🎙️ Episode 43: My First 8 Weeks Postpartum: The Do's and Don'ts of a 3rd Time Mom

🎙️ Episode 43: More Than Real Estate Podcast | My First 8 Weeks Postpartum: The Do's and Don'ts of a 3rd Time Mom In this episode, Ashley breaks down the first seven weeks postpartum - the pain, the healing, RSV, anxiety, and what she's learning about protecting her mental health as a mom of three.✨ Day 2 Hit Like a Ton of Bricks - The first night in the hospital was rough - pain level 10, nauseous, couldn't move. She tried Tylenol and Motrin alone (like she did with her first two babies) but the pain was too intense to manage. She finally took hydrocodone. It wasn't a magic fix, but it took her pain from a 10 to manageable.✨ Nerve Pain & Gabapentin - With her third C-section, she had scar tissue built up from the first two. Her nerves were trying to reconnect - felt like little sticks poking at her incision. The midwife gave her gabapentin for nerve pain. One issue: it made her irritable (she felt like yelling at her boys). She stopped after 2-3 doses.✨ Baby Girl's Sleeping Stretch - Winnie was sleeping 4-5 hour stretches from the start - huge win compared to her first son who was up every 1 hour 45 minutes. The key: making sure the baby is super full before sleep.✨ RSV at 11 Days Postpartum - he ice storm hit Nashville when Winnie was 11 days old. She caught RSV from her older brothers. Ashley's postpartum anxiety hit 10 out of 10 - she stayed up three nights watching her baby breathe. But she trusted her gut: oxygen was good, no retractions in the nose. She monitored at home instead of the ER.✨ Nursing & Breastfeeding - Nursing has come easy this time. Winnie's a good latcher, Ashley has oversupply. But she's protecting her mental health: if nursing ever impacts her well-being, she'll stop. She learned from her first postpartum (crippling anxiety and depression) - she knows the signs.✨ The Real Talk - Hard moments are inevitable in postpartum. But by the third kid, you have perspective. You trust your intuition. You know your babies' rhythms. You spot overtiredness before the meltdown happens. And if you're struggling - get help. Ashley got counseling after her first. Don't be ashamed to reach out.