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3rd Trimester
If you had an episiotomy come in....
If you had an episiotomy, what provided the best relief in your recovery after the birth, both in the hospital and at home? Ice, witch hazel a donut? My post partum nurses weren't very good cause I found out later about all these things that could have helped me recover better that they never mentioned. How rude! I actually never saw them except if they had scheduled meds to give me. Just cause I'm a nurse (in surgery, not L&D) doesn't mean I know everything! Geez! I should have been more bold and asked for more help and explanation.
I had to have an episiotomy with my first baby. It was a last resort after the vacuum didn't help get DD out! I thanked the Lord I had an epidural when I saw her grab the scissors cause you can never predict how your labor will go . I remember her saying to me after a while of unsuccessful pushing " the baby keeps rocking back and forth and can't move past your pelvic bone." I was surprised after it was all said and done cause I always considered myself to have "good birthing hips" but so many factors come in to play. Apparently, a lot depends on the babes position as they are moving through the birth canal and not always on the moms anatomy.
I needed the pain meds they gave me every day at the hospital and at home (I used the entire bottle actually) and then I realized that I hadn't' gone #2 in a week. I actually broke my stitches trying to have a BM. It was horrible. Worst the then the actual birth. They always give you a stool softener in the hospital but I should have taken it like every day after I got home too! Along with Metamucil etc. My doc had to re-sew my episiotomy in the office a week later and without the epidural! Let me tell you, a little lidocaine doesn't do much!
My recovery was much longer then the normal person. My poor husband and I had to wait probably 4 months before I was completely healed and feeling "normal again" enough to attempt the "horizontal mambo" haha. I felt so bad for him...and he felt bad for me....it was very stressful for us both.
My OB said it's not likely I will need an episiotomy again with this baby unless he is HUGE. She said the body is much for stretched out and "loose" the second time around. Please God let that be true!
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Re: If you had an episiotomy come in....
I had "the smallest episiotomy possible" and 2nd degree tearing and a tear above my eurethra (ouch!). So I have no idea what all needed what, but it hurt and for a long time. What helped was:
taking pain meds on schedule, not waiting until I needed them
Ice diapers. Seriously I sat on ice for at least a month post delivery.
Occassional sitz bath (not sure if it really helped)
and yes- take your stool softeners! This is so crucial. I had NO idea and a few days after birth was talking to my sister about how bad it all hurt. I felt bruised and not in my birthing zone! She said I probably needed to poop. Well she was right! No one warned me!
Mostly though, it was pain meds and ice. Also if it lasts much longer than normal, talk to your OB. I ended up with a UTI, and I've heard other stories where scar tissue is actually causing pain and needs to be broken up. So don't suffer in silence!
Witch hazel or tucks pads were AMAZING. I think you can find some at Walgreens, but since you work in a hospital (maybe?) you may be able to get your hands on some there! Either a woman's health floor, or possibly Mother/Baby (unless of course, that is where you delivered and they didnt have any to give you!) If you cant find the real pads, then make your own! Pour some witch hazel astringent on panty liners and place them in the fridge for a while. When needed, place them on top of the large maxi pad that you may still be wearing. If not, just use like a regular panty liner.
I was also sent home with some Dermoplast which really helped to sort of numb and keep the area clean. I was really upset when I ran out and we couldnt find the exact kind at any of the local stores.
And yes, stool softeners!!!!!
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Witch hazel, definitely. I made my own little pads by pouring it on those flat, cosmetic cotton balls. Also, they gave me a spray (I think it was dermoplast), which did not really "numb" like it said it would, but made me feel better because I thought I was being proactive.
Drink lots of water and eat lots of fiber- foods that pass easily through. The first birth I did not do this- I just ate whatever we could forage up (lots of starches, white foods, dairy) and had a terrible time with BMs. The second time I ate lots of fruit and things like tofu and chickpeas and drank tons of water and I did not need a stool softener. Middle Eastern food saved me. And it is SO delicious.
I had an episiotomy with both of my births. The first time was a horror show- I had requested a "med free" birth. They took that to mean nothing at all, not even a numbing shot, so I got quite the shock when they just cut me and later started stitching me back up (both from the episiotomy and internally from my gigantic child). The second time I also did med free, but I told them that they better give me a numbing shot- at least with the stitches or else I was likely to jump up and run away. The nurse found that hilarious.
I had an episiotomy with my first but not my second or third. Teeny tiny tears with those that required 1-2 stitches. So I've had to deal with stitches all three times.
The ice diapers in the hospital are heaven. Im sure there are ways to make these at home if you google them. I remember, though, a nurse with my first labor said to try and not get too dependent on them.
Make sure you take home all the "goodies" they give you for recovery - the dermoplast spray, the hemmi goop, witch hazel pads, etc. and use them at every. single. bathroom visit. Seriously. Even when you are starting to feel better, still do them all, it really will help.
I also figured out with my second that sitting on my boppy pillow helped immensely with the pain. NOw i've also heard that this can put more pressure on any existing hemmi's, but to me it was worth the risk of making my hemmi's worse in order to get a little relief from my vaginal pain.
And yes, take the stool softeners until you feel healed enough to push!!!
DH and I married 8 years. Mom of three, stepmom of one.
I feel your pain..literally. I had a 4th degree tear along with an episiotomy. My dd was sunnyside up so she was also pulled out by forceps. My recovery was looong and painful. Honestly nothing made me feel better. I couldn't sit on my butt for at least a month without being in total pain. I am asking for strong drugs to be honest if this happens again. Also, I will ask for a good stool softener not an otc one.
Dear God - that's horrifying (and my worst nightmare)! I went natural for 35 hours until they made me get the epidural because they needed to use forceps to get my DS out. In hindsight I'm so grateful I didn't feel a thing. My DH told me they had to cut me twice in order to get him out - thanks, DH!
The nurses didn't tell me about anything aside from Tylenol 3 for the pain. Thankfully the worst of the pain was over for me in about a week or so.
Oh, and any FTM reading this definitely needs to know to take the stool softeners. That first week is definitely an experience ... kind of like giving birth again
I had a episiotomy with DD1 and tore (badly) with DD2. I prefer the episiotomy!
Tucks pads (witch hazel pads) were my favorite post partum item. I lined my maxi pad with them from front to back every single bathroom visit. They are so soothing.
I also liked the Dermoplast spray - although the effect didn't last long. It's a numbing spray.
Use a stool softener every single day.
Don't wipe, just dab yourself.
LOL @ running away, but stitching without pain meds is cruel.
Cut is usually done without pain meds, the shorts start working by the time they need to stitch. For me, cutting did not hurt at all. As far as pain management at home : Motrin, ice and Dermoplast.
I had an episiotomy since they attempted to use forceps. I also ended up with a c-section, so I was sore all over.
As far as the episiotomy, I had ice on it pretty much the whole time. I used that dermaplast spray to kind of numb it and witch hazel pads when I got home.
It took me 8 days to have a BM and it was horribly painful. I will be starting a high dose of stool softeners as soon as this baby comes out. I would sometimes use that peri spray bottle and just spray warm water down there for relief.
I ended up having bad scarring with my episiotomy and was unable to have pain-free sex until 12 months pp. At 8 month pp, my OB offered to do surgery to repair it...I declined.
~after 34 cycles we finally got our 2nd little bundle of joy~
My IF blog
I had a 2nd degree tear and it took a while but I felt fairly recovered after 2 weeks.
Like PP said, ice diapers and stool softeners. I took stool softeners the day I gave birth because I was so scared about my first postpartum BM. I drank loads of water, ate a lot of vegetables and fruit and things went, uh, smoothly
I'm hopeful for less tearing this time around because while things felt almost back to normal after 2 weeks, sex took a lot longer. Ouch.