After you give birth there are a lot of things you might expect to see change in your body – stretch marks for instance. But for a lot of us, there have been very unusual changes. Things we never considered as a “side effect” of having a baby.
I can say for certain I didn’t know my feet would grow, or that my hair would begin to grey quite so early. If you’ve not already had a little one, here are some fun things that might be in your future.
(Besides of course an incredible little person.)
7 Unusual Ways Your Body Changes After Baby
1. Taste buds. I’ve spent my whole life never having real chocolate and sweets cravings. Those were things I never really ate much. After my first pregnancy though, I developed and have since maintained, a total sweet tooth. No brownies are safe around me anymore.
2. Body shape (not weight). I’m not talking about your body weight, I mean the shape. I lost all of my pregnancy wait within the year but none of it went back to where it belonged originally. Some women in our Facebook community say their shoulders broadened and their feet grew. My feet actually grew a whole half a size.
3. Hair texture. Straight to wavy. Curly to straight. A lot of women say their hair texture changed significantly after baby. Mine did not, but I do now have to actively fight all the greys.
4. Gotta go! For woman with vaginal births, you may now forever pee your pants when you laugh, run or sneeze.
5. A need for deodorant. Wearing deodorant was not a must for me prior to pregnancy. I rarely sweat and if I did, there was little to no odor. Now? If I’m not wearing it, you will know. Thank you to several ladies from our Facebook community who fessed up to this and made me feel a little less stinky.
6. Sleep position. I always fell asleep on my back prior to children and was very uncomfortable laying on my stomach. Now I sleep on my stomach and never my back. Many women mention they don’t sleep comfortably in the same position they once did.
7. Food allergies. I haven’t had this issue, but one women in our Facebook community became lactose intolerant, another became gluten sensitive, and one more developed an egg allergy. However, a couple of people said their food allergies went away!
Tell me, what body changes took you by surprise after baby?
Check out these super cute baby gender reveal ideas.
I have had 4 babies and my feet have grown a whole 3 sizes in total, I have also become extremely allergic to hair dye. Before kids I could dye my hair when ever I wanted now if I were to dye my hair my whole face swells I get blisters almost instantly (to the point I had to shave my head after my last attempt) and I get a blister like rash on my hands and feet.
i have developed a gluten intolerance since becoming pregnant. It’s my first pregnancy so am yet to see if it’s a permanent thing or not…
My feet also grew half a size and from pregnancy I never was a coffee drinker (before) but now love it. I can taste how bitter and woody it is. Also I could eat a really hot curry but these days I can’t anymore.
Oh and my moms hair color changed. She was blond before kids (25 yrs old) and with each three it progressively got darker (until dark brown).
We have a family joke that the 3rd seemed to produced a few Greys also so they decided to stop having kids then.
My mom’s did too, and now after my 3rd pregnancy mine is noticeably darker than it was before kids also! I didn’t notice after the first b/c I’d dyed it red, but now that I’m back to natural color there’s a definite difference when you compare then and now pictures.
I was extremely allergic (had to carry an epi pen) to peanuts prior to having my son (who’s now
8). After giving birth the allergy seemed to disappear!
Became highly allergic to my 2 favourites: Avo & Bananasallergic to the point of my throaght swelling shut if I just kiss my husband after he ate it… ๐
Thyroid disease after my first. Body shape (lost the weight in 4 weeks) but never the same shape. Bladder yes, don’t sneeze too hard.
Second pregnancy didn’t notice a change.
Third (less than 3 months ago) horrible chest pains. Docs don’t know what it is? Maybe trapped gas or reflux? Feels like a man is standing on my sternum – I thought it was a heart attack at first. Pray they find out what’s wrong. It’s random but when it strikes it’s debilitating
I have the chest pain, turns out it’s anxiety/panic attacks for me. Just something worth looking into if you are having trouble diagnosing it. I hope you find out what it is, that sounds scary.
Could be gallstones. I had the same symptom with mine. Thought i was dying! Ask for an ultrasound to check for gallstones ๐ i have since had my gall bladder removed and never looked back!
Agree! I had the same thing….terrible!
I had this an ended up having my hall bladder out. The dr. Said it is rather common after childbirth. Pain was gone immediately and the procedure was very quick. Best of luck and health to you.
Have your doctor check you for gallbladder stones. I had my gallbladder taken out after my first child. I was having horrible pain in my chest, felt as if a belt was being tightened and I was having trouble breathing. Then it happened. Unknowingly, I was passing a stone and the pain was worst than giving birth. Come to find out, I had gallbladder stones. I later read that during pregnancy our calcium levels rise and may cause gallstones. In my case, it did. By the way, after the gallbladder was removed, I never felt that pain again. Good luck.
Get checked for gall bladder stones. I found out I have one massive stone and the pain got so unbearable that I finally got my gall bladder removed
May be gall stones. Pretty common during pregnancy.
It might be gallbladder stones. I developped some after my first pregnancy. The doctors say it’s common after pregnancy because the hormones make the gallbladder “lazy” so it doesn’t process everything as well. It’s also hereditary.
I got Costochondritis. It’s inflammation of the breast bones where they connect to the sternum. You can tell you have it by pressing on them – they will feel sore.
It might be your gallbladder! I developed gallstones after the birth of my son & had a couple of attacks in the middle of the night before I knew what it was – thought it was a heart attack but it passed after 30 minutes or so. The second attack lasted for 3 hrs before my husband insisted we go to the hospital. Turned out a gallstone was lodged, caused pancreatitis…had to have surgery. Scary! May want to get yourself checked out – it’s common after childbirth!
It could be your gall bladder, this happened to me. My pain wasn’t on the right side like they said it usually is. It took my doctor 6 months after doing tests to figure it out. The pain was right in my sternum also.
Sounds like gallbladder
It’s probably your gall bladder. I had the same thing after my first baby. I had a surgery and am all better. And yes it feels like what a heart attack is described as. Hope you find out soon
I have the same symptoms to, it’s horrendous, try drinking two heaped tea spoons of baking powder in a glass of water stir it well and down in one, I’ve been having it for almost two years now after having my second child ???? got told it was Gaul stones but it wasn’t then was told it was an ulcer si had the camera down and it wasnt then got told its from eating ti much fried food wich is crap as when it started started I been on a strict died restricted carbs and hadn’t eaten out deep fried or fatty for months due to gestational diabetes, I’ve now been told the same as you acid reflux, I think its ibs, when the pain starts do you inflate like a baloon,?? I do and its awefull!
Chest pain……Look up Costochondritis. Feels like a heart attack but you cant move or breath hard bc it gets even worse. I have it and it’s horrid. Its landed me in the ER numerous times.
I experience the same and mine is from back/shoulder pain. Caused from the pelvis but felt between the shoulder blades. When really bad and not self treated thru yoga I get chest pains to the point I think I’m having a heart attack :/
My sister in law had chest pains like that and turned out to be her gallbladder and she had pancreatitis that was over looked and could have killed her had they not caught it when they did. I would mention that as a possibility to your doctor.
You poor thing. I also agree that anxiety can feel like a heart attack. Try deep breathing, when you breathe in your stomach should go out & shoulder stay still, then breathe out, stomach go in. Takes some practice but I find it works to slow racing heart etc. good luck.
My feet grew a whole size after my first child, and then another size after my second!
I acquired thyroid disease and it makes it near to impossible to lose weight. My feet grew but my vision improved significantly. Love my little munchkins but boy do things change in many ways once you have kids ๐
Facial hair! I’ve had 3 children and with everyone it has gotten worse, especially under my chin!
Yes my body is shaped different, of course I’m also battling some other issues I may have not known I had prior to pregnancy such as pcos. I have also developed an allergy to ham which everyone finds weird but the reaction leaves no doubt. I buy same or half size bigger shoes mostly for comfort and stability. My hair is more wavy so I enjoy new ways to style. Bladder control only temporarily an issue but I do kegals. I was just surprised how much muscle I lost after delivery. Three years later I still feel less strong.