About six weeks. That's approximately how long it takes for your body to reestablish itself after you give birth. Expect to go through lots of changes during this time. And even though you now have a newborn to care for, it's also important to take good care of yourself. After all, there's someone very important depending upon you.
For nine months, you've been focused on the big event. The Birth. Knowing what to expect after your labor of love makes it easier to feel in control of a new body.
During pregnancy, the top of your uterus, the fundus, is located just under your ribs. At delivery, it weighs about 2 pounds. After delivery, your uterus contracts. It will rest halfway between your pubic bone and belly button, and it will feel like a hard mass. During the next six weeks, it will continue to shrink - a process called involution. Eventually it ends up at its pre-pregnancy size and a weight of just 2 ounces.
Involution may cause some afterpains. These contractions are a good thing. It's a sign that your uterus is on its way back to its normal size.
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