What to Expect After You're Done Expecting

Your guide to all the wonderful weird things having a baby does to your bodyDR. PAUL M. PARKERWhat to Expect After You’re Done ExpectingTable of ContentsWhat to Expect After You’re Done ExpectingYour guide to all the wonderful weird things having a baby does to your body ��1What Happens to Your Body During PregnancyThey’re saying, “you’ve got that pregnancy glow!” ��5Real life experience: your skin is blotchy & your hair is kinda oily� ��5Prepare to hardly recognize your breasts ��6Make room for baby��and say “so long” to your abs (for now) ��8What’s happening below the belt ��9All hope is not lost! ��11Beer, Cakes, & Corsets, Oh My ��13So, You’ve Had a Baby. Now What?!The first few months are a rollercoaster ��15Supporting your body as it heals ��17Why Don’t I Look Like Me Anymore?Your Transformed Torso ��20Do I have diastasis recti?! ��23A Brief History of Shapewear ��24The Boobie Blues ��26Persistent pudge ��27Why do we love telling moms what to do? ��28The medical information in this book is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes� This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment� Please consult your health care provider for an appointment, before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition� Dr� Paul M� Parker and Parker Center for Plastic Surgery expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this book�Copyright © 2017 Parker Center for Plastic Surgery� All rights reserved� Design by CAKE Websites & More, LLC�Options for Getting Your Groove BackYour first line of defense ��31The 411 on Body Positivity, Neutrality, & Owning However You Feel About You ��34Minimally invasive medical solutions for common issues ��36Is a mommy makeover right for me? ��40How do I tell my kids I had plastic surgery? ��43Remember: You’re doing just fine, mama! ��45About Dr� Paul M� Parker ��46Part 1What Happens to Your Body During PregnancyWhy am I so oily? Why is there a hair there? Is it supposed to be that color “down there?!” MY BOOBS LOOK GREAT!Covers of pregnancy books, pregnant characters on-screen, and wistful older female relatives can lead anyone to believe pregnancy is a magical, glorious time� While that may be true, any mom who has recently been through it will also tell you that there are certain aspects of pregnancy that are anything but magical—and, in fact, may be strange, confusing, or even horrifying�While most texts focus on your developing baby’s health, it’s also important to get the low-down on what to expect from your own body when you’re expecting� So here’s our head-to-toe guide!PART 1: WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY DURING PREGNANCY5They’re saying, “you’ve got that pregnancy glow!”Real life experience: your skin is blotchy & your hair is kinda oily�Thanks to unruly hormones, you’ll likely notice some of the first changes in your hair and facial skin�Brownish yellow patches around the eyes and on the cheeks and nose are common and is called chloasma� Sometimes known as the “mask of pregnancy,” this hyperpigmentation is estimated to affect 50-75% of expecting moms. Sun exposure can intensify the color changes, so be sure to wear chemical-free SPF and a stylish sun hat when outside� But don’t worry! This excess of melanin is usually temporary, typically disappearing after birth�You may notice changes in the texture and growth of your hair during pregnancy� Some women experience quicker growth and stronger strands, while others have the opposite problem, with slow growth, more breakage, and a limp appearance� You may even notice that your natural curls look a bit stringy or that your fine, straight hair has a certain new wave to it�Not all changes are undesired; and it is true you’ll likely have a nice glow� Why? During pregnancy, your body produces more blood, which increases blood circulation to the face and body, making your skin look brighter. Unfortunately, sometimes that glow transitions into a greasy-looking mess, caused by an increased production of hormones that can send your oil glands into overdrive�Not everyone has the same skin changes� Puffiness, a swollen nose, broken capillaries, and redness are some other fun side effects you may experience� PART 1: WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY DURING PREGNANCY6“Your normal skincare routine may not be the right fit during pregnancy, as your skin is not behaving in the same way it was previously. You may find that you have newfound sensitivities to your favorite products or that you aren’t quite sure how to address new concerns. Because of this and the many ingredients that are off-limits for pregnant women, it’s important to work with a highly trained and experienced professional, such as a medical aesthetician or dermatologist. With a little expert guidance, you can make sure you are choosing products that will help rather than harm. Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to treat yourself a little by scheduling a facial or other specialty skin treatment to help help you unwind.”Angela Parisi, Nurse Coordinator & Injector at the Parker Center Doc TalkPrepare to hardly recognize your breastsBreasts come in all shapes and sizes—and whether or not you think yours are too big, too small, or juuuuust right, it’s likely that you’re pretty attached to them� Well, prepare yourself for a bumpy ride because your breasts will be going through a number of changes!General breast soreness or tenderness on contact are very common, as the same increased blood flow we mentioned in the last section makes your breasts feel swollen and sensitive� This is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy and feels like a heightened version of the sensitivity some women experience during menstruation�PART 1: WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY DURING PREGNANCY7A couple of months in, you’ll likely notice that your breasts are getting bigger as your body begins preparing for milk production� How much your breasts will grow varies, but many women upsize by one to two cups� Enjoy your more voluptuous bust while you can—it’s typical for your breasts to go back to their natural size after you are done breastfeeding�Bumps, veins, weird colors, oh my! You may find that your nipples are bigger, areolas are darker than before, you can see your veins under your breast skin, or bumps are popping up on your areolas� All these changes are a perfectly normal response to hormonal changes and your body preparing for nursing�The good news is that these breast changes are typically temporary! Most women notice their breasts going back to normal after pregnancy and nursing� That being said, size fluctuations can have a permanent impact on the elasticity of your breast skin, so you may experience some drooping or a “deflated” appearance post-childbearing�PART 1: WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY DURING PREGNANCY8Make room for baby��and say “so long” to your abs (for now)As expected when you’re expecting, your middle will go through the most noticeable and long-lasting changes� As your little guy or gal grows, so will your tummy—and with these changes come some unwelcome side effects�A combination of genetics, your lifestyle habits, and the growth rate of your baby all contribute to just how much your abdomen will enlarge, but the club of women with teeny tiny baby bumps is relatively small� Expect to earn a few stretch marks along the way, as your skin rapidly expands as the fetus grows larger during the later stages of pregnancy� These marks are actually tears in the dermis and while some women may be more susceptible to them than others, they are perfectly normal�This stretching can also decrease the elasticity of your skin, leading to a “pregnancy pouch�” When skin is stretched beyond a certain point, it doesn’t always bounce back—leaving many new moms with excess drooping skin on the lower abdomen�Abdominal separation is an unpleasant occurrence many women experience� This condition, known as diastasis recti, occurs when the abdominal muscles widen to accommodate the growing baby� It varies in severity, with some women noticing improvement after childbirth and with toning exercises and others requiring surgical intervention to repair the separation�Abdominal separation during pregnancyPART 1: WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY DURING PREGNANCY9“Tummy tuck surgery is not only used to address cosmetic concerns, such as sagging skin after pregnancy. It is often a necessity for women whose abdominal muscles have separated to the point where no amount of exercise will improve the condition. In these cases, diastasis recti can be an exceedingly uncomfortable condition that makes even simple tasks like bending over or picking up your child difficult or painful. For these women, surgery is often the only answer.”Dr. Paul M. Parker, Medical Director of Parker CenterWhat’s happening below the beltThough the most obvious changes occur in the midsection, you’ll likely see a few surprising things happen to your vagina and surrounding areas�Chadwick’s sign, or a bluish purple hue in the vaginal area, is a perfect example of something totally bizarre (but totally normal) that can happen� This change in color can occur very early on and is often a first clue that you are pregnant� Increased blood flow is what lends the blue color to the cervix, vagina, and labia, and it is nothing to be concerned about� Other visual changes include the appearance of varicose veins on the vulva and swollen labia.You may also notice that things smell a little different. A combination of excess vaginal bacteria (often caused by hormone fluctuations) plus a change to the pH of your vagina can lead to changes in vaginal odor and taste�Doc TalkNext >