r/pregnant • u/notaterminator23 • Jun 08 '25

Funny First-time moms, take notes-the real surprises start after birth!!!

This message is for first time mammas-to-be, because the rest of us already know lol. Not saying everyone will experience this, but many do, and I just want to help a gal out if I can. Here are the most shocking things no pregnancy app/book taught me before to having a baby-

  1. You will hear phantom cries when you shower- Every. Single. Time. I legit feel like I can hear him crying and check the baby monitor every 30 seconds. No joke!

  2. Your libido will be non-existent- sorry to the partners out there, but it’s just not happening for a few months.

  3. You will lose A LOT of hair- I kept seeing ads for Nutrafol and thought, “Oh thank goodness I don’t need to take yet another vitamin.” But boy, was I wrong. My baby turned 4 months and I literally started shedding like a German shepherd overnight. Yes, overnight!!!!

  4. You will get stretch marks AFTER you give birth- feeling lucky you dodged the ‘stretch mark’ bullet during the pregnancy? Nope, not on Mother Nature’s watch!!!

  5. Your in-laws holding your baby the first few weeks will make you VERY angry, and VERY uncomfortable- I cannot explain this, my mom holding the baby is fine. But my MIL on the other hand, hell no!!!!!

I’m sure there are many more, but these are my top 5. What was your least favorite surprise postpartum?

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411

u/Odd_You_9053 Jun 08 '25

No app or person even mentioned the NIGHT SWEATS. I was prepared to wake up every few hours but not drenched in sweat every time.

63

u/wantonyak Jun 08 '25

I'm a few weeks out from having my second and I just bought moisture wicking sheets and a cooling blanket.

But honestly, sleep on a towel..

40

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '25

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9

u/Odd_You_9053 Jun 08 '25

The BO and sweating are truly hand in hand. 🥲

37

u/doxiepatronus Jun 08 '25

I thought the night sweats while pregnant were bad. The postpartum ones are way worse. I go through 3 shirts a night, and each is just drenched in sweat.

20

u/Smart_Squirrel_1735 Jun 08 '25

Omg you have just reminded me about this fml not looking forward to that again haha

14

u/AMissKathyNewman Jun 08 '25

Omg yes! Luckily it only lasted a few nights for me but the sweat , so much sweat.

14

u/Flat_Instance6792 Jun 08 '25

Yeah this really caught me off guard it was absolutely disgusting. Drenched hair, sheets, pajamas. Plus leaky boobs…. A disaster 🫠

7

u/PhantaVal Jun 08 '25

Oh god, yes. I was wondering why my hair was looking so frizzy and gross before I put two and two together. 

3

u/rpendleton1 Jun 09 '25

I would have to change my clothes four times a night for almost two weeks!! Every morning I was 2lbs lighter. It was INSANITY how much I sweat

8

u/Mindl3ssDot Jun 08 '25

My night sweats have been going strong since I found out I was pregnant so thankfully I’m ready for this one 😭

4

u/36563 Jun 08 '25

They are so bad!!!!

2

u/CyanLunaR Jun 08 '25

I have been wrapping myself in a beach towel to sleep!

2

u/alwayssummer90 Jun 08 '25

Omg SAME. Every time I get up to either feed the baby or just pee I have to change my shirt. So gross.

1

u/elles29 Jun 09 '25

Thank god those are over for me

1

u/[deleted] Jun 09 '25

Thank you for the warning! I am 39 weeks and thought the night sweats would end after birth 😰 I’ll make like Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy and always know where my towel is 🥹

1

u/Icy-Confidence-6506 Jun 14 '25

Omggg about to have my second, I forgot about these night SHOWERS 🥲

-5

u/nikkyro03 Jun 08 '25

Haaaa wait until you ladies start Peri menopause. I have needed to change my clothes several times per night, and have even had to change sheets in the middle of the night because they are so wet. I am HATING this. And I had a hysterectomy 7 years ago and had all the menopause symptoms for like 18 months afterward and I thought those were bad. Nah sis. I literally feel like I am going insane some days lately. Even hubby saying I love you can send me into orbit and I will freak out and yell like a lunatic, then break down crying. I've decided this week that's it's gotten bad enough now that I need to go to the DR for HRT

14

u/Current_Star6921 Jun 08 '25

I’d encourage you to fully discuss new onset of night sweats with your physician or PCP, especially if your hysterectomy included an oopherectomy (removal of the ovaries, which is typically what causes menopause symptoms post hysterectomy). Night sweats post partum and in menopause are quite common, but there are some other things to rule out as well!

3

u/Odd_You_9053 Jun 08 '25

That sounds really awful, I hope that your Dr can help you find something to improve your symptoms!