These Postpartum Symptoms are Surprisingly Normal

Instructor of Nursing Victoria Cuomo, MSN, FNP-BC, shares her expertise with Parents.com in an article detailing postpartum symptoms that, while completely normal, often take new moms by surprise. In the days and weeks—even months—after birth, common symptoms that may occur include shivering, night sweats, cramping, hair loss, stomach flutters, lower extremity swelling, and anxiety, among others.

“One of the biggest surprises for new moms during postpartum recovery is how many symptoms they [will] experience that no one really warned them about,” Cuomo says. “Most expect some pain and exhaustion, but they’re often unprepared for the hormonal and physical changes that can last for weeks or even months.”