Navigating the Early Weeks: What Postpartum Actually Looks Like

Real talk for the days that blur, the sleep that disappears, and the body that’s learning to heal.

No one prepares you for how everything shifts after birth.

New mom and her baby

Even going to the bathroom becomes a whole production—whereas before, it barely required any thought at all.

Labor blends into birth, and birth into recovery, until the days blur together into a haze that can make you wonder if you’ll ever see clearly again... or sleep… or feel like yourself.

The early postpartum weeks are sacred—but not always soft.They can be raw, messy, beautiful, and disorienting all at once.

They mark the threshold between who you were and who you’re becoming.

You’re becoming someone new—a mother, whether for the first time or all over again.

A new creation, shaped by love and born of the heart.

Because the moment you birthed your baby, you also birthed the mother within you.

1. Your body may feel like it’s been through battle—and it has.

Even the most straightforward birth is intense. You’ve birthed a whole new human—and whether that birth was vaginal or surgical, fast or long, spontaneous or planned, your body has done something extraordinary.

You might feel sore, swollen, bruised, or just not at home in your body right now. That doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It means your body is working hard to recalibrate and repair as it begins the slow work of healing.

Still, there’s a difference between normal postpartum discomfort and something that needs medical attention. If your bleeding suddenly increases, your pain worsens instead of improves, or your gut says something isn’t right, please reach out to your care provider. You deserve to be heard and cared for.

Support Tip:

Follow the 5-5-5 or 7-7-7 rule (5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed, 5 days near the bed—or adjust to 7s if you can). Let others bring things to you. Use herbal sitz baths, warm compresses, peri bottles, belly binding, nourishing foods, and warm drinks, etc. This is the time to rest and receive.

2. Your emotions might feel all over the place.

The postpartum hormone shift is the most dramatic endocrine change a human body can experience—estrogen and progesterone levels drop by nearly 1000% in just a few days postpartum.[source: various endocrinology and postpartum health studies]

And when you layer on healing, exhaustion, and the mental load of caring for a newborn, your emotional world can feel intense.

You might cry at nothing (or everything).You might feel angry, weepy, irritated, tender, euphoric, or completely flat—and sometimes all in one day.

Support Tip:

Let your feelings move through you without judgment. Say them out loud. Let yourself be witnessed.Mood swings in the early days are normal—but if your emotions feel heavy, constant, or isolating for more than two weeks, it could be a sign of a deeper need. PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders) are common and treatable. You are not alone, and help is available.

A full post on PMADs is coming soon—because no mom should suffer in silence.

3. Time will warp. And basic things may feel strangely hard.

It might be 2pm and you still haven’t brushed your teeth. You’ll sit down to eat and the baby will wake. You’ll change a diaper, feed, burp, rock, and look up to find an hour has passed.

Time expands and contracts around baby’s rhythms, and that can feel disorienting—especially if you’re someone who’s used to structure or predictability.

Support Tip:

Try not to hold yourself or your baby to a strict schedule. Instead, create a gentle rhythm: some morning light, a hot drink, a nourishing meal, a moment to breathe.

And please remember: brushing your teeth, showering, and feeding yourself are basic needs, not luxuries. Start there. The comforting extras—like quiet reflection, gentle movement, or time with your own thoughts—can come later.

4. Feeding is a full-time job—and it's okay if it’s hard.

Breastfeeding is beautiful. But it’s also demanding!

In the early weeks, feeding your baby can take up a lot of time—especially if you're nursing. A single feed can last up to an hour, and that’s not unusual. Newborns don’t always latch right away. You might spend 10–15 minutes just trying to get baby on the breast… and if you're switching sides, that effort may repeat all over again.

And when people say “feed every 2 to 3 hours,” what they often don’t explain is: that’s measured from the start of one feed to the start of the next—not from when the baby finishes. So if a feed begins at noon and ends at 1pm, and your baby wants to nurse again at 1:30pm… that's normal. In fact, it’s expected.

Some babies feed every 90 minutes. Some cluster feed for hours. It’s not because your milk supply is low or something’s wrong. It’s because this is how newborns regulate, grow, and establish breastfeeding.

If you're feeding 12–16 times in a 24-hour period—and each feed takes 30 to 60 minutes—that’s easily 12+ hours a day spent nursing. And that doesn’t include diapering, burping, soothing, or trying to grab a bite to eat between feeds.

Support Tip:

Set up a cozy, functional feeding space: water, snacks, a phone charger, and a place to rest your head. Keep track of wet and dirty diapers for reassurance that baby is getting enough. And if you're struggling—whether it’s latch pain, milk supply worries, or just the sheer mental load—reach out. A lactation consultant, postpartum doula, or support group can offer real help, and you deserve it.

5. Sleep might look nothing like what you imagined.

If you're breastfeeding, especially in the early weeks, you may only get 45 minutes to an hour of sleep between feeds—sometimes less. And if you weren’t prepared for that, it can feel like something is wrong with your baby… or with you.

But this is normal.

Newborns are biologically designed to wake often. Frequent feedings help stabilize their blood sugar, support brain development, protect against jaundice, and ensure adequate milk intake to establish and maintain your supply.

These night wakings also serve a protective function—helping regulate your baby’s breathing and nervous system through close contact. This isn’t something to fix or train away—it’s part of how babies survive and thrive in the world outside the womb.

They need close contact to feel safe and supported.

Their entire system is wired to connect, respond, and be held.

Support Tip:

Normalize night wakings. Expect disrupted sleep. Nap and rest when you can. And remember—your baby isn’t broken. You’re not doing it wrong. This is what newborn nights look like, but it won't be like this forever, I promise.

Unrealistic expectations often lead to unnecessary formula supplementation, early weaning, or self-doubt. But with knowledge and support, you can find a rhythm that works for you.

6. You’ll be healing more than you expected.

Some women breeze through postpartum with very little soreness. Not every mom will need stitches. But for many, some level of healing—whether from vaginal swelling, tearing, or hemorrhoids—is a normal part of recovery after birth.

For something so common, it’s just not talked about enough. And when it is mentioned, it’s often vague—like “the nurses will tell you what to do.” But you deserve more than that. Knowing what to expect will help you feel more prepared and a little less in the dark.

Let’s talk about it:

• Bleeding (Lochia): After birth, you'll bleed anywhere from a few days to a few weeks—both are normal. This bleeding isn’t just from the uterus shrinking—it’s also from the placental site, a literal wound where the placenta detached. Your body is working hard to heal that area while also shedding the uterine lining.

At first, lochia is much heavier than your normal period—often heavier than even your heaviest period day. You

may pass small clots and need to change pads frequently. Over time, the bleeding lightens and fades from red to pink, then brown, then yellowish or clear.

You’ll need extra-large postpartum pads in the early days—and if you’re layering them, a good tip is to line them up like shingles for easy swapping.

If your bleeding slows down and then suddenly gets heavier again, it’s often a sign that the placental wound has been irritated—maybe from doing too much, too soon. That’s why postpartum rest matters so much!

Healing on the inside is just as important as healing on the outside.

• Perineal care: If you had a vaginal birth, even without tearing, your perineum may be sore or swollen. A peri bottle will be your best friend. Fill it with warm water and spray as you pee to dilute stinging and keep things clean. Don’t wipe—pat dry or air dry gently.

  
  

• Soothing sprays & pads: Many moms use Dermoplast spray (blue can) to help numb sore tissue, and Tucks pads (witch hazel) for cooling relief—especially if hemorrhoids are involved. Some hospitals send you home with them. Warm sitz baths and/or vaginal steaming can also be deeply comforting and supportive for perineal healing in those early days.

• Hemorrhoids: These aren’t just a pregnancy thing. Pushing can worsen or cause new ones. They can be itchy, painful, or just annoying. Sitz baths, vaginal steaming, witch hazel, and lying down instead of sitting can help a lot.

  
  

  A more in-depth post on soothing hemorrhoids is coming soon—because real relief is possible, and you deserve to feel supported while you heal.

  
  

• Stitches: If you had stitches, they’ll dissolve on their own, but they can feel tight or sore for a while. Keep the area clean, avoid straining during bowel movements (this helps with hemorrhoids too—hello, stool softeners), and let yourself rest. Sitz baths, vaginal steaming, and even a regular warm bath can help ease soreness and support healing in a gentle, soothing way.

  
  

You may also find that sitting hurts, pooping is intimidating the first time, and sneezing is risky if you’re not

prepared. All normal.

Support Tip:

Keep your bathroom stocked: peri bottle, extra-large postpartum pads, witch hazel, soothing spray, stool softeners, and comfortable underwear (the mesh kind or high-waisted cotton). Don’t rush your healing. Stay ahead of the discomfort when you can.

And remember: your body just did something incredible. It deserves patience and care!

The Heart of Postpartum Healing

Pregnancy is about growing a baby.

Birth is about bringing that baby into the world.

And postpartum? It’s about healing — deep, whole-body, whole-heart healing.

But too often, that gets skipped.

Too often, the focus shifts to “getting your body back” before your body has even had a chance to be honored for all its hard work.

This season asks a lot of you—and while it may not feel graceful or soft, it is full of meaning.

Every leak, every tear, every sleepless night is part of your becoming.

There’s no perfect way to do it. Only the way that honors your needs, your baby, and your truth.

Breathe. Nourish. Receive.

From my heart to yours,

Sumer