Healing from delivering baby #2?

kristalovesjared

How did your first delivery compare to your second? Was the healing process about the same? Not sure how much i tore with DD, but it took a long time to get stiched up, however by 2 weeks pp, i felt completely back to normal! DD was in the NICU for 7 days, so I feel like my recovery was probably a little faster than it would be if I was taking care of a newborn 24/7 that first week. Not to mention this time I'll have a toddler wanting my attention too. Just wondering what some of you experienced! TIA!

keri1013

I was lucky to have a great experience both times (vaginal delivery each time). I think the healing process was even better the second time, that may be because I had an episiotomy the first time and just a 1st degree tear the second time, or could be because labor was so much shorter the second time. I went natural both times which I think helped too, since I could be up and walking around right away.

I only ever took ibuprofin for pain, I would say keep up with that as often as they recommend, take a stool softener and use your peri bottle and the diaper ice packs they make at the hospital. 

Good luck, can't believe she'll be here soon!

arikaleeanne

My delivery was just about the same with both kids both had about 3 hours of labor at home and then 3 hours of labor at the hostpital and had tears with both kids.

With DD I had 4th degree tears and no epidural with DS I had 3rd degree tears and a epidural.

When I left the the hospital I felt alot better with DS  then I did with DD but I took on too much too soon and was hurting for alot  longer with DS.

With DD I took the stool stoftner and prescreption the drs gave me  with DS I just took inbuprofin for the pain.

 

MrsAmyB

I had a vaginal the first time and a c-section the second.  The second was much easier for me to recover, but like you said, it may have been that I didn't have little ones to care for 24/7 and was able to heal faster.  I was up every 2 hours to pump but I usually just fell back asleep for that.

cmcmillan

Mine were different. M was a c/s, 2 weeks of being careful, sore, very slow at moving.  W was a vbac, I was up and moving hours after and no big issues. 

HelloWaldorf

Mine were way different -

1st delivery was an induction, 1 stitch, but a lot of blood loss. Spent three days in the hospital and It took me a few weeks to feel back to normal.

 2nd delivery  was a scheduled c/s. I was up and moving within 12 hours. Home in two days. Caught a chest cold from our toddler, which I would say was the worst part. (Coughing with a fresh incision). But all around, I felt the c-section recovery was way easier to manage. 

chibipoe

I healed up really quick both times (1st degree tear with #1 and 2nd degree tear with #2) but I definitely healed faster the second time. Maybe it's just that I knew what I was doing the second time and knew what NOT to do but I ended up going hiking at two weeks pp with no problemx. My OB even said I was so good at having and recovering babies I should have more...yeah...no, not gonna happen.

BSJMM

Baby #1 -  I don't know the degree of the tear, but there were a LOT of stiches and I was black and blue for weeks. I never took anything more than IBProfen. He was 8lbs 11oz and I went natural. I felt like I was pretty good after about 2 weeks.

Baby #2 - Only a few stiches - but the cramps....oh the cramps! I was BEGGING for vicodin IMMEDIATELY following birth, and took them EVERY 4 hours for about 5 days following her birth. Every time I nursed, I was doubled over in pain. She was 6lbs 11oz and I went natural. I was completely back to normal after 4 days and even did Little Gym with Jackson on Day 6 post-partum.

wsd22

Both kids were vaginal deliveries. DD (#2) was a fast delivery, A small tear. Recovery with #2 was excellent. The whole post partum thing was so much easier. I didn't have an epidural and only took ibuprofen afterwards for the first few days. The most memorable part of the post delivery for me was the bags of pitocen that they give to get the uterus to contract to prevent excessive bleeding. It was about 4-6 hours of discomfort but after that it was smooth sailing.

 

xosheenaox

Healing for # 2 was a breeze compared to my first. With Livi I tore and got cut. Had 30 something stiches and was swollen for over a week. Ian I tore pretty bad, but the recovery was so much easier.

braveangel2

I had a rough labor and delivery with E, but I healed so much faster...no bathroom issues, my figure bounced back etc. With P, I'm finding I'm sore in more areas and the bathroom...well, it's a work in progress. My midwife said that everything is healing/healed, it's just not in the same place it used to be. I figure too, that could have something to do with the fact that E was a good sized baby but P was a line backer.

I will say that sex after the first took me nine months to be comfortable again, while after the second, I'm only a little sore in certain areas.

Asquared

tore pretty bad first time, but not as bad 2nd.  Didn't have time for epi w/ 2nd either, so recovery was a lot faster as a whole. 

braveangel2

BSJMM:

Baby #1 -  I don't know the degree of the tear, but there were a LOT of stiches and I was black and blue for weeks. I never took anything more than IBProfen. He was 8lbs 11oz and I went natural. I felt like I was pretty good after about 2 weeks.

Baby #2 - Only a few stiches - but the cramps....oh the cramps! I was BEGGING for vicodin IMMEDIATELY following birth, and took them EVERY 4 hours for about 5 days following her birth. Every time I nursed, I was doubled over in pain. She was 6lbs 11oz and I went natural. I was completely back to normal after 4 days and even did Little Gym with Jackson on Day 6 post-partum.

Oh my gosh, the cramps from the second were killer! I went completely natural and my body did a great job of keeping up with the contractions, but afterwards when I was all relaxed these cramps hit hard!

stacylu

My 2nd was definitely tougher than my first but he (my 2nd) was gigantic she was average size (my first).

1st: 34hrs of labor, 7lb kid, epidural and vaginal.

 2nd 7hrs labor, 10lb kid, no epi, vaginal, sunny side up (which my OB said added at least another pound)

 

I think it really depends on the kids and their size and position.