As you enter the final weeks of pregnancy, your nine-month to-do list may seem like it’s coming to an end. Go to gynecologist appointments – check. Take a birth class – check it out. Set up a nursery – check. Buy diapers – check. Prepare for postpartum body changes – hmm.

It’s normal to feel a little in the dark about what’s happening to your body after giving birth. Everyone is quick to talk about how to take care of your baby, but taking care of yourself is another story. In fact, only 47% of mothers leave the hospital feeling ready to take care of themselves after giving birth, according to a BabyCenter study. But that’s ending now, thanks to nurse Sara, BSN, RN, EFM-C, mother of three and “Labor Junkie RN” on social media. She talks about the postpartum symptoms that she experienced firsthand and that shocked her patients the most.

1. Expect vaginal bleeding, even if you have a C-section

Maybe a friend suggested you buy postpartum underwear pads. ‘My period yet?’ you may have wondered. It won’t happen yet, but those thick pads will come in handy during your recovery. It is very common and completely normal to bleed for up to eight weeks after giving birth. Yes, even if you had a surgical birth.

“After the baby is born, the placenta detaches and leaves behind an open wound on the inner wall of the uterus where it was attached,” explains Sarah. “We see vaginal bleeding and spotting as it heals and closes over the next six weeks.” If you had a caesarean section, the bleeding may last less, but it still occurs.

Read more about postpartum bleeding here.

2. You will continue to have contractions after the baby is born.

They won’t be as intense as 10-centimeter contractions, Sara says. But expect severe pelvic cramps in the first few days after giving birth, especially if you’re breastfeeding.

“This is actually the body’s way of trying to prevent postpartum hemorrhage (blood loss that could be very serious),” she explains. “After your baby is born, we deliver the placenta and there’s an open wound where it was previously attached to the lining of the uterus.” Because of this, she adds, the uterus, which is a muscle, tries to prevent bleeding by contracting tightly, narrowing the blood vessels to the uterus and slowing the bleeding to a safer rate.”

Although mild pain from contractions is normal, tell your doctor if you experience severe pain or have additional symptoms such as fever, pain when urinating or an unpleasant discharge as these could be signs of infection.

Read more about postpartum cramps and contractions here.

3. Night sweats can hit you right away

After giving birth, there is a huge change in hormones: Your body experiences a sharp drop in estrogen. “For a lot of people, this causes postpartum sweating,” says Sarah. “I experienced them with my second child and, frankly, I hated it.”

Often these sweats occur at night, just when you are trying to get as much sleep as possible with your newborn.

“That was true for me, I would wake up at night completely wet as if I had just stepped out of the pool,” she adds. “It can help keep your room cool at night and have some water around until things settle down.” Try setting your thermostat somewhere between 65 and 68 degrees, and make sure those maternity-friendly postpartum pajamas are made from comfortable, breathable fabrics. Luckily, those bouts of middle-of-the-night sweats should only last a few weeks after giving birth.

Read more about night sweats after childbirth here.

4. Your hair will fall out in clumps about four months after birth

Don’t panic, this is completely normal and that will start growing again! It can be alarming to see a lot of hair being washed down the drain when you shower, but know that this is an expected result of hormonal changes after childbirth.

“During pregnancy we often see a lot of hair growth from taking prenatal vitamins and all that extra blood volume to feed the baby and the placenta,” says Sarah. “Then 4 months after 50 to 90% of us are born with postpartum hair loss.”

Why after four months postpartum? Your progesterone levels during pregnancy have extended the growth phase of your hair – less shedding each day. So when your hormone levels drop after giving birth, more hair goes into a resting phase and then falls out three to five months later. “Thankfully, this is almost always temporary, and once your baby is a year old, we see the shedding diminish and we start to see fuller hair.”

Invest in strong hairspray and cute headbands as you navigate regrowth.

Read more about hair loss after childbirth here.

Remember: the postpartum experience can feel different for everyone. If you are worried or have questions about your recovery, your provider can help you along the way.