Most mums know what to expect before and during labour; however, it is the bit between giving birth and leaving the hospital that you may not be aware of. Unfortunately, even though you may have your baby in you arms does not mean that the hard part is done.
 
Here are seven things to expect after labour:
 
There will be a mess
 
After giving birth, it is perfectly normal to experience a large amount of blood loss and a few blood clots. However, if you’re passing particularly big clots you should let your midwife know about it. Bleeding can continue for up to six weeks postpartum but it should lessen as time goes on.
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You may experience body shakes

Don’t be worried if you start to experience full on body shakes shortly after giving birth. This can be due to your body experiencing hormonal shifts or a reaction to medication taken during labour. They shouldn’t last more than a couple of minutes but talk to your doctor if you are feeling particularly concerned.
 
Your labia can double in size

After a vaginal delivery don’t be surprised to find your labia has swelled, in some cases it can double in size. The longer you push, the bigger it gets but it is only temporary and an ice pack will help to ease any discomfort.
 
You may experience night sweats
 
After having a baby your oestrogen levels drop causing your body’s regulation of temperature to be a bit skewed. This can cause you to sweat a lot, especially during the night. Fortunately, you should see an improvement after a few weeks.
 
You will still experience contractions
 
Your uterus needs to shrink back down to size and this is done by oxytocin creating uterine contractions. They will hurt, especially if you didn’t have an epidural after giving birth.
 
You may have a few stitches
 
Vaginal tearing is perfectly normal so don’t be surprised if you have to have a few stitches after giving birth.
 
Breastfeeding is sore
 
It is true that breastfeeding soon after birth is important but nobody tells you just how sore it can be. Just relax and cuddle your new arrival until you are both ready.
 
Never forget that it is all worth it in the end. 

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