Mom's recovery after a vaginal birth- Questions/Comments/Concerns

Savvy122 · June 2014

lizok22 said:

Really
When do the stiches dissolve? Mine itch like hell.
I was told they'd dissolve in 3-4 weeks and that using the peri bottle would help speed things along since it would be getting the stitches wet.
Really? I stopped using the peri bottle after the hospital. I should fish it out again. Ugh, I can't even think of sex like this, it's still so sore.

I'm in this boat too. I'm coming up on 4 weeks PP and I'm still sore, especially if I do a lot of walking. I am pretty certain I'm never having sex again.

Plus (TMI alert) I got brave enough to take a peek down there to see if I could figure out why exactly it still hurt so badly... and I have a big mess of stitches just like, hanging out of me. Clearly not dissolving. Do you think this is an issue? Do I need to call my midwife or can it just wait until my six-week appointment?

courtneyjean1980 · June 2014

@MegEL85 I had the epidural headache (from leaking spinal fluid) - it was excruciating. It didn't set in until I was discharged from the hospital, so I had to return to the hospital for a blood patch. This is basically where they repeat the epidural guided by X-ray, but instead of putting in pain meds, they inject your own blood to form a clot that patches the leak. I was really scared of having it done, but the procedure was ok (not as bad as epi while in labor) and it fixed the problem immediately. I highly recommend getting the blood patch if you can. The spinal headache is debilitating.

jshrop · June 2014

wareagle1220 said:
Did anyone have increased pain after your first pp bm? My stitches hurt worse. It wasn't even a large bm, but it really hurts down there now. I had a 2nd degree cut.

Yep, eventually the vaginal area didn't hurt (I only had one stitch) but it's still awful to poo. Hurts worse than delivery recovery.

ChristineBaker23 · June 2014

AmyG* said:

ChristineBaker23 said:

Does anyone know if it's ok to go swimming? I'm 3 weeks pp and had no tearing or stitches (yes, VERY lucky vaginal delivery) and my bleeding is basically done for. I'd really like to go swimming at my in laws pool. Anyone know the rules in that? I would think it would be ok since I won't be shooting pool water up my vagina and I will change immediately so I'm not marinating in a wet swimsuit?

the risk of infection is higher for swimming after birth since your cervix is open still for a while. also where the placenta detatches from the uterine wall there is a scab there for a bit that has to heal. Most doctors prefer you wait til after 6 week check up for swimming. It is safer in your own pool than in a city pool as long as they are monitoring the water cleanliness like they should. of course doing too much might like swimming might cause your bleeding to increase. I'd call your dr to check.

Thanks, guess I'll just observe from the sidelines for now and catch some sun. I will ask my midwife at my four week check up next week.

tnd1218 · June 2014

Savvy122 said:

lizok22 said:

Really
caitb413 said:

lizok22 said:
When do the stiches dissolve? Mine itch like hell.
I was told they'd dissolve in 3-4 weeks and that using the peri bottle would help speed things along since it would be getting the stitches wet.
Really? I stopped using the peri bottle after the hospital. I should fish it out again. Ugh, I can't even think of sex like this, it's still so sore.

I'm in this boat too. I'm coming up on 4 weeks PP and I'm still sore, especially if I do a lot of walking. I am pretty certain I'm never having sex again.

Plus (TMI alert) I got brave enough to take a peek down there to see if I could figure out why exactly it still hurt so badly... and I have a big mess of stitches just like, hanging out of me. Clearly not dissolving. Do you think this is an issue? Do I need to call my midwife or can it just wait until my six-week appointment?

Went today because of pain and was told it can take up to 6 weeks for the stitches to dissolve. Continue to use the peri bottle and Motrin for pain.

ChristineBaker23 · June 2014

BMaidPlanner said:

ChristineBaker23 said:

TMH2013 said:

Pepper6 said:
I know this has been briefly discussed before, but for anyone using a post partum wrap, what brand did you get?
Also, can you just use a regular corset?
I used my binder from the hospital (giant piece if elastic with Velcro on one end) for about a week and now I use a shaper from Walmart. I just get a smaller size as I shrink. The key is support, doesn't really matter what you use from my understanding.
Any more recs? Can you link or post a pic of what kind of shaper? I don't even understand my midsection right now.

This is what I got one week post partum:

https://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Cupid-Women-s-Extra-Firm-Control-Waist-Cincher/23653041?type=search

Not the most comfortable thing. The boning is kind of annoying. But I got this for extremely temporary use because I knew I would get drastically smaller in a short time. I only use it when I go out but at home I prefer my hospital one. My hospital one is a giant elastic band that velcros shut so you can stretch it as tight as you need. The problem is it takes two people to put it on and that's not convenient all the time.

Now that my belly has somewhat leveled off I will spend a little more and probably get something similar to this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K7IOAT2/ref=mp_s_a_1_24?qid=1402977615&sr=8-24&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

Also, starting this week I intend to wrap my belly once a week by slathering it in a thick layer of lotion then wrapping with seran wrap and sealing that up with either my hospital binder or a large ace bandage over night.

The shaper needs to start below your hips ish too. Kind of get under your baby pouch so that you are lifting it up and smashing it back in to place with the girdle/shaper/binder or whatever and giving plenty of support. That's what my nurse at the hospital told me. Also, ask your doctor or midwife! They can probably give some good tips and suggestions.Hope this helps? I don't entirely understand my midsection either. It's just sagging around being floppy and jiggly and shit...

cMichelle0423 · June 2014

mrsdbc said:
Anyone else still having terribly painful pp bms? Im 12 days pp.

I am at 9 days pp. I had my first bm 3 days ago, and so far it's been pretty painful/terrifying each time I do manage to go. I don't remember it being this horrible last time. Ugh.

ETA: is anyone 9+ days pp feeling like they've been drop kicked in the vag still? I feel like my goods should be super swollen but they look pretty normal. The pain though, seriously makes me feel like someone keeps sneaking into my room at night just to kick me in the crotch. Ouch!

caitb413 · June 2014

cMichelle0423 said:

mrsdbc said:
Anyone else still having terribly painful pp bms? Im 12 days pp.
I am at 9 days pp. I had my first bm 3 days ago, and so far it's been pretty painful/terrifying each time I do manage to go. I don't remember it being this horrible last time. Ugh.

ETA: is anyone 9+ days pp feeling like they've been drop kicked in the vag still? I feel like my goods should be super swollen but they look pretty normal. The pain though, seriously makes me feel like someone keeps sneaking into my room at night just to kick me in the crotch. Ouch!

Yes to everything! I'm almost 4 weeks PP and pooping is still a pain in the ass (pun definitely intended). I'm going back on the colace. That's probably contributing to the kicked in the vag feeling, too. I'm trying to do kegels to help strengthen that whole area.

kahorstman · June 2014

Anyone finding it hard to do kegels? I never had issues before and did them all the time pregnant and now it's a hell of a lot harder to do

zolastele · June 2014

Yes definitely...I'm 3 weeks PP now and just starting to be able to do them again.

jshrop · June 2014

cMichelle0423 said:

mrsdbc said:
Anyone else still having terribly painful pp bms? Im 12 days pp.
I am at 9 days pp. I had my first bm 3 days ago, and so far it's been pretty painful/terrifying each time I do manage to go. I don't remember it being this horrible last time. Ugh.

ETA: is anyone 9+ days pp feeling like they've been drop kicked in the vag still? I feel like my goods should be super swollen but they look pretty normal. The pain though, seriously makes me feel like someone keeps sneaking into my room at night just to kick me in the crotch. Ouch!

I'm a full month pp tomorrow and it still hurts to poop. Like bad.... And I take Colace every am and pm. Also, that kicked in the crutch feeling went away at like 2 1/2-3 weeks for me. Any time I walked around more than usual or did too much I'd get that feeling.

ChristineBaker23 · June 2014

Anyone have pain in their pubic bone? I'm a month pp this week and I can't lift my legs while sitting or laying down without pain across my pubic bone. It gets worse at night when I'm still for long periods of time, almost like it gets stiff. Thinking maybe I pulled a groin muscle? Or, I read something about separation of the pubic bone but I dunno really. Anyone having similar discomfort? Is this what kind if pain you are having @cMichelle0423‌ ?

cMichelle0423 · June 2014

@ChristineBaker23‌ no, but I get that pain too whenever I sit or lay down for longer than like 30 min. The pain I'm feeling is more of a bruised feeling I guess.

cMichelle0423 · June 2014

Is anyone having bleeding that comes and goes? 2 days ago I noticed that my bleeding was pretty much gone, but then yesterday I bled kind of a lot, then today I'm back to little to no blood.

tbmadeamistake · June 2014

mrsdbc said:

cMichelle0423 said:
Is anyone having bleeding that comes and goes? 2 days ago I noticed that my bleeding was pretty much gone, but then yesterday I bled kind of a lot, then today I'm back to little to no blood.
I only bleed when I bf, super annoying

Yes. I'll go days without any blood really and then bleed a couple days in a row. Bright red new blood. I'm three weeks pp. Called in and they said unless I'm soaking a pad in an hour or less it's fine and this can go on for weeks.

cMichelle0423 · June 2014

mrsdbc said:

cMichelle0423 said:
Is anyone having bleeding that comes and goes? 2 days ago I noticed that my bleeding was pretty much gone, but then yesterday I bled kind of a lot, then today I'm back to little to no blood.
I only bleed when I bf, super annoying

That does sounds really annoying!
@Lilygrace48 glad I'm not the only one! My OB said the same thing about when to call regarding bleeding. But no one mentioned that the bleeding could be on and off, and I don't recall bleeding like this after my first LO.

lola4411 · June 2014

for those of you using a belly bandit, bellefit, etc., how long are you wearing it per day? a few hours? more?

Mia081081 · June 2014

lola4411 said:
for those of you using a belly bandit, bellefit, etc., how long are you wearing it per day? a few hours? more?

I have a bellefit. I started off at 4 days pp and could barely zip it with DH's help. Only wore it for a couple of hours. Day 5, a couple more hours. Day 6, I can zip it by myself and wore it over 8 hours. Day 7, about 10 hours.

It's really not comfortable but at 7 days pp my stomach has shrunk soooooo much. Especially below the belly button, which is what I was most concerned about. It was really sore and tender the last few weeks of pregnancy. I am really impressed with the results and highly recommend it. I also feel like it's easier to use my abdomen when wearing it (like for sitting up) because I just feel more supported.

Like I said, not comfortable, but after the last couple of months of pregnancy, this is doable!

lola4411 · June 2014

@wareagle1220 and @Mia081081 thanks! i guess i need to up my wearing time...i have only been wearing it for 2-4 hrs a day.

Abenedict2011 · June 2014

@lola4411‌ I'm trying to get some schedule but it's been sporadic. I put it on if leaving the house and try to leave it on a few hours, but if I'm just home all day I still shot for a few hours but take off to nap.

Bozzy2 · June 2014

So I have a question who's had an epidural. Is the epidural area supposed to be really itchy and painful? I had to get four done because they kept failing and they missed once.

enpowers · June 2014

@Pepper6‌ I am 10 days pp and when I got home from the hospital I started using full spanx, then when I could fit I switched to a bellefit girdle. I had fourth degree tearing too and I feel like they helped keep my pad and all the other shit in really well. I feel like I can see a difference using these, if that helps?

whoberry · June 2014

I must have had seriously unrealistic expectations about recovery. When do you start feeling normal again? Last night (6 days pp) I had cramps and back pain so bad while BFing I could barely walk this morning.

DangerousLikeDarkwingDuck · June 2014

It varies, @whoberry‌. I'm 2w pp and barely bleeding. My back gets sore, but I'm not cramping anymore. I feel normal. However, my first child ran me through the wringer. I was still clotting, swollen, and sore at 4w pp.

irenewslee · June 2014

lola4411 said:
for those of you using a belly bandit, bellefit, etc., how long are you wearing it per day? a few hours? more?

I wore the belly bandit for two weeks. I started right when i got home and wore it in my sleep. I had to wash it every few days since its been really hot and sweaty. When i washed it, i gave myself a break (like a day). I stopped wearing it since last week and probably should have kept it on. I think it really helps but i have been lazy.

k318 · June 2014

How long is it normal to bleed for? I gave birth 16 days ago, my bleeding stopped a day or two ago and then this morning I was playing with ds, who is about 30 pounds, picking him up and playing very physical with him and now I am bleeding again. Is this normal? Did I just over do it with the physical activity?
Limiting my activity is killing me. I desperately want to get back to the gym and It's hard for me not to run around with ds. I am just not one to sit around I am too antsy.

ChristineBaker23 · June 2014

lpetrillo said:
How long is it normal to bleed for? I gave birth 16 days ago, my bleeding stopped a day or two ago and then this morning I was playing with ds, who is about 30 pounds, picking him up and playing very physical with him and now I am bleeding again. Is this normal? Did I just over do it with the physical activity?
Limiting my activity is killing me. I desperately want to get back to the gym and It's hard for me not to run around with ds. I am just not one to sit around I am too antsy.

I am almost 5 weeks pp and still have light bleeding. If I am more active it does get heavier. My midwife says it's very normal to bleed the full 6 weeks especially if you are breastfeeding. She said if it is heavy, as in soaking a pad an hour, you are having extreme cramping, are lightheaded, or feverish. I can't stand the lack of exercise either plus I have an almost 3 year old that is very rambunctious. I walk a mile a few times a week and have been told that is fine. I'm hoping to get really exercising after 6 weeks, can't wait!

cMichelle0423 · June 2014

@whoberry‌ I'm 16 days pp and I still feel like shit. It varies though. With my last pregnancy I felt pretty normal after about a week. It's been so long since I've felt "normal" I'm wondering if I'll even recognize the feeling once it does happen lol

irenewslee · June 2014

MegEL85 said:

hampire said:
I'm a week pp and my stitches just started to feel really tight,like they're pulling. I'm assuming normal? I'm not really doing much to exert myself so i'm not sure what the cause could be.
I felt this too. I think it's normal healing. But I did find that sitting in a warm tub with some Epsom salt helped significantly.

I felt that at week 2 pp and it went away sonewhat in the middle of week 3. Hopefully you will both feel better soon!

jenlynne0624 · June 2014

irenewslee said:

MegEL85 said:

hampire said:
I'm a week pp and my stitches just started to feel really tight,like they're pulling. I'm assuming normal? I'm not really doing much to exert myself so i'm not sure what the cause could be.
I felt this too. I think it's normal healing. But I did find that sitting in a warm tub with some Epsom salt helped significantly.
I felt that at week 2 pp and it went away sonewhat in the middle of week 3. Hopefully you will both feel better soon!

Stuck in the text box. Glad to know this. I had the same question. Sitz baths and I are bffs right now.

tbmadeamistake · June 2014

@yellowbird219‌ yes. I went in and we think its a small hernia (rectum into vagina). I was told it was small and would most likely take care of itself as my vaginal walls regained their strength. I'm getting it rechecked at my six week pp appt.

@njbabymama‌ yes to you as well. Vaginal births can cause bruising around the urethra. At 4 weeks pp mine is finally not bothering me anymore. she'd

jldcjs · June 2014

yellowbird219 said:

I had to have an episotomy and then tore (3rd degree) in addition. My doctor could definitely have a side job as a seamstress. I'm 7 days pp and two days ago when I sprayed on some dermoplast it almost felt like a little got inside. Ever since I have had feeling like I'm going to queef, and that there is air inside. When I pat dry, I'll put a little pressure in that area and air usually comes out. Yesterday I started getting a stabbing knife-like pain in the same area. I'm not associating it with movement or activity since it will just happen when I'm sitting or laying down. I'm not losing any irregular amount of blood or anything so I'm not sure if I should be concerned of if this is normal healing. Anyone else have this stuff going on? Wondering if I should call the OB tomorrow to double check.

I have air inside too and I'm 4 weeks pp!

LilyGracesMommy · June 2014

So my PP discharge instructions say once bleeding stops it's ok to resume sexual intercourse ; but doesn't specify about normal baths... I assume if sex is a go then a bath would be??

I'm keeping an eye in my bleeding and at 3weeks PP it seems to be a beige ish color

I'm so craving a nice bath with a glass of wine more so than doing anything with DH

Just curious if anyone got specific instructions on bathing ( FYI I had no tears/stitches this time around, if that matters)

jldcjs · June 2014

I've been peeing constantly. Like every 20 minutes. I'm 4 weeks pp and starting to get concerned. I have no pain so i doubt it is a UTI. I'll call the doctor Monday but I'm curious if anyone has experienced this.

whoberry · June 2014

yellowbird219 said:

I had to have an episotomy and then tore (3rd degree) in addition. My doctor could definitely have a side job as a seamstress. I'm 7 days pp and two days ago when I sprayed on some dermoplast it almost felt like a little got inside. Ever since I have had feeling like I'm going to queef, and that there is air inside. When I pat dry, I'll put a little pressure in that area and air usually comes out. Yesterday I started getting a stabbing knife-like pain in the same area. I'm not associating it with movement or activity since it will just happen when I'm sitting or laying down. I'm not losing any irregular amount of blood or anything so I'm not sure if I should be concerned of if this is normal healing. Anyone else have this stuff going on? Wondering if I should call the OB tomorrow to double check.

@yellowbird219 I get stabbing pains too, usually when I am just sitting around so i am not sure what triggers them. I think I have had some while nursing too so I thought maybe it was related to my uterus contracting.

LilyGracesMommy · June 2014

Thanks everyone! I will most likely err on the side of caution and wait

caitb413 · July 2014

@StrawberryDreams219‌ UGH, YES. I don't know what is up with the new smell under my arms. Hormone related maybe?

k318 · July 2014

3 weeks pp and I'm still a sweaty, stinky mess!

jsnyder79 · July 2014

I'm about 10 days post partum and my lower abdomen is tender, above pubic area. Anyone else have this too? Dr thought maybe bladder infection but urine was ok at office. She sent it out for culture. It has caused me to worry something is wrong though

Mia081081 · July 2014

jsnyder79 said:
I'm about 10 days post partum and my lower abdomen is tender, above pubic area. Anyone else have this too? Dr thought maybe bladder infection but urine was ok at office. She sent it out for culture. It has caused me to worry something is wrong though

I had this bc I was really big at the end and the muscles there were really stretched. Wearing a pp girdle has helped sooooo much.

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Mom's recovery after a vaginal birth- Questions/Comments/Concerns

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Married DH 7/30/11

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Mom's recovery after a vaginal birth- Questions/Comments/Concerns

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Married DH 7/30/11

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CHC arrived 6/2/14

IF, 5 losses, 1 son, 1 on the way.

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CHC arrived 6/2/14

IF, 5 losses, 1 son, 1 on the way.

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