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5 Unexpected Postpartum Symptoms

By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com

Everything after birth seems a bit different, but here are the symptoms that women constantly say surprised them after bith. Is your symptom on the list of post birth symptoms?

  1. Sweating
    A couple of days after you give birth you may find that you're sweating a lot. Sometimes women experience this odd post labor and birth symptom only at night while others find it happens all day. Try to shower when you can and wear absorbent fabrics like cotton when you sleep to help make you more comfortable.

  2. Bleeding
    You expect the postpartum bleeding, but it's the blood clots you might not think about. These clots of blood can come out most frequently in the first few days. This usually happens after you've been resting awhile and stand up. Call your doctor or midwife if you have bleeding that soaks a pad an hour for two hours. It's also interesting to note that women can experience this bleeding even if they have had a cesarean section.

  3. Swelling
    Just when you thought that swelling was a thing of the past, it's back! Many women receive IV fluids in labor and this can contribute to postpartum swelling in the first few days post birth. The good news is that it's often very short lived.

  4. Hunger
    In all the births I've attended the first thing that a large percentage of moms say after the immediate glow of the new baby is - "I'm hungry!" They want real food. This feeling can last a few days or a few months. Be sure that you are choosing snacks that are wise for your nutritional needs.

  5. Hair Loss
    You're taking a shower, alone even, and all of a sudden you look down and notice that you have a lot of hair in the drain. Don't worry you are not going bald. The news is that the hair that was slated to go in pregnancy but stayed to give you that beautiful mane has got to go and now that the baby has been born the time is now. This usually happens for a few months before leveling off. If it continues much past this you might ask your doctor or midwife to check your thyroid levels.

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