After you have given birth, you may feel alert, happy and emotionally satisfied or you may feel bruised and battered, dazed and exhausted.

This is all perfectly normal.

The recovery period after having a baby is rarely discussed. After you give birth, your body goes through many changes. Knowing what to expect can help you deal with these changes.

Expect to be tired for the first few weeks after having a baby. The exhaustion of delivering your baby combined with the lack of sleep when caring for a newborn can be overwhelming. Be sure to get as much rest as you can.