Changes you feel in your body after your first motherhood

It is a known fact that becoming a mother changes a woman in many ways. While some of these changes are physical in nature, some are psychological as well. Although most of the changes that affect a woman during childbirth disappear after a short while, others may remain for a lifetime. 

In this article, we will look at some of the changes, both temporary and permanent, that most women experience post their first pregnancy. 

1. An Increase in Shoe Size - Usually women gain between 11 to 16 kilograms during pregnancy. As a result, the increased weight puts additional pressure on the feet, flattening out their arch. Hence, many females end up gaining about half a shoe size, which remains the same after childbirth as well. 

2. Incontinence - For women who have undergone normal or vaginal delivery, the risk for incontinence or loss of bladder control increases. Due to vaginal delivery, the muscles required for regulating the bladder as well as supportive tissues and nerves surrounding it become weak, making women less able to control their urination. 

3. Change in Breast Size - During pregnancy, the breasts of a woman grow in size, primarily due to the dormant fat tissues being replaced by the functional tissue that helps in breastfeeding. However, once the breastfeeding comes to an end, the functional tissue becomes useless and reduces in size, causing the breasts to shrink too. 

4. Prevalence of Stretch Marks - Although stretch marks are common in people who have experienced a sudden gain or loss in body weight, pregnant women begin to particularly have red or pink stretch marks on their stomach and other parts of the body. However, these fade out by themselves in one or two years following childbirth. 

5. Loss of Hair - During pregnancy, many women begin to see dense and lush hair on their scalp. The increase in the volume of hair takes place due to increased levels of estrogen, or female hormone, in the body. However, once delivery takes place, women begin to observe a large number of strands falling from their head, since the estrogen levels have decreased and gone back to their normal levels. Nevertheless, the hair fall is a temporary phase and lasts roughly six to twelve months after pregnancy. 

6. Increase in the size of the Uterus - Normally, the size of the uterus is roughly that of a pear. However, when the foetus starts developing in a woman’s body, the uterus expands and is almost the size of a watermelon. While post-delivery the uterus deflates and shrinks, this does not take place completely, and thus, many women have a uterus that is bigger in size than what it was before childbirth. 

7. Broader Hips - Some women experience an increase in their waist size after delivery. The reason for the same is the deposition of fat in those areas of the body which have extra fat cells, such as the hips. Thus, many women continue to have wider hips even long after they have given birth. 

Although childbirth comes with a range of expenses, many women continue to make trips to the doctor after pregnancy, since they may face several health concerns. These expenses can put a dent in one’s pocket. However, the Bajaj Finserv Health EMI Network Card can be useful in these scenarios. It enables you to pay for medical expenses at more than 270 partner hospitals. The amount can be repaid in easy EMIs over a 3-18 month period.

The Health Card can help one pay for your medical bills, which can be divided into easy EMI’s via the Digital EMI Network Card. This Card can be purchased for a single person or for a family through a simple and hassle-free process. To apply for a health card One only needs to complete basic KYC documentation online, and the health card becomes activated instantly.