You've been a new parent for 1 week! 👏

Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH & Adda Bjarnadóttir, MS, LN

Can you believe it's been one week since you had a baby? You're officially a superhero. Yes, we know, we know — you don't know what you're doing! It's OK. No one ever does. Take a deep breath and get ready to figure it out. You are totally ready.

What in the world is happening with your hormones?

Well, lots. Immediately after birth, certain hormone levels that rose considerably during pregnancy (estrogen and progesterone) drop off massively, leaving you feeling like you're taking a ride on an emotional roller coaster. Other hormones (prolactin and oxytocin) begin to rise in their place, which sounds really great, but it turns out — not so much.

Both prolactin and oxytocin rise and fall depending on when your baby is nursing, so you're still going to experience a lot of ups and downs. One minute you may feel euphoric, and the next minute, you're sobbing on the couch. You really can't help it, and it's totally normal.

Just know that these levels will all continue to stabilize in the coming weeks. If you feel like there's no improvement after several weeks, or if you're having thoughts that concern you, bring it up with your caregiver. It's important to speak openly about how you're feeling during this time.

You've got 99 problems and pooping is definitely one of them

We can't avoid it, so let's talk about your poop. Most women will have trouble with constipation in the first week after birth for various reasons. Some of this comes from fear, such as being worried that you'll pop your stitches from pushing too hard (you won't), while a lot of it is physical.

Your abdominal muscles have been stretched out and weakened from pregnancy and, if you've had a C-section, your bowels will be even slower to recover after the surgery. Add in that you may be taking pain medication and iron supplements, and you have the perfect recipe for bathroom troubles. Most hospitals won't release you until you've had one bowel movement, but you may still have issues even after that.

Moving around (meaning simply taking short walks around the house) helps tremendously and eating foods rich in fiber can too. If you're taking care with your diet and nothing is happening, talk to your caregiver about a stool softener.

How are you really feeling this week?

Whoa! That… happened. You did that. You really did that! And, even though you're probably over-the-moon in love with your new baby, it's possible that you may also be feeling a little bit bummed if the birth didn't go exactly as you had hoped. Lots of new parents feel disappointed if they weren't able to follow their original birth plan.

Maybe you had planned on a 100 percent unmedicated birth and it didn't work out. Maybe you ended up needing to go in for an emergency C-section at the last minute. Maybe that playlist you worked so hard on just ended up sending you into a murderous rage, and you only made it through the first three songs.

Whatever went on during the birth that you’re hanging on to because it wasn't part of how you envisioned things playing out originally, just let it go. Birth is a lot like life. You can make all the plans you want, but life has a way of going in all sorts of directions, and your plans need to change when life changes.

What matters now is that your baby is here and so are you. Take a deep breath (or three or four), cuddle that little baby close to your skin, and let it all go. You did everything you were supposed to do. Job well done.

Fuel your body with postnatal vitamins

Ritual's Essential Postnatal has key nutrients to support you postpartum and throughout lactation, and it's delivered right to your door every month.

Learn More

Eat

5 rejuvenating soups for postpartum recovery. You need lots of nutrients right now, and few things are as comforting as a bowl of soup.

Easy Chicken Marbella. This delicious meal contains plenty of key nutrients as you continue to heal, and its prunes will help you… in other important ways.

Drink

Warm liquids such as warm water with lemon or herbal teas to help with constipation.

Listen

Fourth Trimester Podcast. Mom Sarah Trott co-hosts this podcast with her doula, Esther Gallagher. This is a good podcast for brand-new parents as they specifically focus on the span of time just after birth, aka the fourth trimester.

Your baby at 1 week

At 1 week old, your baby is still adjusting to the outside world. If you're wondering why your baby spends so much time staring at your eyebrow, it's because a 1-week old baby's vision is still pretty blurry, and they can really only make out objects that are 8 to 15 inches away.

Your baby may lose weight in the first week as excess fluid comes out in the form of urine. It’s completely normal, so don't panic.

Your baby's sleep schedule is totally unpredictable at this point, but you've probably gotten to know the newborn motto by now: Eat, Poop, Sleep, Repeat. Hey, that's actually a pretty good way to live right about now — you should try it, too.