Birth is beautiful...
But let’s be real — it also wrecks your body in ways no one ever mentions at baby showers.

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Whether you delivered vaginally, had a C-section, or something in between, your body is now recovering from:

• Physical trauma

• Massive hormonal shifts

• And the small detail of having created an entire human being.

 

Here’s What Might Be Going On:

• Bleeding (lochia) for up to 6 weeks — think of it as your uterus doing an intense spring clean

• C-section incision pain — because you just underwent major abdominal surgery, not a tummy tuck

• Vaginal tearing or episiotomy — sitting down may now be classified as a full-contact sport

• Engorged boobs — swollen like papayas, leaking like overworked faucets

• Sweating, shivering, and weird peeing patterns — hormonal chaos at its finest

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This isn’t “just tired.”
This is post-trauma, full-body recovery.
And it deserves rest, respect, and real support — not just a pat on the back and a bowl of herbal soup.

 

Honour it.

This isn’t weakness — it’s the aftermath of something extraordinary.

Here’s the deal: rest is medicine.

It’s how your uterus shrinks, your muscles repair, and your stitches (if any) get a fighting chance.
And no — you don’t have to earn it.

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Try This Instead of “Sleep When Baby Sleeps”:

• Nap when you can — cliché, yes, but even 10 minutes of shut-eye is healing

• Lie flat at least once a day, even if it’s just to scroll your phone guilt-free while pretending you’re invisible

• Let people help you — rest isn’t lazy, it’s essential recovery

• Say no to visitors you don’t want — if they’re not bringing food or folding laundry, they can wait

• Protect your energy like it’s your last box of confinement herbs

 

You don’t owe anyone your bounce-back, your social niceties, or your time.
Rest isn’t indulgent — it’s part of your survival.

This is your permission slip to baby yourself, too.

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Perineal Care:

• Rinse with warm water after peeing (peri bottles are magic)

• Change pads often

• Air out when you can (yes, air out your lady bits — trust us)

 

C-Section Care:

• Keep incision clean & dry

• Wear loose clothing — your jeans can wait

• Watch for signs of infection (redness, fever, bad smell)

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Traditional Practices:

• Bengkung (belly binding) — supportive, but not compulsory

• Mandian herba (herbal baths) — relaxing, but skip if stitches are fresh

• Urut (massage) — helpful for circulation, but only when safe

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Do what makes you feel better, not what Facebook aunties scream about.

Now is not the time to chase abs or sip on sadness salad.
It’s the time to rebuild, repair, and re-fuel.
Because food isn’t just food — it’s medicine.

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Food is Fuel For:

• Healing tissues after birth, surgery, or tearing

• Producing milk (hello, breastfeeding hunger is real)

• Balancing hormones while your body resets

• Keeping you from biting someone out of hanger — no judgment

 

Focus On:

• Warming meals: Soups, stews, ginger-based dishes, turmeric rice — think internal hug in a bowl

• Iron-rich foods: Liver, spinach, red meat — to replenish what you lost during delivery

• Healthy fats: Eggs, sesame oil, avocado, chia seeds — they help with recovery, mood, and milk

• Hydration: Water, red dates tea, milky oats, or warm barley water — keep that liquid love flowing

 

And honestly?

 

Eat what brings you joy.
If cake helps you heal — eat the damn cake.

No, you don’t need to start Pilates in Week Two.
You just gave birth to a whole human — rest first, move gently later.

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But when you're ready, movement helps your body remember itself. Think reconnection, not results.

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Start Slow With:

• Kegels — those mysterious pelvic floor squeezes that actually do a lot of heavy lifting

• Breathing exercises — deep, mindful breathing that engages your core without even getting off the couch

• Gentle walking — laps around the living room count. No medals, just movement

• Stretching — your back, hips, and neck have carried the weight of the world (and your baby)

 

Avoid (for now):

• High-impact anything — jumping, jogging, burpees? Nope. Not yet.

• Crunches or ab work — not until your core is cleared and healed

• Lifting anything heavier than your baby — including laundry baskets, rogue toddlers, or your own guilt

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Your body isn’t ruined.
It’s renovating — slowly, smartly, and with serious purpose.

The Healing Timeline (Spoiler: It’s Not 6 Weeks)

 

Here’s the truth they don’t print on the hospital discharge sheet:

Healing doesn’t follow a deadline.

There’s no magical switch at the 6-week checkup that says, “You’re all good now, carry on.”

 

In Reality:

• Some stitches take longer to feel normal.

• Some bodies hold onto trauma for a while.

• Some minds need extra time to process, rest, or recover.

• Some days you feel okay — then the next, it’s like you’ve been hit by an emotional (and possibly leaky) truck.

 

And that’s all normal.

 

So Give Yourself:

• Grace — the same kind you’d offer a friend

• Time — healing doesn’t care about calendars

• Freedom — to not rush back into your old jeans, your old schedule, or your old self

 

Because the truth is — you’re not going back.
You’re becoming someone new.
Stronger. Softer. Wiser.
And still healing — in your own beautiful, untimed way.