Hygiene for New Mothers

I've read and heard many times stories about new mothers who don't manage to shower very often.

It seemed to bizarre to me at the time. Not find ten minutes to shower? Seriously?

I found out that yes, seriously, showering gets shuffled out of the priority list. I found out quickly. They let me take a shower in the hospital on Monday morning before they started me on the pitocin drip--remember she was born the following late morning. I didn't shower until the following (Wednesday) afternoon just before we were released from the hospital. Gross? Yes. But I just didn't care. A nurse took me into the bathroom and cleaned me up well enough that I made it with brushing my teeth and hair and keeping on top of having deodorant on.

Instead of boring you with the long, drawn-out story of the drama of lactation for my first-born I'll suffice it to say that I'm taking an herbal supplement called Fenugreek to stimulate my milk production.

Interestingly enough, one of the side effects of fenugreek is a changed odor in your sweat and urine.

But it's not a foul smell at all. Believe it or not, it's the smell of maple.

So now, when I skip a shower I don't even have to worry about body odor. I just have to worry about not driving myself to I-hop for some buttermilk pancakes drenched in syrup.

Though I am curious about what's going to happen when I start working out again and really work up a sweat...good thing we have plenty of pancake mix and syrup on hand.