I'll break down the changes for you.
Arms:
After the baby is born, a woman's arms are immediately different. She is no longer able to do ordinary things, like eat a meal or fold laundry. She has to compensate for the sudden added bulk of her bundle of joy that is constantly residing in the crook of her arm or propped on her chest, supported by her arm. Gone are the days when she even has two arms. She may even experience the phenomena of becoming ambidextrous as her non dominant hand suddenly finds itself less submissive! The change in her arms closely correlates with the change in her...
Feet:
When a woman loses the use of at least one arm, her feet simultaneously gain new duties. Just as the new mother obsessively watches for her new baby to develop the pincer grip in its fingers, the new mother develops the same grip, only with her toes! Blankets on the floor, dropped items, coffee tables with a coveted magazine on top: nothing is out of reach of a Mommy holding a peacefully sleeping cherub! Not as long as her legs can reach it!
Breasts:
Perhaps this is the greatest change. These two items may have once been a source of a small amount of pride from the moment the mother, as a preteen, first perceived a minute change in size. The first training bra, though totally embarrassing to buy, in a public place, with her mother (of all people!) in tow, was a private trophy! Yes, these two items are no longer the same. They are now an even bigger (figuratively and literally) source of pride! They now sustain life. They are a source of nutrients, and comfort. Once the baby is born, the change that the breasts go through is one of the most important and wonderful changes in the mother's body.
Fingers:
Mommy's fingers start to look different shortly after pregnancy. Her fingernails are dull, colorless, and vary in length; strangely, she doesn't seem to mind because she suddenly finds herself with a new accessory on her fingers: a tiny fist! One of the sweetest moments I have experienced was the first moment that my tiny person wrapped her fingers around my finger and held on. Sure, it's a reflex. Baby is born with this ability. But there is bonding in that touch, and that tiny hand will continue to hold mommy's hand forever.
Heart:
A new mother's heart goes through a very strange transformation. Suddenly, mommy's heart somehow exists in two (or more when multiples are involved!) different places: inside of mommy's chest, and outside of her body in the form of her child(ren). She also experiences odd palpitations as she watches her precious angel do new things and learn new things. Her heart stops as baby teeters on her side in the midst of her first attempt at rolling over. It beats faster as baby begins to stand for the first time. It leaps into her throat when she hears a sudden piercing cry when baby is hurt, be it because of shots, teething, or gas. It doesn't even seem possible, but the piece of her heart that still remains in her chest feels even larger than it was before baby came along, as she swells with love and pride for her baby. And, in my case, mine swells with pride when I see her daddy love on her in the same way I do.
Brain:
Oh, mommy brain! No matter how well-educated the brain, it has the ability to turn to mush and go on auto pilot at the same time when the baby arrives! Lack of sleep can do crazy things to a mommy! She finds the car keys in the refrigerator, she calls the dog by the baby's name, she switches words in sentences without meaning to ("Can you diaper her change?"), and she finds herself at baby's first doctor's appointment without the diaper bag (but with the baby!). Somehow, she still gains a wealth of new knowledge without having to dedicate hours to study! New information that is vital to baby's survival takes the place of silly useless information that she used to know (seriously, where are the car keys again??) because baby is the number one thing on her mind. Conversations revolve around how long breast milk can remain in the refrigerator before going bad and the tooth that her three month old is cutting. Date nights wind up involving a trip to Babies R Us after dinner and before frozen yogurt. Baby takes over the brain. And somehow, mommy doesn't mind!
Face:
If you were unaware that a woman was a new mother, you might think that her face contradicts itself. Her smile radiates and lights up a room, while her eyes reflect the exhaustion of sleepless nights. She is miserable and exuberant at the exact same moment. Just mention the baby's name, and whatever her face had conveyed disappears and is replaced by a wide smile. Her face may not be as primed and painted as it once was, but it is the most beautiful face!
*It should be noted that most of these body changes are also seen in new daddies!
These body changes are only a few of the things that I have experienced as a new mommy. Of course, there are the negatives, such as the fact that maternity pants are too big now, and my regular pants are too small. I don't always feel glamorous, or even vaguely put together. But just remembering WHY my body has gone through these changes and the ways the changes benefit my sweet Ella Kate -- remembering that makes me feel beautiful. The way Ella looks at me when she wakes up in the morning -- that makes me feel beautiful. The way her daddy, my wonderful husband, looks at me when I'm holding her -- I know I'm beautiful to him.
(Yes, even with spit up running down my shirt that I may be wearing for the third day in a row because it's easy to nurse in!)
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