WTF uterus shrinking contractions?!

rainydayluck

So, I would read in threads about some contractions that ladies said they got after they baby was born to shrink the uterus back down.

I'd think, huh, guess I never got that. No one thought to warn me that first time moms generally don't feel them after birth, but with each subsequent pregnancy they get worse!

These cramps/contractions suck. That's what I get for thinking I got off easy with DD1, ha ha.

KBowen715

I noticed them after DS1 (12 years ago), but wasn't particularly bothered by them. DS2 (9.5 years ago), HURT.

I'm totally nervous for after this baby.

dakota01

OMG yes they are awful and get worse each time! I am super nervous about them because I am also having a tubal so that is supposed to make them that much worse....ugh yeah

MrsT2008

My friend (who just had her second a couple weeks ago) just mentioned this to me. I felt nothing like contractions after DD but now I'm worried about them!

meli1025

Oh great, I remember them with DS.....especially while nursing. I didn't know they get worse in subsequent pregnancies!

LDQAM516

Yes they suuuuck.  And breastfeeding triggers this and helps your uterus contract and get back to its normal size.  I remember dreading to feed the first 24 hours because it was awful pain.

awc1986

This sounds like fun! Just another thing for us FTMs to look forward to! My SIL was telling me about phantom kicks too. She said her friend actually went back to the hospital a couple of days after she had her baby because she was convinced there was another in there. There wasn't.

rainydayluck

awc1986 said:

This sounds like fun! Just another thing for us FTMs to look forward to! My SIL was telling me about phantom kicks too. She said her friend actually went back to the hospital a couple of days after she had her baby because she was convinced there was another in there. There wasn't.

From my experience and what the docs and nurses said, FTMs don't really feel them. That's why I wasn't expecting this. With DD I never felt this. It's something for STMs (or more) to have fun with. Not to say FTMs can't get them bad, it's just not typical.

ns1

Ick! I remember them a little with DD, especially when breastfeeding. I guess this is another postpartum gem to look forward to!

ksyknelvr73

Yes they hurt so bad! I had them pretty bad with DS and he was my first so I can only imagine how bad they will be this time.

chillypenguin

Yes, mine hurt so much worse this second time, especially when breastfeeding! That was the main reason I took my pain meds (I also had an episiotomy, but that didn't bother me as much!).

cnbean

Great, just what I want to look forward to. More pain!

SMM1986

I don't remember them from either birth, but I'm thinking breastfeeding triggered mine since this is my first time doing that. Holy hell they hurt.

rainydayluck

Kimbus22 said:

This is not what I want to hear.  I didn't notice them at all the first time.

I don't breastfeed though.  Maybe they won't be as bad then and it'll just take longer for me to shrink down?

No such luck for me. I didn't breastfeed either one and these f-ing suck. I have to stop and breathe through them. Today's have been the worst.

amroke

Ugh I didn't know this. They were a surprise the first time, but not super painful.

HARLEYSMOM2010

Yea I'm a 3TM and my baby is about 36 hours old now and omg these contractions are killer and yes breastfeeding makes them way worse tylonal does eff all to help so I hope they go away soon!

ho11yday

Now I'm concerned. I don't remember feeling them after DS. I didn't feel the need for any pain medication (ibu, apap or nothing) after DS. But yeah....

So. How long does it take them to go away?

vszapp

Yikes. I felt them pretty badly with my first. I'm super excited to know that they will likely be worse this time.

Esbi25

My sister mentioned how bad these were with her second and third. I believe she got Percocet for them. I sort of forgot about it and then a woman at work with 4 kids told me how much worse it is after your first. She recommended getting a girdle type thing to have snug around your stomach and said that for her that made it less painful, so I've been considering getting one of those. I was actually going to mention it to my ob tomorrow to get his opinion on it.

bumpuser9353653

Say what?? This is news to me. So not looking forward to feeling crampy all the time!

MissLadyTay

Yes, they hurt! I am nursing now which brings them on. I keep getting gushes of blood in my pad while nursing too.

chillypenguin

I'm also curious how long they last. DD2 is one week old. The cramping has been better overall the past couple days, but it got really bad again tonight.

jenb_99

I was told to expect these after I had DS, but I never did. The Pitocin I was on for an entire day after my C-section didn't give me noticeable contractions, and even though I did get a bit of a period-crampy ache for about a week when I fed DS or pumped, it was never outrageously painful. I'm hoping that's my experience again this time, but with the way this pregnancy has gone for me, I'm not counting on it. :P

chknma

I remember them with DD1, but with DD2....wow. Thankfully they are finally letting up

dakota01

I think they last the first few weeks. Back in the old days they told ladies they had to stay in bed for 10 days till uterus went back down...so I'm hoping 10 days! But, like I said that was the OLD days.

JKTTC1

I got them real bad after DS was born but also I was breast feeding and told the May be more intense. They are no joke though too!