if you had a vaginal birth...

kck329

What was recover like for you? Was there anything that helped you heal?

My SIL just had a baby boy (yay cousins!) and I want to be able to give her some tips. Since I had an emergency c-section, my version of recovery doesn't really match hers. She had a vaginal delivery, he was sunny side up, and she had some tearing but I'm not sure how much. 

Thanks ladies!

tlxh7

I think it's really different for everyone.  I was in labor for about 19 1/2 hours, with about 2 hours of pushing.  It sucked.  She barely made it out, and I had a third degree tear.  My recovery was more emotional than anything, though.  My tear healed nicely, I had no pain (I was completely off pain meds within a week), and haven't had any complications.

But emotionally, I still struggle with how hard delivery was.  I went med-free, and I still wonder if that was the right choice.  I almost had to have a c-section because her heart rate was starting to get erratic, but I was exhausted and couldn't push any harder.

Sorry, didn't mean to go all Debbie Downer.  My biggest advice is for her to take lots of sitz baths (at least one a day), and get lots of rest.

CanuckFan03

I had crazy tearing, in a few places, but one was 3rd degree.  I took two tylenol and two advil every four hours.  My sister (who is an L&D nurse) also cut some maxi pads in half, soaked them in water, put them in individual ziplocs and put them in the freezer, so I would have ice packs past the hospital.  They were a must for the first 4 days at least. 

MommyHarrison

I had a 2nd degree tear. It was uncomfortable for about 10 days - 2 weeks. Every time I went to the bathroom, I would squirt myself with water (they gave me a bottle at the hospital) and wipe with Tucks, which helped with the burning. At the hospital, they gave me some Dermaplast and it helped quite a bit, too. I would spray it anytime I started to burn or hurt extra.

Advise her not to overdo it. I was up cooking and doing laundry and cleaning the house the day I got home from the hospital (my blood clotting issue required me to avoid lounging to recover) and I think if I had rested a little more, it might have healed even quicker. 

Congrats on your new nephew!!

MarJo03

I had a 2nd degree tear and spraying myself with warm water from the squirt bottle the hospital gives you was amazing. Also witch hazel pads, and dermoplast (I think that's what it's called) spray. Doesn't smell amazing, but made it so nice to sit down on. And leaning forward in the shower and letting the warm water run down my crack. Attractive? No. But it felt heavenly.

tokenhoser

I had a tear, and my doula recommended calendua cream (can get at health food stores). I put that on a couple times a day after I soaked in the tub, and I think it helped me heal faster.

She should sit in a bath for 10-15 minutes twice a day, also to speed healing. I'm sure her doc told her that.

Otherwise, ibuprofin and time.

kacelle

I didn't have any tearing, but I was so sore for about six weeks.  Probably because I way overdid it and took lots of walks and didn't rest like I should early on.  I also didn't take baths or use any creams for healing.  So basically, tell her to follow her doctor's orders!

McAllie5

MarJo03:

I had a 2nd degree tear and spraying myself with warm water from the squirt bottle the hospital gives you was amazing. Also witch hazel pads, and dermoplast (I think that's what it's called) spray. Doesn't smell amazing, but made it so nice to sit down on. And leaning forward in the shower and letting the warm water run down my crack. Attractive? No. But it felt heavenly.

Oh, yes. Ditto this.

I wish I had known going in that it could take weeks and weeks to feel somewhat normal down there in terms of DTD. (cough, cough) It actually still doesn't feel normal, but more normal than it did when we got the green light pp. As in it doesn't feel like someone is trying to shove a baseball bat in me anymore.

Sorry to be a bit graphic.

(Edit to remove failed frowny face.) 

mzsparklepdx

I was very lucky and my recovery was quick and relatively painless after the first two days or so.  I did have a 2nd degree tear, but I did what PP did and used the peri bottle every time I peed, plus the dermoplast and Tucks pads.  Using ice packs helped as did the ibuprofen they gave me at the hospital.  The biggest advice is take it as easy as you can and try not to overdo it.  Oh, and take the stool softener!!!

kck329

Thanks ladies! I will pass on all of your wisdom

Jram85

Mine is TMI...

I seriously wish I knew this BEFORE I had Will that my clitoris would feel bruised! The pain was there for about 6 weeks when anything touched it (including clothing or pads). It went away on its own, but I was really worried that there was permanent nerve damage.  If she experiences that, just let her know it will pass.  .

Pretty much everything that PP's said.  Peri bottle, tons of heavy flow pads, and pain killers! 

2ktBride

I had a level 2 tear but healed the scar healed very quickly.  My OBGYN gave me the "go ahead" at the 6 week mark.  Even though we tried a few times it wasn't back to normal until the 3 month mark.  Just tell her to be patient and not rush things or she'll delay her healing.  GL

alliejoe

Tell her to pay attention to her body.  If things start to hurt more or bleeding picks up, then she's doing too much and needs to slow down.

That was probably the most comprehensive/helpful advice I received.

Temp38995750004016

Just tell her to to expect anything.  I went in thinking I would have a standard delivery and recovery and it wasn't.  I wasn't emotionally prepared for that.  I was on bedrest 2 weeks after LO was born, I wasn't mentally prepared for that. 

andigurl

Dermaplast, peribottle, and those long ice packs from the hospital were the trifecta of vaginal happiness after my delivery.  I only had two first degree tears and didn't get sidelined for very long, but evenso, 15 weeks later it is just getting back to normal when we DTD.

yaelandhal

The donut cushion to sit on is a must! I brought mine from room to room for a month after she was born.

 Good luck to her!