Postpartum Healing Times

lizgrace03 · November 2014

This is more of a question for STMs. How long did it take you to feel back to normal down there? I am hating the pain! I'm only one week out so I know I shouldn't complain too much, but was looking for some encouragement that there is an end in sight and that some day I will sit normally again...

ShelleyElla22 · November 2014

With my first two kids I felt fine right around a week to a week and a half (and had 3rd degree tears). This time it has almost been 2 weeks and I am still experiencing some discomfort and bleeding (and I only had a very minor tear needing 2 stitches). I'm hoping that I start feeling a little more normal soon!

ColtiersMom · November 2014

I was only dore after DS was born and felt that way for about a week or two but then I was fine (I had an episotomy and not sure of how many stitches). If your in severe pain I would call your dr.

sparklingwhit · November 2014

I'm 2 weeks PP and I am feeling pretty good. A tiny bit sore, but nothing awful. I didn't get any stitches though...so take that for what it's worth.

Lilwatz · November 2014

I felt good after a week. I had one small internal tear -- they never told me how many stitches but did call it small. I did have occasional discomfort for another week or so but it was rare.

meeshybee · November 2014

I guess it all depends on how the birth goes. I had a 3rd degree tear with DS and was still very uncomfortable when I went back to work 6 weeks later. In hindsight, I should have taken more time to heal.

But, this time I had a 1st degree with a few stitches and 1 week out I feel mostly normal.

mommymeg143 · November 2014

I'm two weeks out and feel great!! I'm still terrified to wash down there because I had stitches and that's driving me crazy. I hate feeling dirty.

SarahHeck · November 2014

I felt way better after 2 weeks, but it took me about 6 weeks to feel 100% after DD, but I tore pretty bad.

NunyaBennis · November 2014

Y'all are making me feel like a pussy... I finally felt like I was actually on the road to recovery after the long side of a week or so, but am still tender, sore, creaky, and moving slow, and can't stand for more than around 15 min at a time without being brought to tears. I think my pre-existing CLBP has just been overly aggravated, though, and actually takes precedence over post-partum pain itself.
Either way, I'm a little over 3 wks out and still hurt, waaah.

tigerpawie · November 2014

I remember vaguely that it took about a week or two for my first two and I had epistomy and stitches. I was pretty liberal with the spray bottle every time I had to 'go' and during showers/clean up. I used a LOT of Tucks on my pads. It helped tremendously with recovery.

This time, I made padsicles with my daughter's help. I have two bags full of frozen pads soaked with witch hazel, rose water, aloe gel and Rosemary eeo (was unexpectedly out of Lavendar eeo). I am hoping it helps with faster recovery and relief. I have two older kids with activities etc so I expect to be more mobile than I was plus FI won't be home with me much to help w the older kids so building an arsenal will help.

mander82 · November 2014

I did pick up a can of that Dermoplast stuff at the pharmacy last night.....other than that I just have Tucks medicated pads and the normal Tylenol/ibuprofin at the house.

Is there anything else I should be stocked up on for the pain ?

These padcicle things....can I just wet them with water and freeze them, or is that pointless? Do I need to be coating them with all kinds of medicinal stuff before freezing them? Doesn't that take away from the absorbancy of the pad ?

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread.

The original question.....I can't offer any advice of course, but my SIL didn't get an episiotomy and she healed pretty quick. Was sitting normal after less than 2 weeks. My sis did get cut though and she was sitting on pillows and sitting crooked for several weeks. No idea if there is a direct correlation there....but maybe?

:-/

soulcupcake · November 2014

I'd say about three weeks with #1 due to the third degree episiotomy. I felt pretty good after the first week with my other three. I did have a labial laceration with #2 and a labial split and skid mark from their precipitous births, but I felt good after the first maybe 10 days or so. I had a birth high after both. It was great.

rinaealy · November 2014

Hang in there! With my 1st I had a slight tear that required stitches and I didn't feel good for like 3weeks and I couldn't even phathom having sex again till DD was 4.5 months. It takes time to heal but what helped me the most was the sitz baths and tuck pads on my maxi pad.

tigerpawie · November 2014

mander82 said:
I did pick up a can of that Dermoplast stuff at the pharmacy last night.....other than that I just have Tucks medicated pads and the normal Tylenol/ibuprofin at the house.

Is there anything else I should be stocked up on for the pain ?

These padcicle things....can I just wet them with water and freeze them, or is that pointless?   Do I need to be coating them with all kinds of medicinal stuff before freezing them?   Doesn't that take away from the absorbancy of the pad ?

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread.

The original question.....I can't offer any advice of course, but my SIL didn't get an episiotomy and she healed pretty quick. Was sitting normal after less than 2 weeks.   My sis did get cut though and she was sitting on pillows and sitting crooked for several weeks.     No idea if there is a direct correlation there....but maybe?

:-/

I think 'soaked' was the wrong choice of words, I should've used another word like sprinkled. I put about 2 TB of witch hazel on each pad along with other items and gel. DD may have 'soaked' the pads but I tried to make sure she didn't go overboard. I hope it is somewhat absorbent for the blood and etc. I'll play by ear. Here's the recipe: https://intheknowmom.net/diy-padsicles-musthave-postpartum-item/

There are different variations on the net. Just google padsicles.

I am not sure about soaking w water because it might hurt a lot more than a 'slushy' pad but you could try? I've heard of nurses and pp mothers opening and stuffing a newborn diaper with crushed ice then close it back up then put against the vulva for cooling relief.

mander82 · November 2014

@tigerpawie Thanks! I will check into this. If LO doesn't make an appearance before the weekend, this sounds like a good project for me to pass some time.

I have plenty of pads already, but the frozen ones certainly sound like they would be refreshing.

BridgetThoams · November 2014

I'm 5 days out and feeling pretty rough! 2 years, 1 internal and 1 labial. Also I knew I shouldn't have but I looked in the mirror to check out the damage

mommymeg143 · November 2014

@aeandjb...We do have the movable shower head. I have been using it very gently. I decided to be brave today and use a little soap. It wasn't bad. Woot Woot!!

jac409 · November 2014

I am a little over a week out and I feel pretty good. I had a small tear and only a few stitches. My bleeding has even mostly stopped. I didn't bleed much last time around though either. I feel pretty fortunate that it wasn't worse!

dbgwife · November 2014

This was my first delivery not tearing and I feel pretty much normal now 2 weeks post partum. With my girls however I didn't feel normal down there until maybe week 5??

lizgrace03 · November 2014

I'm thinking it will be a few months before sex is a possibility- poor DH. I think also some of the pain from my tear is amplified by my UTI. I guess I wasn't fully prepared for this part of labor and delivery!! Ug!

Rhall2088 · November 2014

With my first I couldn't even walk for two weeks. I had a 3rd degree tear and I used the peri bottle and dermaplast for a good month. This one I was up running around as soon as my epideral wore off I only had one stitch and I haven't had any pain which I found weird and I had a little bit of cramping for a few days

MissN06 · November 2014

I knew a c-section was major surgery despite being so common but now that I'm in the healing process and wow am I sore. Trying to move is a bit rough but I am still making myself get up and walk like I'm supposed.

mrsodonnell12 · November 2014

First birth: about 1.5 weeks
Second birth: 6-8 weeks... It was tough for some reason
This time: I felt back to me and pain free by day 3.

No idea why all three were different. I had natural, non medicated with all three and no tears.

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