of muscle size/tone after being sedentary for so long. Not good.

[jrun2013]

Dec 18, 2017 19:37:16 GMT -6 sarahandben108 said:

Oh my god, you ladies must have gain hardly anything to be so close to pre-pregnancy weight. I gained about the same this time around as I did the first time but I was 20 lbs lighter to begin with. I gained between 40-45 lbs. I'm probably down 20 lbs but I didn't really know for sure since I don't have a scale.

I still have about 25 pounds to lose to get to where I was before this pregnancy, another 12 to go to get to where I was before my pregnancy with DD2 and a bit more than that to get to where I was before DD1. Ughhhhhh.

[officedronette]

sarahandben108 - I'm still 20-25 lbs up and I have exercised all of about twice since L was born in July of '15.

My stomach is mostly down though, which I attribute to wearing the motherhood maternity post c-section underwear which has some compression, plus using a binder when I remember. The binder makes a big difference in how I feel and really helped get everything back to normal last time.

[jrun2013]

1. How far pp are you? 2 weeks today.

2. How is your physical recovery going? Any questions or concerns? Things are going well. My lower back hurts when I bend over and if I do too much my bleeding picks up.

3. Do you have any health/activity/nutritional goals for the next week? I guess just chasing my 3 yo around while taking care of my baby. I'm going to wait a bit before getting back into working out.

[sarahandben108]

Dec 18, 2017 20:04:38 GMT -6 officedronette said:

sarahandben108 - I'm still 20-25 lbs up and I have exercised all of about twice since L was born in July of '15.

My stomach is mostly down though, which I attribute to wearing the motherhood maternity post c-section underwear which has some compression, plus using a binder when I remember. The binder makes a big difference in how I feel and really helped get everything back to normal last time.

I didn't wear a binder the last time so I declined one this time. But I'm thinking I should have agreed to one this time since my belly still looks like I am 5 months pregnant. 👎🏻

[sarahandben108]

Dec 18, 2017 19:43:56 GMT -6 typo31 said:

I have no idea how much I gained during pregnancy. I'm very anti-scale in my home because I used to get really obsessed with weight numbers, so I asked the nurses not to update me about it unless there was a problem. I know it was a lot, though, based on the size of my legs and face at the end! I'm basing my post pregnancy size off of how my old clothes fit. I've noticed that some areas of my body seem really slim now, because I've lost a ton of muscle size/tone after being sedentary for so long. Not good.

I've been able to fit in some of my old tops but my pants are definitely not even a possibility right now. I've always had large thighs and they are huge right now. I'm hoping the breast feeding helps some. 

I was able to get my rings off today and my feet are not swollen anymore so I know I'm at least starting to lose some of the extra water. 

[sarahandben108]

Dec 18, 2017 20:04:38 GMT -6 officedronette said:

sarahandben108 - I'm still 20-25 lbs up and I have exercised all of about twice since L was born in July of '15.

My stomach is mostly down though, which I attribute to wearing the motherhood maternity post c-section underwear which has some compression, plus using a binder when I remember. The binder makes a big difference in how I feel and really helped get everything back to normal last time.

Also, I haven't really exercised much the last four years either. I leave for work at 6:15 everyday, travel 45 minutes to get there, get home at 4:30 (on the nights I don't have meetings after school), do dinner/lunches/nighttime routines (with the help from DH), and it's not until 8:00 before I can sit and relax. The last thing I want to do is workout. I used to use my treadmill when N napped but he gave up napping last year. 

[officedronette]

Dec 18, 2017 20:17:40 GMT -6 sarahandben108 said:

Dec 18, 2017 20:04:38 GMT -6 officedronette said:

sarahandben108 - I'm still 20-25 lbs up and I have exercised all of about twice since L was born in July of '15.

My stomach is mostly down though, which I attribute to wearing the motherhood maternity post c-section underwear which has some compression, plus using a binder when I remember. The binder makes a big difference in how I feel and really helped get everything back to normal last time.

I didn't wear a binder the last time so I declined one this time. But I'm thinking I should have agreed to one this time since my belly still looks like I am 5 months pregnant. 👎🏻

I got this one on Amazon because I was told ahead of time my hospital didn't distribute them. They did when I asked, but this is actually better. Highly recommend. And it's super cheap.

www.amazon.com/Trendyline-Postpartum-Girdle-Corset-Recovery/dp/B06XF1TTHP

[sarahandben108]

officedronette, thanks for the recommendation. I bought it and with my Amazon Prime it will arrive in two days.

[kensie5226]

I’m healed up. Done bleeding except the occasional spotting.

I’ve been on the bike and done one strength session. I had no issues with those, but I made the mistake of having Baby in the sling while we made cookies and between that and hunching to feed my back is out of whack. My body is reminding me to slow down a little.

I really want to diet, but I’m starving all the time. I’m looking to find balance. I’m going to try to track my food so at least maybe I can make better choice than 5 Christmas cookies.

[jenn83]

Things are going pretty well. Bleeding is done and I started up Body Combat again - yesterday and today. Doctor cleared it since I worked out up to delivery and I had a smooth delivery with no stitches.

I'm very fortunate this time around. I'm already down to PP weight even though my body is carrying everything different. But gosh I am starving All. The. Time. Need to watch it so I can keep it off.

[rooskie]

Add me to the Gained 40# group. I’m already down to 15 from my pre-baby weight so there was a lot of swelling. I’m still kind of uncomfortable in the stitches so I’m not doing too much, and I’m giving myself a pass through the holidays since we have family coming in town.

Also team starving in the morning and at night but forgets lunch. I think I just get so busy in the mornings I forget second breakfast until 10 then I’m just not hungry.

I do need to work on drinking water more though.

[typo31]

rooskie +1 to drinking more water. I was really good about it the first few days when I was desperate to get the swelling down, but then got lazy.

[Waffle]

1. How far pp are you? 4 weeks post c section.

2. How is your physical recovery going? Any questions or concerns?

I'm fine, bleeding stopped completely after 2,5 weeks and I have not needed any other pain meds but paracetamol.

I had only gained 3kgs so I am now down 8 from pre pregnancy so that makes it another 8-10 kgs to lose to be at a good weight.

I am struggling to remember to do my exercises every day so I could do better there. Waiting for my check up next week to see when I can get back to real exercise which will help hopefully! Not sure what I can realistically expect after a c section?

3. Do you have any health/activity/nutritional goals for the next week?

To do the physio exercises daily as I am supposed to! To eat better, I have regained a kilo since leaving the hospital thanks to having convenience foods and too much bread. I don't want to end up regaining all this weight after being so careful during pregnancy.

[rooskie]

Dec 19, 2017 10:01:08 GMT -6 typo31 said:

rooskie +1 to drinking more water. I was really good about it the first few days when I was desperate to get the swelling down, but then got lazy.

Usually I do better if I put Propel in my water, but I just keep forgetting to drink.  Also, the amount of coffee I'm drinking on top of it probably isn't too good either.

[jrun2013]

Is anyone else literally butt hurt? It hurts when I stand up from sitting and lately it feels like it's getting worse. Same thing happened after DD1.

[sarahandben108]

Dec 19, 2017 16:37:30 GMT -6 jrun2013 said:

Is anyone else literally butt hurt? It hurts when I stand up from sitting and lately it feels like it's getting worse. Same thing happened after DD1.

I still have the butt/sciatica pain in my hip that made it impossible to walk before birth. However, it isn't nearly as bad and my doctor did tell me that it could be a few weeks before it's gone. I have a funny feeling it won't be gone completely until I drop some significant weight. 

[jrun2013]

Dec 19, 2017 17:52:35 GMT -6 sarahandben108 said:

Dec 19, 2017 16:37:30 GMT -6 jrun2013 said:

Is anyone else literally butt hurt? It hurts when I stand up from sitting and lately it feels like it's getting worse. Same thing happened after DD1.

I still have the butt/sciatica pain in my hip that made it impossible to walk before birth. However, it isn't nearly as bad and my doctor did tell me that it could be a few weeks before it's gone. I have a funny feeling it won't be gone completely until I drop some significant weight. 

Ouch! Mine is a pain in my tailbone. I was more active today than I have been, so I think that's why it's worse today.

[sizzleb]

Dec 19, 2017 16:37:30 GMT -6 jrun2013 said:

Is anyone else literally butt hurt? It hurts when I stand up from sitting and lately it feels like it's getting worse. Same thing happened after DD1.

This is me - my hips and tailbone are so sore!

[sizzleb]

1. How far pp are you? 5 days pp

2. How is your physical recovery going? Any questions or concerns?
Last night was rough - my hormones are doing crazy things and I got a bad case of the chills for 3 hours I was just shaking and couldn't get warm, then got hit with a massive headache So not much sleep is happening here, which I'm sure doesn't help matters.

3. Do you have any health/activity/nutritional goals for the next week? I gained 38 lbs with this pregnancy, and lost 15, so I definitely have a ways to go. But I'm giving myself a pass for a few weeks to eat what I want and just relax - I will get back om the exercise/healthy eating train soon!