So I guess I just really realized that I'm going to be having a baby shortly and that I'm going to be going through postpartum recovery again shortly. Recovery with DD wasn't awful, but it was far and beyond the worst part of my pregnancy- I had a serious cut that took 9 weeks to heal and a pretty serious breast infection that wound up becoming an abscess and requiring surgery. Other than that, my body was ok to bounce back though it never "fully" recovered before I got pregnant again.
I guess I'm just wondering how everyone felt that having two close together impacted their recovery- do you think it made things easier because your body was like "Been Here, Done That" or do you think that having back to back pregnancies made your body kind of crap out on you? How did you feel after LO#2 arrived and how much did having your first to chase after impact how you felt?
Re: Your Post Partum Recovery Experience
I have a lot of friends who have more than one child and MOST say they had a better recovery the second time. Even c/s mommas.
I had vaginal deliveries with both and had an episiotomy with DS. With DD I had no tears/cuts and she came out faster and easier. She was smaller, but I have friends whose second was bigger and still came out faster and easier.
My OB says the first paves the way for the second. It was true for me! 2 hours of pushing with DS, and 4 pushes for DD.
I was fine down there after one week. I had minimal pain to begin with. With DS I was sore for a few wks and had pain for a while after when I had sex. up til 8 months. BUt with DD its been painless.
Everything about the second time was easier. Labor, delivery, recovery, Bfing, I was less nervous and enjoyed it all SO much more.
GL to you!
My first delivery/recovery was a piece of cake. My Second was terrible, and my third was the easiest, so you just never know! just be as prepared as you can be, and have as much help as you can line up!
Try to not get too worked up over it because you just never know how it will work out!
I guess I am in the minority...but the second time for me was much worse than the first time. But I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that the epidural didnt work because of the way DS2 was positioned and I felt everything. And I also had a really bad tear the second time. And I bled, A LOT. I was getting shots and pills to stop the bleeding. The nurses said it was because every pregnancy the bleeding gets worse. But from hearing the previous stories on here it doesnt seem that is true! I also had other complications as well, but I will spare you the details.
I hope your second time is much easier than the first!!
2 sections here.
I think #2 was easier mainly because I didn't have the luxury of sitting around and noticing how I was feelilng.
I walked sooner in the hospital, knew I needed to stay on top of my pain meds, and started colace and prune juice much sooner.
I also lifted my toddler a week before I was supposed to with no ill effects.
GL!
Total score: 6 pregnancies, 5 losses, 2 amazing blessings that I'm thankful for every single day.
My recovery with DS was far and beyond better than with DD. I think it was mostly because I knew what to expect, so it didn't impact me so much. I also knew that DH would be staying at home with DD at night so I had to get up and do things myself anyway. I couldn't be whiny about it to anyone.
With DD, I was up and about quickly, but really did not feel up to it. I was sore and cranky about it.
With DS, I was up and about quickly (think 30 min after birth to pee), and was taking a shower an hour later. I was still sore, but I definitely dealt with it better.
my recovery with DS1 was horrible- i had a 4th degree tear that had me in bad pain for 8+ weeks and requires surgery to fix still - waiting until the twins are older to do that.
my recovery from the twins c/s was CAKE - loved it.
you just never know.