Top 17 Postpartum Questions, Answered

After months (even years!) of anticipation, your baby is finally here. While you've done your research on what to expect with a new baby, you may find yourself with a deluge of random questions you never thought to ask before. We've got the answers to some of the most common new parent concerns.

1. Will My Baby's Head Always Be the Same Shape That It is Right Now?

Deep breaths; the cone-head thing is temporary.

A quick anatomy lesson: "Our skulls are put together in pieces," says David L. Hill, M.D., a Parents advisor and author of Dad to Dad: Parenting Like a Pro. "Those pieces slide over each other, so the baby is able to get out of the birth canal." This is called molding and can cause many funny head shapes, all normal. Your baby's head will round out in about a week or two.

Incidentally, babies born via cesarean section generally have a rounder head at birth because it doesn't get squeezed on the way out.

2. Should I Stress That My Baby Didn't Get a 10 Out of 10 on the Apgar?

Actually, no baby receives a score of 10. "The measurement technically goes up to 10, but doctors don't give a 10 as a matter of superstition," says Dr. Hill.

About one minute after birth and then again five minutes later, a doctor, midwife, or nurse will assess your baby's breathing, heart rate, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color. Each category is scored a 0, 1, or 2 depending on the observed condition. A total score of 7, 8, or 9 is normal; if an infant scores below 7, extra medical attention is given.

Parents should also know that a low Apgar score is in no way an indication of future health.

3. Can I Get Food Delivered to My Hospital?

Yes! Eventually, you'll realize you're starving because, well, those clear liquids you were living on to get the baby out don't cut it. "C-section patients have to wait several hours to eat, but a mom who has an uncomplicated vaginal delivery can eat immediately," says Kim Rodgers, a labor and delivery nurse in Philadelphia.

Your hospital may have a menu folder for new parents, so you can order from local restaurants or get delivery from a food app.

4. Why Do I Put the Baby to My Breast When No Milk is Coming Out?

Putting your baby on your breast, even if no milk is coming out, cues your body to start making milk. Plus, the antibody-rich colostrum you produce first is what babies are meant to get for the first three days, says Meredith Fein Lichtenberg, a board-certified lactation consultant in New York City.

And remember: Your newborn's stomach capacity is approximately 1 teaspoon at birth. If you're overwhelmed by the "try to breastfeed" directive, lay your baby on your bare chest, wearing only a diaper. This is great for regulating their temperature, it feels lovely for both of you, and it often results in spontaneous latching, says Lichtenberg.

If you need help, be sure to ask for it. Say, "I would like some assistance with breastfeeding. Who's the best person here to help me with that?"

5. Should I Take Pain Meds?

You don't have to, but there are certainly safe options if you need to, says Stuart Lustberg, M.D., an ob-gyn in Huntington, New York, who's been delivering babies for more than 30 years.

There is a big push by government agencies, hospitals, and physicians to decrease the use of prescription pain meds due to the risk of developing a dependency or addiction. Dr. Lustberg's rule of thumb: If you've had a vaginal delivery, try to stick with OTC pain relief to soothe cramping. "You'll heal the same without prescription meds, and you'll avoid their side effect of severe constipation," says Dr. Lustberg.

But if you've had a C-section, the constipation is likely going to be worth the much-needed relief. Even if you're not planning to have a C-section, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor now, just in case, about how they approach pain relief after surgery.

6. How Much Bleeding is Too Much?

Be prepared to soak through several industrial-size pads the first day after delivery, whether you delivered vaginally or by C-section.

"The morning after giving birth, most patients will pass a blood clot that can be as large as a tangerine," says Dr. Lustberg. It is common to feel freaked out by this. But it gets better with each day. If you're breastfeeding, you can expect a gush of blood each time your baby latches on. However, nursing lessens your overall bleeding because it helps the uterus contract faster.

7. Wait, How Much Does My Baby Weigh?

It used to be that babies were weighed and foot-printed immediately after delivery, but that's no longer the case in many hospitals. "Now we encourage skin-to-skin bonding as soon as the umbilical cord is cut," says Rodgers. "We try to allow a full hour for that plus breastfeeding; then we'll do the measurements."

8. Is It Too Soon to Have a Glass of Champagne?

You definitely deserve a celebratory toast. "Get through your recovery period—two hours for vaginal, around 12 hours for a C-section—and then one drink is fine," says Dr. Lustberg.

As for whether your baby will get some bubbly from your breast? "There is so little volume of colostrum that even if alcohol does get in, it's a tiny amount," says Lichtenberg.

9. Can I Get Up and Walk Around?

After an epidural, you must wait until the numbness wears off—usually about an hour or two, and even then, you'll still need a hand. For those who have a C-section, be prepared not to be moving much until 12 to 18 hours after delivery. Remember, you just had surgery!

Even if you have a vaginal delivery with no epidural, your nurse will still want to give you a hand when you walk to the bathroom. The reason for the kid gloves: "After you give birth, changes in your cardiovascular system greatly affect blood volume and pressure, so it's easy for you to become dizzy," says Dr. Lustberg. "You could fall and hurt yourself."

Most hospitals' policy is that even parents who have a vaginal delivery without an epidural are wheeled to the maternity wing. Just take the ride; you certainly earned it.

10. What Happens if I Touch My Baby's Head?

Ah, the scary soft spot. Now that you're a grown-up, here's the deal: "Normal touching with gentle fingertips is totally fine!" says Lichtenberg. This "be careful" concern is directed more toward toddlers and other little kids who may be around your baby—and captivated. "We probably remember being told about this precaution when we were kids, so it's become ingrained in us, but now you can let it go," Lichtenberg says.

Even more good news: The soft spot, which, medically speaking, is a space between the bones of the skull that gives your baby's headroom to grow, completely closes up by around 12 months.

11. Will It Hurt When I First Go to the Bathroom?

Urination can burn a little because of the trauma to the urethral opening, but the pain is nothing like delivering a baby. There may also be some stinging if you had a catheter (all patients with an epidural got one) or an episiotomy. "If that's the case, and your provider offers you topical sprays and ointments to numb the area, use them," says Dr. Lustberg.

You'll also get a spray bottle to spritz water on the area so you don't have to wipe since toilet paper may feel like the enemy. As for bowel movements, if you had a vaginal delivery, you should be fine, but do use the numbing cream if you had a bad tear. A C-section patient can expect some challenges with that first stool, particularly if the pain meds cause constipation. You can also get stool softeners to help you go.

12. Is My Baby's Snorting, Choking Sound Normal?

In a word, yes. "Your baby is going from living in amniotic fluid in your womb to breathing air, so there is a lot of fluid and mucus that needs to come out," says Dr. Hill. "A newborn will be pretty spitty and gaggy for about the first 24 hours of life—sometimes longer, especially if you had a C-section because the baby didn't get wrung out coming through the birth canal."

Ask your doc about it if you're worried.

13. What's That Plastic Tub in the Bathroom For?

This little tub fits inside your toilet—you fill it with warm water, and then you sit down for what's called a sitz bath. If you had any stitches, don't toss this thing aside! "Sitz baths are really helpful yet underutilized," says Dr. Lustberg.

Even if you don't feel any immediate relief there could be a long-term payoff. A sitz bath also keeps the area clean to prevent infection; remember, you may have open wounds that need TLC.

14. Is It OK to Change Into My Normal Clothes Now?

You certainly can, but holding off might be better. "I encourage moms to keep the hospital gown on, as it's a little messy down there the first day, and the thin mesh underwear you get isn't exactly leakproof," says Rodgers. "Most moms just want to put a bra on as soon as possible, which I definitely understand!"

Try wearing some adding cozy socks or slippers, a soft cardigan or hoodie, or even a bathrobe from home to help you feel more comfortable.

15. How Soon Can I First Have Sex?

Doctors recommend waiting at least six weeks after giving birth to let your body have time to heal. And even then, don't be surprised if you still experience pain. "The assumption is that the pain is from the trauma of delivery, which it definitely can be, but it also has to do with low levels of estrogen that affect the elasticity of the vaginal tissues," says Rebecca Booth, M.D., a Louisville, Kentucky, ob-gyn and author of The Venus Week.

The simple exhaustion of taking care of a newborn, along with the effects of nursing and lack of sleep, can also lead to a difficult time getting in the mood. Be patient with yourself and know that your libido will return.

16. Why Do I Feel Achy, Like I Have the Flu?

Having a baby is like running a marathon, says Dr. Lustberg. The physical exertion is unbelievable. And while only a small percentage of people can run marathons, millions deliver a baby each year.

All that pushing can even pop blood vessels in your eyes, so you may have some red postpartum peepers. It's reasonable to expect you to be achy for a few days.

"It could be arm pain, shoulder pain, groin pain," Dr. Lustberg says. "That's why we encourage patients to rest at home for as long as they can, drink lots of fluids, eat well, and stay on their prenatal vitamins for six weeks after giving birth."

17. Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me Giving Birth Was Like That?!

Well, now you can prep other parents-to-be with the info you didn't get.

"I try to be honest with my patients and tell them what to expect before they even bring it up, so I can give their concerns a positive spin," says Rodgers. "For instance, I might say, 'Yes, you may poop while you're pushing, but that means you're doing it right!' "

Dr. Lustberg agrees: "Yes, there will be blood, there will be pain, but women are strong. I don't want to tell you it will be easy, but I don't want to scare you either. The bottom line: You can do it."

Listen to the Parents "That New Mom Life" podcast for expert advice on breastfeeding, the emotional highs and lows of parenthood, sleepless nights, and more!