Tearing...anyone else?

gutsysneakers · May 2014

After pushing for almost two hours, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Downside = major tear. 4th degree tear and a laceration to the right side of my vagina. Anyone else have battle wounds? What are you doing to heal? Any STMs have any words of wisdom? When did you start to feel normal down there?

I've obviously been using witch hazel, steroid foam, and was using ice packs. I use the sitz bath occasionally but prefer the shower. I use the water bottle thingie all the time. I'm on Motrin and stool softener. My OB prescribed Percocet but I find the pain bearable with the Motrin. I have an appointment with him on Wednesday to check the progression of my healing.

I wasn't expecting this and I feel like it's getting on the way of how I'm supposed to feel about being a mom.

momo214 · May 2014

Oh wow that's a rough battle wound. I had a second degree tear and am 2 weeks pp. I haven't done sitz baths bc the nurse forgot to go over it but I've managed ok. The stinging and pain while peeing was brutal for me and I completely understand your feelings about recovery. As a FTM no one seemed to tell me how long and rough recovery is. I don't have anything to add to what you have been doing but good luck and hopefully in a couple weeks it starts feeling better like mine has.

2014poppy · May 2014

Regular bath rather than sitz bath for me.

Bootsie327 · May 2014

I had a 2nd degree perineal tear and a few internal vaginal tears...I'm managing everything with the same methods as you pretty much. I don't have a sitz bath though, but I love warm water in the peri bottle. It's been a little over a week and sitting is definitely more bearable. Sometimes I feel the tugging of the stitches as they heal/dissolve, but it's getting better! I hope you feel better!

cbrust · May 2014

Sounds like you're doing everything I can think of. Definitely take it easy for a while- I overdid it after 2 weeks and ended up almost in the ER for heavy bleeding.

JACKIE_RS88 · May 2014

That was me last birth and I managed with Motrin. This time bigger baby and only one stitch. I abstained from sex for over 8 weeks last time as I wanted to heal and feel ready. Otherwise I just rode out the healing process with colice and the squirt bottle.

gutsysneakers · May 2014

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. One day at a time...

LeeLee86 · May 2014

I pushed for 2 hrs too! Wasn't that fun? She was stuck behind a piece of cervix my MW had to hold back with her own fingure

2nd degree perineal tear plus 2 internal tears bc she was posterior. Honestly the thing that made me feel the best after 1 week was coconut oil. It felt like something was constantly pulling on the stitches so it helped to have a little lubrication. I also went and got Seventh Genetation pads (whole foods) instead if normal ones. They are SO much softer and don't have that diaper plastic feel. That made me feel a lot more comfortable. I'm 3wks PP and I honestly feel pretty good.

ns1 · May 2014

I still have an inside baby here, but I just want to offer commiseration from what I remember after DD. It will get better though! But I felt kind of deceived after I had her. I felt prepared for labor and delivery, which was all of 12 hours for me, but I had no idea what was in store for my body after that (on top of having a newborn!) for the next few weeks. It sounds like yyou're doing what you need to do though. Keep it up and take it easy!

jschwind22 · May 2014

I had an episiotomy and a 3rd degree tear. I'm using the same methods to manage the physical pain as you. The only other thing that was suggested to me that helps some is the Dermaplast numing spray. I'm with you too on the emotional side of things. I wasn't expecting my recovery from a vaginal birth to be this tough and painful. My husband has been wonderful, but I'm a very independent person and I'm having a hard time laying low, which just adds to the pain. I hope you feel better soon!

dogsombrero · May 2014

I had a 2nd degree internal labial tear. I pushed 3 1/2 hours and his head was transverse plus the chunk was 10# 14oz. I used Tylenol with codeine the first 5 days plus 800 mg Motrin which 11 days pp I'm still taking.

I found icing things down helped a lot and I felt a ton of relief after the dreaded first poo at 6 days pp. I think the system backup was putting a lot of pressure on the area. I'm feeling much better but honestly it seemed like time was the biggest factor for me. I also let DH do a lot of the baby lifting to keep myself from straining too hard.

Marcella05 · May 2014

2nd degree tear after 30 min of pushing... felt horrible until 2 weeks later, now I'm just uncomfortable. I'm hoping in another 2 weeks the discomfort will ease up. Sounds like you are doing everything you can. Sitz baths are what made me feel best and aid in the healing process (rather than masking the pain)

apinkpelican · May 2014

No other advice just feel your pain. I had a tear plus a labial laceration, burst hemmy and to top it off and extremely bruised tailbone. As if the nipple pain from BFing isn't bad enough, I'm in horrible pain just from sitting down to feed her and don't get to enjoy our sessions much. It really takes a toll on the emotions! I decided not to take the Oxycodin the dr gave me but find its essential to keep up on the Motrin around the clock. think I'm a day a head of you. Day by day is right. Hope you find some relief soon!

caballo718 · May 2014

I can't imagine how you feel. I have a first degree tear and I'm dying after a week pp. It hurts to sit and pee so I try to lay down most of the day. I have like 6-7 stitches down there and it's a little swollen. I use a saline wash to clean and warm showers def help. I also irrigate while I urinate and that helps a bit. My doctor told me 2 weeks to heal so 1 down 1 to go. Hoping by next week I feel good. I've been nursing laying down which has helped me so much not having to sit and do it. Hoping to be 80% better by next week.

JKTTC1 · May 2014

I the same way the first
Time around and it took FOREVER to heal and feel "normal" down there.

Tried sex 13 weeks pp and didn't happen! I know BF makes it all more sore but it was a good 6 months before it was okay!!

Second time around has been completely different. It wS rough with a 2nd degree tear but I only had to sit
On my doughnut for a few days and I've been up and going constantly. Nothing like last time. Although I'm sore somewhat, I should be all healed 6-8 weeks pp!! Hang in there!

caballo718 · May 2014

@JKTTC1‌ really?! BF makes it more sore down there?! Why is that? Ugh I'm dying here. I dread every time I have to urinate. It's such an awful feeling.

momthatlifts · May 2014

I have a few tears around my pee hole. It's burns when I pee and it itches. I couldn't imagine a worse tear. I had a horrible recovery. A tear on top of that would have been misery!

2014poppy · May 2014

Only first degree year here but-?For me the best thing is a warm/ hot bath twice a day. I find it takes a similar amount if time as a sitz bath and makes me feel immensely better.

Soupy84 · May 2014

How do you ladies find time for a bath? I barely have enough time to run to the bathroom before my bladder gives out! When they broke my water in the hospital, I ended up getting a utarine infection. I was on an IV antibiotic for 2 days and am finishing my oral antibiotics tomorrow. I am really looking forward to getting clearance to take a bath.

After 2 hours of pushing and a cervix that was not fully dilated (9.5cm because my right side failed to fully dilate), I earned a 2nd degree tear. It was pretty painful at first, but I am a week out now and I really look forward to my peri-bottle. I am taking ibuprofen occasionally.

Sdufort1216 · May 2014

same here. dr was stretching me so much and very rough. I feel like baby coming out without her " help" would have been better. I'm torn everywhere even clitoris which I've never heard of tearing before. I have about 20 stitches.... can't really get around so husband is bringing baby to me in bed and honestly it's pretty depressing . just take it super easy just go to bathroom and bed if u can and have people come to help you. spraying the water on you while you tinkle helps the pain too besides Motrin

tbiscuit18 · May 2014

Oh you poor thing! I have a 2nd degree perineal tear and the only thing that has really helped is Epsom salt baths. I did 2x a day at first, but now I'm just doing 1 before bed. We've been out of town the past couple of days so I haven't had a chance to soak and I can really tell the difference. Those baths are a godsend. Plus, I find they seem to be my hormonal release time too. Which is also a positive!

cnbean · May 2014

Soaking in an epsom salt bath has been the best thing for me. I had an episiotomy and 3rd degree tear. I'm weeks PP and I felt like about 2 1/2 -3 weeks PP was when I started to feel a lot better. At this point the only that that is bothering me is my hemmie, and that only acts up occasionally.

mcnava · May 2014

I was 3rd degree tear. I did all the same things...but do you have a donut pillow? you can get them at CVS and places like that. Really helps for the sitting part. I'm 20 days PP My prescribed medicine ran out so I got just regular motrin, which doesn't help as much. I have my check up on Friday. They have me in for a 3 week check up because my tears were so bad. DS was a forceps delivery and that made it really bad.

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