Let’s talk postpartum. Not postpartum workouts. Not postpartum how do I fit back into my old clothes. That I know of, that is the only socially acceptable side effect of giving birth to talk about is weight gain. After having my son, I went back to work at seven weeks postpartum, almost eight. I consider myself lucky for that as it is standard for women to go back to work after six weeks. I also consider myself lucky that was able to take my son with me to work until he was ten weeks old. I worked part-time (28 hours a week) and this was difficult to say the least. I was still learning how to be a mother, but it was not difficult in the sense of taking care of him. It was difficult in the sense of I was still peeing myself. Not so socially acceptable side effect of giving birth is lack of bladder control. In three-quarters of women urinary incontinence persists for TWELVE YEARS after birth. That is what this blog will be about. Talking about WOMEN and the challenges we face after giving birth. It is the most beautiful experience I have ever had, and one I never realized I was strong enough for until I had no choice but to be.

I felt so prepared for giving birth. I read the books and blogs, and always knew exactly what fruit my little one was as big as week by week. I feel that the information I needed was out there and accessible. I have not experienced this postpartum.

Newborns are a joy. As soon as they are here our focus shifts to them. What we created is beautiful. What we go through after is not as pretty, but it needs to be talked about so that we know we are not alone. To join the fight for maternity leave in the United States. To know how to take care of ourselves and that we deserve to be taken care of the same as our little ones, with care and compassion and gentleness. Not that we need to fit into our old clothes for our old bodies that lived a whole different life than the one we’re living now. Go shopping mama. Buy new clothes mama.

Sincerely, someone who is entirely tired of people commenting on postpartum bodies.