How Giving Birth Forced Me To Get Real About My Health

There’s a lot that comes as a surprise with a first pregnancy, but I could’ve never anticipated just how often I’d have to go to the doctor. As a relatively healthy 27 year-old, I only went to the doctor once a year for my general check up and gyno visit. But by the time my first round of first trimester maternity appointments were made, I was already overwhelmed — and they only became more frequent the closer I got to my due date. Across the course of those nine months, I got very comfortable with paper gowns, stirrups, ultrasounds, needles, personal questions, and lots of poking and prodding.

To clarify, I’m not a shy person by nature, but I did need to get adjusted to the intimacy of it all. That included discussing mucus plugs, bloody shows, bowel movements, sex while pregnant — and a whole lot of other details I’ll spare you of here. But all of this was worth it to make sure my baby was born healthy. And after almost 36 hours of labor and the most serious medical procedure I’d ever had, she was.

While taking care of a newborn was a lot of work, taking care of myself after giving birth was a whole other beast. I expected to have to change a lot of baby diapers. I wasn’t expecting to have to change my own. The evolution of my health — and how I made it a priority — went from occasional maintenance at best to frequent upkeep. I also got way more comfortable talking about my health. It didn’t matter the topic and it didn’t matter with whom.

Before having my baby, I would’ve never spoken about vaginal pH balance in casual conversation, but when my friend told me she might be experiencing some unusual discharge, I immediately told her about my recent Walmart discovery of the female-owned brand pH-D Feminine Health and its Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories. After all, once you have a room full of people staring at you while you poop yourself — yes, this is a thing that happens during birth — a little talk about discharge is nothing.

The same went for period and sex talk, too. I found myself turning to social media of all places to rant about postpartum periods and intercourse. Between my friends who were moms long before me, and my friends who had no idea what motherhood had in store, there was a whole lot of information to go around. I learned about period underwear and a new brand of organic tampons, Lola, made with 100% organic cotton. So many of my online friends swore by the Black-owned brand The Honey Pot Company for regular feminine care and upkeep.

To be honest, it was actually refreshing to be that open about the things that would affect all of us at some point or another. It was even more refreshing to realize that the items we needed to make our feminine health a priority weren’t exclusive or expensive. Most, if not all of them, are easy to find at Walmart and are affordable. And because making my health a priority doesn’t end at having a baby, I know I’ll be able to stop by Walmart any time I need to update my routine.

Whether I choose to have another child and need a Modern Fertility ovulation or pregnancy test or want to make my transition to menopause a little smoother with Nature's Bounty® Optimal Solutions Menopause Support, it’s a relief to know I won’t be overwhelmed again. All I’ll need to do is make a quick trip to Walmart’s feminine care aisle on my regular shopping trips — or even easier, add them into my online cart.

To think, only two short years ago, I couldn’t even imagine myself in a hospital for any reason, much less giving birth. Now, I go around telling people my whole birth story, complete with gory details, tips, and product recommendations. It’s true that having a kid changes you, I just never expected for it to change how I cared for myself, too.

This post is sponsored by Walmart.