If you’ve been a mom for longer than a day, there’s one thing you’ve probably found out- moms LOVE sharing information! Pregnancy is a new experience, there is so much to learn, it’s understandable that seasoned mothers want to help by imparting their hard earned knowledge on you. 

But lost in all the birth stories and baby gear recommendations, there are few things that might not be shared.

Don’t be blindsided by these postpartum topics your mom group probably isn’t talking about. 

Shake It Off 
​Often immediately after birth, you'll experience full body shakes, be it vaginal or cesarean birth, and it’s not always because you’re cold (though the OR can be freezing). There are huge hormonal fluctuations that happen when baby arrives which can cause your body to shiver uncontrollably. Women who are under medication such as epidural or spinal also experience these postpartum chills. Don’t be alarmed, these will go away usually within a few minutes post delivery. 


That Disposable (or Reusable) Organ 
For a vaginal birth, it can take up to an hour for your placenta to release from your uterus for delivery. Most moms will have to push out their placenta too (I know, WTF right?). The good news is that your placenta is soft, mushy and doesn’t have any bones making it much easier to than your baby! 


Stitchin’ The Bits 
Perfection takes time! But how much time? 
If you’ve had a cesarean birth, your repairs will take roughly an hour AFTER your baby is born. 

If you’ve had a vaginal birth and your perineum needs repairs, the normal time frame is 20 minutes to an hour.

Not the kind of panties you’re used to
After all the commotion, before you're taken to your postpartum or recovery room, your nurse will fit you with a pair of ‘fancy’ mesh panties - and then it’s official, you’re part of the mom club. Some moms have ranked these mesh panties high on their list of must-haves after their baby is born if you like them make sure to grab as many as possible from the hospital before you leave! 


Shark week…..or month
Wondering why you need mesh panties? After your baby is born, your body eliminates leftover blood, mucus, and tissue (lovely, right?), it’s technical term is lochia. Lochia is like a long period after you have you have your baby, it’s heaviest just after delivery and normal for your body to release large blood clots* and gush every time you breastfeed your baby, thus the reason your diaper sized pads (see below) and mesh panties are your new postpartum BFFs.


Will these fit in my Tory Burch Bag? 
If you thought overnight period pads were big, you might be surprised by the whopper that goes into your mesh underoos after your baby is born. To put things into perspective, the postpartum pad is bigger than your your baby's newborn diaper. Rest easy, these broads will catch it all! 


I’m not tipping for this shitty massage
Following the delivery, the doctor or nurse will massage (sometimes aggressively) your fundus or top of your utereus, accessible by your lower abdomen. This is uterine massage can be uncomfortable or painful based on your tolerance or different scenarios. This massage starts after your baby is born, sometimes to encourage the placenta release. Your recovery nurse will also massage your belly about an hour after birth, and in intervals (even through the night) for the next 24 hours. This massage helps your uterus contract and ‘clamp down’ which will slow your bleeding and release blood clots. While it may not be the best massage you’ve ever had, your care providers are doing it for a very good reason and do not want to hurt you intentionally. They’ve got your back….and uterus. 


There you have it, with a bit of knowledge you'll know what to expect through these normal post delivery events. 

Questions? We're happy to help! Ask away in the comments section! 

Experienced parents, help prepare other expecting families by sharing what caught you off guard after the birth of your baby in comments section below. 

*This blog pro­vides gen­eral infor­ma­tion about health related sub­jects.  The words and con­tent pro­vided in this blog and in any linked mate­ri­als, are not intended and should not be con­strued as med­ical advice. If the reader or any other per­son has a med­ical con­cern, he or she should con­sult with an appropriately-licensed physi­cian or other health care worker.

Mia was born weighing a tiny 2 lbs. 14 oz. My husband and I were told that she had issues with her lungs. If it was an air bubble on the outside of her lungs it would fill up making it very hard for her to breathe a full breath. If there was a tumor of some kind, it could have cancerous tissue. If it was a simple abnormality then nothing would need to happen. All of those things sounded terrifying, but I was still not well.

She was actually doing better than I was.
 
I will never forget that first time I was able to hold Mia. She could only be held for an hour, but it was our hour. When it was time for Mia to be placed back in her isolate she started to cry. I had to walk away, so I went back to my room. About 30 minutes later the neonatologist came come in and said ‘we’re having a hard time calming her down; we need to put her back on the vent. We are really concerned about this lung issue and do not have the ability to handle her case here. She needs to be moved to the other hospital.’ All I could think was: You’re ruining my life right now. I’m not well, I can’t leave.

You can’t tell me my baby has to go to another hospital and I have to stay here!

I didn’t want them taking her anywhere but I knew that wouldn't be the right thing for her. Thankfully I was released as well, under strict guidelines to check my blood pressure often, with the promise that my mom would take charge of my care. (I was still on 7 or 8 different medications for my liver, kidneys and blood pressure.)
 
For the first two weeks at the new hospital Mia was in her own room, which was wonderful because we could have visitors. I was not able drive, due to my medications, so I relied on others to take me to the hospital and home every day.

In between all of this back and forth, and also caring for my 4 year old son, I had to feed Mia too!

She didn't actually nurse until seven days before she came home. For almost an entire month I pumped every two hours. Pumping felt like the only thing I had control over. It was the one thing she needed from me, and the one thing only I could give her.
 
Through this I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was at fault for Mia being there.

I think most NICU moms feel that way, because our job is to carry and birth our children. I felt like I was incapable of doing the one thing my body was supposed to do. I was angry with my body, and mourning the loss of my pregnancy. I would talk to the nurses, for hours, about all of my traumas. At one point a nurse looked me in the eyes and told me she thought I should get help. I started seeing a therapist every other day, and after Mia was released we went twice a week. I had so much I needed to work through.
 
Some people think that only soldiers suffer with PTSD, and it isn’t true.

Every July I relive Mia’s birth. I relive every moment. Thankfully I was able to acknowledge my trauma and see that I couldn't get better alone. I found a therapist, took the medication, and am so thankful I was able to break free. What doesn’t kill you can make you stronger. That is just an old adage that people say all the time but it’s really true. Also, I think it’s the big mantra that is needed when dealing with preemies. 

After this, I’m no longer afraid of anything.
 
Mia stayed in the NICU for 36 days. It was a long time, however my son’s 9 day NICU stay was worse for me. I didn’t know if he was going to live, but for some reason I never doubted that Mia would pull through. This time it was me who almost died. That left me with faith and peace that got me through the whole process.
 
A few words of advice to other preemie parents:
 
Be honest with yourself, and talk to someone who is not emotionally connected. Don’t let your guilt turn into embarrassment. There is always going to be someone who will listen. Be honest with yourself about how you feel. If you feel like it’s your fault, talk about it. Work it out and you will get to the other side of it. Trust that the doctors and nurses are skilled and that they’re going to keep your child alive.
 
Also, it is okay to not be able to be there for anyone else except your baby.

​I remember one day outside the NICU with my husband: He was having a bad day and trying to talk to me. I told him “I can’t be your person. I can’t accept your emotions right now, I don’t have any room.” Thankfully he was able to talk with a friend who was completely removed from our situation, and he was able to get through it in his own way.

Today Mia is three, and is achieving so much! We say that she behaves as if no one told her she is a preemie and has no limitations.  She has never allowed anything to stop her from the goal at hand.

You've just had a baby, you're in the hospital blissfully adoring your sweet little bundle while everyone is caring for the both of you. The hospital is nice but you're ready to be back in the comforts of your own home, and that's awesome because you're being discharged today! You go home and show your little darling around the house, introducing her siblings and pets. Now what?! 

Before you get to that place, make a postpartum plan, right now! (yes, right now, during your pregnancy!) Your third trimester is the best time to make plans for your postpartum. 

Just like you made a birth plan to set goals for your birth, Mitten Made Doulas know how important it is to have a postpartum plan too. Set goals for the day, it's ok if your plan get's off track you can start again tomorrow. We've created this awesome free download to help you along the way! 

Think about your daily routine and plan what you'd like to accomplish. You should absolutely go easy on yourself, those first weeks after baby are a huge transition. Your daily routine will vary as you adapt to the new changes in your life, and that's ok. Making a plan and putting systems in place will help you to get what you need done (even if it's take a shower and nap), as well as help your baby to know what to expect. 

Don't get to that point where your fridge is empty and you HAVE to shop for dinner (it's ok, we're moms too, we've been there), because you *know* that will be the day you're running on 2 hours of sleep. Make a meal plan (you can start utilizing this tool today)! Even better, if you can fill in the blanks with mealtrain.com meals from family and friends or fill out the meal plan log and ask someone to shop for you! 

Don't forget to keep track of what you've ate today too (another tool you can use today)! You are such an important entity to your growing family, nourish your pregnant and postpartum body with frequent, healthy meals to aid in overall health and recovery. We've even added a place to keep track of water, prenatal vitamins and placenta capsules intake. 

The handy baby feeding logs in our postpartum survival plan will help you keep track of when your baby ate last, whether you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Don't worry, we've got a log to help you keep track of diaper changes too!

Lastly, we've included some practical numbers every pregnant and postpartum family is sure to want on hand, all you have to do is fill in the blank! 

We realize our placenta encapsulators and doulas can't be there to support you every step of the way during your postpartum time, but we're glad to help you put your best foot forward with this handy tool! Enjoy! 

There's a hot new trend right now for postpartum self care, placenta encapsulation. Mothers all over the country are keeping their placentas, turning them into capsules, and then INGESTING them for postpartum recovery benefits! 

Up until now the most popular route of placenta encapsulation in Metro Detroit is to have the encapsulation specialist come to your birth place {home, hospital, or birth center} pick up and transport your placenta to process in their in-home workspace, and deliver your capsules once they’re complete. Many families prefer this because you don’t see anything except the pretty bottle of capsules ready for consumption. 

Mitten Made Doulas is offering a brand new, awesome placenta encapsulation service for families who want more transparency in their encapsulation process. Welcome, in home encapsulation! I know “EEK” right? Stay with me, I promise, you’ll love it!  

The time spent in the hospital after baby is born is fantastic. Nurses and staff are there 24/7 to help you out, offer advice, give tips, and show tricks. You don’t have to worry about cooking, dishes, laundry, all you have to do in the hospital is love your baby. Then they kick you out and you are on your own. It can be nerve wrecking, and maybe even a little bit scary, right?

Isn’t there some way to ease that transition? Yes there is! Bring your placenta home with you! 

Mitten Made Doulas in home encapsulation specialist will meet you at your home to turn your placenta into capsules, right before your eyes (or not, you’re not required to watch). With this new and exciting option, you’ll have a specially trained postpartum placenta  specialist in your home for a couple of hours for two days. Your specialist is uniquely qualified to give advice and support during the time when parents feel the most nervous.  You do not have to host her, she comes with everything she needs to get the job done, you just have to open your door and provide your placenta. Added bonus: She cleans your kitchen! 

In home encapsulation is a great option for:

• clients who really want the hands on experience of placenta encapsulation, you’re free to take photos and peek in on the highlights of the process, then sneak away to rest with your baby while our professionals finish it off. 
• those who work in the health care field who know how carefully bloodborne pathogens should be treated.
• individuals with concerns about how their placenta is being safely processed. 
• anyone with severe food allergies who would rather their placenta not be exposed to anything outside of their own home. 

Some of our clients might think something like “isn’t it gross?”, “I am really squeamish, I don’t know if I can handle it…” And we hear you! We promise it isn’t a horror movie, the "gross" part is the shortest part of the entire process! 

We are proud to announce that our own Adrienne Walker is specially trained with ProDoula to provide in client home encapsulation as a postpartum placenta specialist. 

When you choose in your home encapsulation you will chat with Adrienne before your estimated due date. You will get to know her, the process, and she will talk you through how to properly and safely transport your placenta home with you. She even provides a handy transport kit!


Mitten Made Doulas is thrilled to be one of the first to offer this exclusive option to the newly postpartum families in metro Detroit, Michigan. The choice is yours! 

To find out more about this new postpartum experience, please contact us! 

We'd love to know how you feel about this new option we're offering! Let us know how we're doing in the comments! 

​I'm sure we have all seen this meme of the woman with stretch marks on her, she's a "Tiger who earned her stripes". We love her, we do. She earned every one of those stripes. This isn't about her though, this is for the moms with a desperately earned tattoo: cesarean moms. The moms who lay flat on a table at the mercy of a surgeon while her baby was born from an incision in her abdomen (and organ with the largest vascular structure in your body at the time). I mean, THAT is the ultimate metaphor of motherhood, right there. 

I am not talking about how you got onto that table. Whether it was scheduled, forced, emergency, enjoyable or traumatic, I am talking about survival. We did the unthinkable, to most women 100 years ago this wasn't an option. 

I used to look at my c section scar and remember a trauma, that happened TO me. In the end, I forgave myself and eventually my doctor. I made decisions based on the information I had at the time, and that is all we can ask of ourselves.

Now, I look at that scar and see where my daughter was born. She is where my entire journey began. She can see it, and we share it. It is our scar together.

Right below hers, with the same start and finish points, but different middles, is my son's scar. Because sometimes a VBAC, while deeply desired and given every possible opportunity to happen, just doesn't happen. Now, I see where my daughter was born, and I see where my son was born. I love that they have the same beginning, different journey, and same ending. 

Your cesarean birth may have changed the shape of your skin, or may have become a keloid scar. Maybe it even created this flap of skin, or it could just be the tiniest, cutest, little silver shimmering line that is barely even noticeable below your 6 pack abs. Maybe it reminds you of your Postpartum Depression, your home birth transfer, your altered birth plan, or even your babys planned birthday, but whichever it is,  never forget you earned that badge. You too made decisions that were the best decisions for you and your baby at that time, with the information you had available to you. There should never be any shame in having a cesarean section. You have a tattoo that says "this is where my baby was born" and I encourage you to be proud if it! I know I am. 

Xo,
Margaret Rodeghier
The Grosse Pointe Doula