Postpartum Questions..

jd614

I hope everyone is doing well with their inside and outside babies! 6 days later we are adjusting, and last night was our best night yet. I love this little boy so much!

 Few questions...

 If you delivered vaginally , how has recovery been? My son will be a week tomorrow and I am still in pain. How long does this last and how long does the bleeding last? Its so frustrating to not feel well, but its my own fault because I think I am trying to do too much (laundry/straightening up, etc).  Its painful to sit down, then stand up and I am just not used to so much discomfort.

 Also, anyone experiencing the baby blues? I think February is a tough month to have a new born, because you literally are stuck inside all the time (cant even sit on the porch or anything with the baby since its freezing and snowing). Every day around 4pm, I find myself crying for no reason. Its so dumb but I have read alot about the baby blues and am relieved its nothing more than that. I just feel very out of sorts i guess its the lack of sleep and adjusting to my new life as a mommy. I have the best support system which helps I just hate feeling in a funk!

JuliaBug

This recovery has been much easier for me than my first delivery. I didn't tear so I haven't had as much pain. I'm still bleeding, though its barely been over 2 weeks. Today was the first time I was able to go to Target and grocery shop without feeling completely awful afterwards. 

I've definitely been crying more than usual, though I can't blame the weather in Florida. I think it's the lack of sleep for both me and my DH. That whole "sleep when the baby sleeps" doesn't work when you also have a toddler.  

JuliaBug

On the plus side, I've only got 5 lbs of baby weight left! My hips are too wide for my regular jeans, but I love having the weight come off so quickly. I also love not having to pee every 5 minutes and being able to eat whatever I want without worrying about heartburn!

Bride-hilda

I'm 2 weeks and one day. I delivered vaginally and I was in pain for a week, almost exactly. Bleeding lasts for a couple weeks I hear, and mine is still going but it is very, very weak. People told me to stock up on heavy pads, but that was sooooooo unnecessary for me. Compared to my usual periods, this is nothing. NOTHING I tell you!!! 

It gets better quick!!! And once you get more sleep and feel better your baby blues will go away too. (They did for me, but that might be because it's sunny and hot here this February in Southern California. [Ignore me, sometimes I brag. ]) 

pamelaam2468

With my first I couldn't comfortably sit for six weeks and got dizzy standing for about seven or eight weeks until my blood flow was back to normal. I invested in a boppy not for baby but for ME to sit on and it made sitting much more comfortable. I was pretty hormonal for a few weeks.

With my second I felt totally fine afterwards. Other than getting dizzy when being up, I was almost completely back to normal physically. However emotionally I was a wreck and ended up being put on depression meds for a full year after he was born.

My bleeding lasted for 9 or 10 weeks, off and on, for both.

Every pregnancy is different and it can take a while to feel well again. Just be sure to see your doctor if the baby blues start to seem like more than blues! My life was night and day different after I started meds!

holly321

I had pain for about 2 weeks, I delivered vaginally with a tear and an episiotomy.  I am pretty sure I popped a stitch.  DS will be three weeks tomorrow, and if I sit wrong, it still hurts.  But I won't complain, recovery from my csection with dd was soooo much worse. , 

 

And I am fighting ppd.  I had ppd/PTSD when I had dd.  I think the weather/ being stuck inside every day we huge factors for me.  My mom lives close so she stops by for about 30 minutes at least each day to see how I am doing, give me a small break, and just keep me company. I am trying my hardest not to get full blown ppd this time, not sure if it is avoidable though, but it sucks! 

9fraulein

Still waiting on my LO but my best friend and my sister both had ppd and in sunny California. They both ended up taking an antidepressant for a bit to help get out of the funk until hormones returned to normal. 

eatdrinkstretch

I am 3w3d pp and am still bleeding a little, but the pain gets better evey day and has been very manageable since about two and a half weeks. But I had two tears and horrific hemoroids from pushing for four hours, and ripped the stitches out of one of my tears, so I know my recovery has been worse than most.

I strongly encourage you to buy an inflatable donut pillow to sit on. That and Tucks have completely saved my life!! Also, someone mentioned a few weeks ago that Always pad are too drying and I conpketely agree. I switched to Kotex and things have been much more comfortable down there.

As far as the blues go, my weepiness has gotten better every day. I notice a huge difference in my mental state depending on how much sleep I get. Late at night when my daughter seems insatiable I have a hard time and have really had to rely on my wonderful husband to step in. Pumping after a morning feed do my husband can give her a bottle during our witching hour has helped immensely too.

Good luck and know that you are not alone. Dealing with a newborn, being a 24 hour milk machine, and managing your physical recovery is HARD work.