Recovery length?

moonrose2715

How long did you hurt after birth and what were your circumstances? I'm just over a week out, had a first degree tear, and overall uneventful birth. My son was 9lbs 3 oz though I don't know how much that matters. I hurt. We went to Costco and the grocery store yesterday and I was wrecked after the walking. I'm starting to freak out because my DH is going back to work next week and I have a two year old that I can't keep up with right now. My last delivery was so different so I just don't have a point of reference. I haven't needed to take anything but Motrin since delivery but there doesn't seem to be any improvement either. Just not sure if I should call my dr or hold out till my follow up on Friday.

tlew12778

I was on roundtheclock ibuprofen until 18 days PP. I had a vacuum extraction with episiotomy though.

I also have an almost 4 yo. We spent a lot of time indoors those first 3 weeks. Find easygoing activities for you to do together. We baked a lot and did crafts.

ETA: walking was very tiring for me for about a month. It wasn't so much the soreness although I was certainly sore as the physical exhaustion. I also have SPD and my pelvic floor muscles are messed up still so walking just made me feel like everything was going to fall out.

CLLDLL

DS1 was 7lb 2oz, and born with an epi after a 23 hour labor.  I had an episiotomy that was the equivalent of a 3rd degree tear.  It took me a good 2 1/2 to 3 weeks to really feel "good" enough down there.

DS2 was 8lb 3oz and born pain-med free after a 4 hour labor.  I had a very small tear (2 stitches).  I was feeling pretty good after about 10 days.

So, I'd say give yourself a few more days before you get too worried.  You pushed a watermelon out of something stretched to the size of a bagel.  Hope you get feeling better soon!

kristinanderik

I'm a FTM, but I was in extreme pain for the first few days, then it decreased every week.  By 4 weeks I was only a little sore down there & I stopped using the witch hazel pads.  By 5 weeks I had stopped bleeding & only had a little pain during BMs. I had cramping from my uterus contracting for about 7 weeks.

Mrs.RockyM

Is there anyone who can come to help you with your older child. I'm only 2weeks pp and can't imagine being home alone with DD1 who is 3.5 and DD2. Weekends are hard enough keeping up with both of them, especially since DD1 is all about the attention right now. With that being said, I'm sure its just something you'll get used to in time. Plenty of people do it!

PonyJane

I had four tears (not sure what degree any of them were but it took my Dr. forever to stitch me back up after giving birth) and cracked my tailbone during labor.  I took the max amount of allowable advil for almost three weeks.  I felt a little better each week and felt almost normal by about four weeks postpartum except for my tailbone.  Now, at almost three months out my tailbone finally doesn't hurt anymore.

It certainly can't hurt to call your Dr. - Even if they end up not being much help, you won't be any worse off for asking.

kjskjs

The first two weeks pp were decently painful and walking was tough especially the first week but I think that was from the magnesium since I had pre eclampsia and was on it for 3 days. After the 2 weeks I was still sore from what I believe was the tear healing. I had 1st degree that was not in need of stitches. and frankly even 12 weeks out every once in awhile it is still sore but not anything serious.

punkrockabye

I am 9 weeks pp today and this is my first day not needing 3 ibuprofen every 6 hours. I had 2 second degree tears.

I was feeling like things were improving but at exactly 4 weeks pp all hell broke loose. I felt like it was 1 day pp again. Swelling, pain, bruised feeling, bleeding came back. Couldn't get in to see the doctor for ten days. I was crippled, honestly.

Finally, the day of my appointment, I was basically 98 percent fine all of a sudden. Doctor kind of shrugged at my previous pain because I looked fine and everything healed great except one small spot of redness that was still healing.

Over the next couple days the pain came back at about 70 to 80 percent of what it was, and it remained for most of these past 3 weeks before starting to taper off finally. I am so sick of feeling like my vagina is going to drop out of me. The more standing and walking I did, the worse the pressure was. It has been so bad that I am seriously doubting our plan to have a second child because I don't know if I could do it. The weeks of severe pain almost completely prevented me brom bonding with my baby because I couldn't really take care of her. Luckily she was a sleepy newborn because all I could do was feed her, which was horribly painful but I still can't manage to nurse laying down, and as soon as she finished eating I had to lay her down and hope she slept because I couldn't be in a position to snuggle her.

nataliekristin

1st baby. Fast 2 hour labor. 2nd degree tear. Hurt to do anything sit or walk for 2 weeks straight! Pain finally started to go away completely at 2.5 weeks. I would go in at 2 weeks if the pain isnt gone by then

moonrose2715

Thanks everyone. I'll relax until my appt on Friday. I was on narcotics after my first birth due to second degree tear, episiotomy, and a year above my urethra... I guess I felt like if I only ever needed Motrin I should be at least feeling better somewhat. I think I may have a UTI also, which would make the pain worse... Or it did the first time for me. And secondary constipation which I'm sure isn't helping... Ugh the aftermath of birth sure isn't pretty! Gratefully my mom lives with us so I have her help once DH goes back to work. I just need to be clear about my needs.

Kasi80

I got a bit lucky.  No tears and I was up and around the same day with no pain down there.  Only thing that hurt was my epi injection site. 

That's great that you have help at home!  

Baby_Bunny_Hopeful

DS1 was a quick and easy recovery- no stitches or tearing... felt back to "normal" within a few days.  He was 8lb 12oz and 21.5 inches long.

That was a tease! LOL  

With DS2, I had a small 1st degree tear (2 stitches) and they repaired  a "flap" thing from DS1's birth (no big deal).... but I bruised/cracked my tailbone during labor.... so I'm still in A LOT of pain and it hurts to sit and stand and get comfortable.  He was 10lb 5oz and 23 inches long