5 unpleasant surprises after delivery

1. When you discover that you are pregnant, you know that from that moment on your life will change forever. Not only is there much to look forward to, the baby's first smile, for example, but a lot will also change physically. Of course you will gain weight and you may experience ailments such as swollen ankles, but there are also changes that you do not expect immediately.

Larger feet

1. In many women, the size and shape of the foot change permanently. Because they gain weight, the arch of the foot sags and they suffer from flat feet. This occurs during pregnancy and does not disappear afterwards. Recent research from the University of Iowa shows that in 60 to 70 percent of women, both the length and width of the foot increase. In some women, the length even increases by one centimeter. The change was only seen in women who were pregnant for the first time. The second, third and subsequent pregnancies had less or no effect on the shape of the foot. Look on the positive side: you can go shopping for shoes.

Baby out, belly gone?

1. Many women who are pregnant with their first child expect that when the baby is out, their belly disappears immediately. But unfortunately it doesn't go that fast. The day after delivery, most women still look like they are heavily pregnant. It takes about six to eight weeks for the uterus to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size. To get back in shape and lose the pounds, a healthy lifestyle is necessary. Training the core, especially your abdominal and back muscles, is also necessary.

Not in the mood for sex

1. If you don't feel like having sex in the months after giving birth, you're not alone. There are women who only feel like having sex again after a year. During the first period, women are so focused on children and family that they have little time for themselves. And that includes sex. In addition, the hormone balance is different so that the lust is less. The good news is that lust will return over time.

Smaller breasts

1. During pregnancy, breasts enlarge and many women expect this to continue after delivery, especially if they are breastfeeding. But no ... Once you stop breastfeeding, they are weaker and often smaller too. It is not uncommon for women to have a cup size smaller after pregnancy. And that's not all. The more children you have, the more your breasts tend to sag. You can't just blame breastfeeding. A 2008 study of 93 women also showed other risk factors for sagging breasts, such as a higher BMI, more pregnancies, larger bra size for pregnancy, smoking and older age.

Hair Loss

1. Most women have fuller and shinier hair during pregnancy. After giving birth, your hair will go back to normal and that could mean that you seem to be losing more hair than usual. During pregnancy, your estrogen level is higher and that ensures that you have less hair loss. After pregnancy, the estrogen level drops again and your hair falls out to the normal amount. Usually, between six and twelve months, it will be completely as it was before the pregnancy.