Getting induced is horrible. If the doctor says that they are going to scrape your cervix to get things going, close those legs tight ladies. Don't let em in!

How about when you bleed afterwards, it's NOT like having your period for a month. It's way messier, plus you aren't allowed to use tampons.

um.... yikes! first timer here -- can you elaborate? :huh:

Before you go to the hospital, buy industrial sized pads. Probably 2 containers. You'll wear them for a while. The doctor will tell you that any clots larger than a half dollar after the first few days is reason for concern. Do you realize how big that is?

How about when you bleed afterwards, it's NOT like having your period for a month. It's way messier, plus you aren't allowed to use tampons.

um.... yikes! first timer here -- can you elaborate? :huh:

Before you go to the hospital, buy industrial sized pads. Probably 2 containers. You'll wear them for a while. The doctor will tell you that any clots larger than a half dollar after the first few days is reason for concern. Do you realize how big that is?

I was told anything bigger than a golf ball. I had some that were larger than a half-dollar, and so I called my OB's office to ask, "About the golf ball thing, is that cumulative or at one time?" They told me to rest and take it easy (not so easy when you're home alone with a newborn) and to worry about whether or not I was filling up a pad in an hour's time (I think that was the standard).

As someone else said, it definitely has a specific, "earthy" smell, and there are lots of clots. TMI alert - they are reminiscent of bloody leeches (not that I've ever seen any in person). They also kind of slip out of you. It's pretty gross. The good news is that the heavy bleeding does not last for very long (maybe a week or a week and a half? I can't remember), and the larger clots are really only for a few days. Then it's kind of like a heavy period with some random, small clots. Pretty soon it tapers off to a lighter period-type bleeding. My OB's office accidentally scheduled my 6-week postpartum visit at 5 weeks, at which point I was cleared for normal activity, but I remember that they asked me how long ago my bleeding had stopped, and it had been about a week. So, long story short, I bled for about four weeks.

You're also not allowed to wipe down there - you have to use that squirt bottle thing (warm water is your friend) to clean yourself after using the bathroom. I don't know if that's any different if you have a c-section, but it suuuuucks not being able to wipe. (You can wipe your backside, though, don't worry.)

It's just hard because you're working on little to no sleep and worrying about your newborn, and you have your own bleeding and sensitive vajayjay to deal with.

The hospital gives you these rockin' mesh panties and super-absorbent maxi pads. They are the best!!! Raid your hospital for as many as you can get your hands on (both the pads and the panties). Ask for more if you have to. But you will run out eventually, so you'll have to use panties that you don't mind tossing if they get badly stained, and I remember buying these Kotex super-long overnight maxi pads. (Please excuse the fact that the link is to freaking diapers.com!) http://www.diapers.com/p/kotex-overnight-maxi-pads-with-wings-255413?site=CA&utm_source=cse&utm_medium=cpc_D&utm_term=KC-430B&utm_campaign=Google&CAWELAID=1338728046&utm_content=pla&cagpspn=pla&ci_kw={keyword}

Anyway, it's gross but short-lived. I wish someone had told me just how heavy/gross it can be, especially because I got all worked up that one day when I called my OB's office. I actually called my husband home from the office because I was afraid I was bleeding too much and didn't want him to come home to me dead on the floor with a screaming, starving newborn. Yeah, I was a little hyper.

Wow... you'd think I'd never had a child reading some of these. Guess I've been super fortunate in the birthing department. Only had one clot after the birth of my first child, didn't experience "pain" while getting my cervix checked during late pregnancy, had my membranes stripped prior to birth of second child, and didn't have any pain, and I guess my milk never came in enough (due to not breastfeeding) to leak out. Prepare for the worst, & hope you're like me; one of the fortunate ones who's reading this like WHAA?!


O & as far as being shaved. They certainly don't do that anymore. Per my grandma/mom the last time that was standard procedure was 30 years ago. You went in to have a baby and they gave you an enema, shaved you ANDDD (even worse) gave you an episiotomy all standard

--you will not sleep through the night starting EARLY IN PREGNANCY (I thought i'd at least make it to LATE in the 2nd before getting up all the time)

Fixed that line for you..... I am 14 weeks this time and have slept through the night maybe 2 or three times. 2 other pregnancies I was also up most nights from very early on.

Yikes to the getting your cervix checked!

re: shaving....ok, there's a lot of talk about them coming near your hoohaa with a razor...don't they keep one handy in case of an apeziotomy (however you spell it)....the thought terrifies me!

Had to have one (episiotomy) when I had my daughter....they used some weird looking pair of scissors, that I'm sure has some official name unknown to me.

The morning sickness....all day and night.

And no strong cravings, besides fruit. Mostly food aversion.

Now insomnia....

And pain in the night, slight a sharp stretching pain in my stomach......what's that? Stretching ligaments? It's actually wakes me up in the night it hurts that bad.

Oh wait, another one:

Your stretch marks might not appear until after you deliver. Say what?!?!?

TRUE!!! I found a little one just the other day. It's a really faint purple, but it's totally a stretch mark. Thank goodness it's only one, and it's not big or dark!

Also, just because you didn't get stretch marks from your first pregnancy it doesn't mean you won't get them during future pregnancies.

Hemorrhoids.

(Thankfully I didn't get them last time but have this weird feeling I won't be so lucky this time.)

Almost 5 weeks postpartum and I'm starting to worry my bum will never be the same. :sad: