Once you've been home for a few days, you might be a little antsy to get out of the house or feel pressure to get back into the swing of things with your other children, pets, or housework. But Dr. Levitt warns against overexerting yourself: "You need to avoid doing heavy housework (e.g. vacuuming, laundry, cleaning floors), lifting children other than your baby (and even then, do it carefully), or exert[ing] yourself too much by climbing stairs repeatedly." It's all about promoting wound healing, and pushing yourself too hard could result in infection or prolonged recovery time.
So if you didn't get enough fresh air from visiting the doctor for your two-week incision check or taking your baby to the pediatrician, try venturing out to your front yard or maybe just moving from your bed to the couch. Even a small change of scenery will help distract you from the fact that, if you're like me, you have Neosporin on your nipples, a swollen stomach, and faded Sharpie markings still outlining your incision.
Emotionally, you'll probably be hitting some walls as your hormones adjust. And if you're breastfeeding, you might be dealing with latching issues, engorgement, and nipple pain. But don't worry — you'll only remember the highlights (i.e. adorable newborn!), as those miracle hormones do their work to help you forget the rough parts later down the road.
