All things Post Partum

mothernorth · October 2016

I noticed we don't have a thread started dedicated to all aspects of PP, so I thought I'd get one started because I know the questions are a-comin' (for example I have one and was not sure where to post it where all PP eyes could be alert to it)!

mothernorth · October 2016

What kinds of pads do you guys use? I have been using the ones that the hospital gave me and their super soft and comfortable to wear, but I have now run out.
I have some Always overnight pads, buy that plastic layer is really NOT comfy at all =/ any suggestions?

queen_frostine · October 2016

I haven't had any babies yet but I do wear pads for my period so maybe this will help - I found the store brand version of the Always overnights was very pillowy and cottony and more comfortable. I have mostly switched to cloth pads for my period but I did make sure I had a stash of those fluffies for postpartum, too. I do remember someone saying that the fluffier ones caught on their stitches, if they had them, however.

Schell2013 · October 2016

I like the ones that are like a memory foam, always makes them. I haven't had my baby this time but those ones were comfy!

NoraAurora · October 2016

@AllyTheKid - that's a tough one! Always overnights got the best reviews for PP bleeding so that's what I have stocked up. I think with DS I used the U by Kotex overnight pads and liked them better than the fluffy hospital ones. Pads suck.

mothernorth · October 2016

I hate pads, but they are obviously a necessary evil for now. I had no stitches or tearing, and I like the pillowy ones better because they seem to make me less sweaty. Hot flashes + bulky plastic layered pads = Ew. (For me anyway)
I will just have to explore.

UponAStar16 · October 2016

Thought I should mention that my nurse said to be sure to let things air out because adults can get rashes and infections from keeping things too bundled up (which can be tempting). Also, this is post C-section. After leaving the hospital, I used the purple Always overnight pads, sometimes wrapping a smaller pad around the crotch to hold it more securely on the mesh underwear and prevent leaking. About 2.5 weeks PP had one incident overnight with massive bleeding (soaked pajamas, blanket, sheets, towel and disposable mattress pad I was lying on, cloth mattress pad, etc down to the thin plastic mattress cover I think god we had) that I think no type of pad would have made a difference...and it happened after a day of overdoing it thanks to my painkiller muscles (like beer muscles?). Now 3 weeks PP I'm feeling everything but down to the orange Always overnight pads. Supposedly bleeding can occur as long as 6 weeks PP but should change and decrease so I guess I'll continue downgrading pads until I get to pantyliners?

LauraPCOS · October 2016

I packed Tena overnight pads but I'd warn you they are HUGE so if you didn't like wearing a diaper before these will not help, but they were soft.

I know every woman is different but when can one hope to have their hormones normalize?

UponAStar16 · October 2016

@Schell2013 memory foam sounds luxurious!

Note to everyone - store brand (target anyway) is NOT the same as Always, no matter what they claim you can compare to on the packaging

mothernorth · October 2016

I'll happily bleed for only 6 weeks. With DD (first baby) I didn't completely stop bleeding or spotting for 6 MONTHS.

SpaceBurger · October 2016

@AllyTheKid

UponAStar16 · October 2016

Oh. My. God. Ok 6 weeks would be ok!

NoraAurora · October 2016

My body definitely took advantage of bleeding the entire 6 week PP, and then treated me to an additional bleeding episode that felt suspiciously like a period a couple weeks after bleeding finally stopped (with DS). But then nothing again for a blissful 6 months...which I was still sad about b/c I had friends who also BF'd who didn't get a period back for a year PP. bishes.

I would really really really really love to use my lena cup instead of pads but I'm sure it's a big no-go if I were to ask my OB. But I do think that I plan to get the mirena until H commits to the big V. And I have heard repeatedly that women have almost no period on the mirena so that would be GREAT.

6 months sounds like absolute torture. Was that with or without any form of hormonal BC @AllyTheKid?

mothernorth · October 2016

@NoraAurora I was on some generic combo pill at the time, I can't recall the name. I also had some uterine trauma after delivery though which I hold responsible for the majority of the bleeding so I don't think that's common.

mrszoess · October 2016

orange always infinity! i was wearing the purple giant always ones til i got home to these guys.

HOW CAN I ALLEVIATE THIS PP C SECTION SWOLLEN FEET

FemShep · October 2016

@NoraAurora FWIW, I had a Mirena for almost two years, and had one period that entire time.

cate2273 · October 2016

@mrszoess Swollen feet are no fun at all! I had DH rub them for me (rub towards your leg to encourage drainage) and propped them up on a stack of pillow for the first several nights and they are almost back to normal. I feel so much better since they went down.

cbamama641 · October 2016

@mrszoess keep them elevated as much as possible and drink lots of water!

I am using some store brand pads that in probably got at target a year or so ago.. I didn't bring many home from the hospital as I had planned and then just used what I managged to find in the cupboard! My husband bought some at the store for me the other day and I haven't checked them- hopefully they'll be adequate!

UponAStar16 · October 2016

@mrszoess mine took 3 weeks but finally back to normal...I was told I had to just wait for my kidneys to get rid of the excess fluid for it to go away. I tried epsom salt foot soak a couple times (which I wasn't sure about with BFing), elevating when resting, water, and DH rubbing them. As much as it might hurt (mine were so swollen it really really hurt), the foot rubs help!

jlm684 · October 2016

With my first I used the Always overnights and switched to cotton liners once things lightened up to make sure to allow air. You can search on Amazon for cloth pads if you don't mind the laundry. I plan to do the same for second or try to search for cloth that can hold more as it breathes so much better.

NoraAurora · October 2016

FemShep said:

@NoraAurora FWIW, I had a Mirena for almost two years, and had one period that entire time.

I could cry with delight. One win is all I really need today.

ETA: along the lines of what @jlm684 is saying, I wonder if the thinx underwear would be any good once the bleeding sort of slows into the annoying, everlasting trickle before it stops completely?

Schell2013 · October 2016

@NoraAurora not to be the Debbie downer but I had the mirena for 8 months (had it placed 4.5 months post partum after my second baby) and spent all that time with cramps and horrible bleeding. It was the worst thing I have ever done to my body. Now not everyone has that experience obviously but I was on that spectrum of the experience with it, not the lucky one who barely got any bleeding.

blaf322 · October 2016

I loved my Mirena. I had one in for the full 5 years and my second in for 3. I always got my period still, but it was SUPER light... Like if I forgot to put in a tampon that day, it was okay. I hope it's the same PP.

LGW2015 · October 2016

How long is it typical to go before having a bowel movement? I had a c-section yesterday and (TMI) have been having a ton of gas since but nothing else so far. And should I be afraid like they say with vaginal births? Haha they have me on colace and gas-x so I'm hoping that will make things go a little smoother when the time comes but I'm a little nervous about the whole thing.

mizzkbrat · October 2016

I wore Depends for almost the full week I was home and now wear it at night and a lighter pad during the day. I can't do the huge diaper feeling so the depends gave me less of a nuisance in the lady bits area.

LauraPCOS · October 2016

@LGW2015 I had a BM with my CS the following day (so over 24 hours). My first one was TINY but they stared giving me the stool softeners and by the second night I had a good one, but I also never been one to suffer from constipation.

bamacoop · October 2016

@LGW2015 It took me a while to have a BM again after my c-section. I didn't have one at the hospital at all, just had tons of gas. I finally had one when I got home-so, the 4th day after my C. The nurse told me I needed to do whatever it took to have one that day, because that was their cutoff day for having a doctor check you out if you hadn't had one yet. So I made sure to eat some greasy food and just do the thing.

However, I will say that it was a biotch. Both of my first two BM post-C were. Not fun at all. But I just had to do it and move on.

Try some fiber supplements maybe?

mrsman2018 · October 2016

LGW2015 I had a CS on Friday and started taking stool softeners Saturday, discharged Sunday, first BM Monday. That BM was not large, but Tuesday was normal as well as today. I am still taking the stool softeners because I do not want the BMs to hurt my incision. I have pillow in the bathroom I hold over my incision when I use the bathroom. I was so worried about how going the bathroom would hurt but it never did. I think going pee is more annoying.

annabenanna · October 2016

I need this farting to stop. Why is there so much gas?

Also, i'm terrified of my milk coming in. I keep hearing about how painful it is.

I've already started using my microwaveable breast hot packs. I'm so so glad I have them!!!

Kaytee1087 · October 2016

I'm on the I-loved-Mirena train. I had it put in after DD, and had it for the full 5 years and another one for 1 until we decided to TTC. It took about 6 months for my period to trickle down to almost nothing. IF I had a period it was a SUPER small one (like 1 or 2 days), but most of the time I had it, I had no bleeding. It was pretty glorious.

mkc3888 · October 2016

@LGW2015 the first poop was I think 3 days after my section. The dr said I could ask for a suppository and I'd go in 30 minutes but I didn't ask for it. I took stool softener every day and I was scared to strain to poop. It was scary and a little uncomfortable but since then I have been able to go every day with no problems. And I was constipated most of my pregnancy.

LGW2015 · October 2016

Thanks all! I ended up going yesterday and it was no big deal at all. Thank goodness for stool softeners.

@annabenanna SO much gas

mrsman2018 · October 2016

annabenanna My milk came in a few days ago and it did not hurt. But after it came in, I got a blocked milk duct in my armpit and it is tender. Trying to massage it out.

depineta · October 2016

littlewillie2016 said:

annabenanna My milk came in a few days ago and it did not hurt. But after it came in, I got a blocked milk duct in my armpit and it is tender. Trying to massage it out.

Mine also didn't really hurt, it just felt like pressure. I've been using a heating pad on them sometimes, which feels really good.

annabenanna · October 2016

Thanks ladies! @littlewillie2016 and @depineta. At the risk of sounding dumb, how do you know for sure when milk comes in?

depineta · October 2016

@annabenanna - as our pediatrician said - you'll definitely know! My boobs got giant, full, and hard in some spots overnight. When I fed her after that, I would feel the milk let down. It's just a completely different sensation than nursing with colostrum. That being said, this is just my experience and I've only been a mom for about 8 days now. :-)

NoraAurora · October 2016

ugh...yes, you will know. As @depineta already said, it usually happens after waking up in the morning. It's not necessarily painful but I would definitely NOT call it pleasant or comfortable.

annabenanna · October 2016

My boobs have been feeling tingly, and painful all day. Then I was feeding on my right side when I noticed my left boob leaking. Is this milk? Or could I be leaking Colostrum still?

blaf322 · October 2016

annabenanna said:

My boobs have been feeling tingly, and painful all day. Then I was feeding on my right side when I noticed my left boob leaking. Is this milk? Or could I be leaking Colostrum still?

FTM so I don't KNOW... But a lot of people said they feel tingling when they let down. I would think that plus the soreness would mean your milk has come in or is about to

NoraAurora · October 2016

that is milk! @annabenanna maybe you will be a lucky one and never have to experience the sudden uncomfortable engorgement feeling!

annabenanna · October 2016

NoraAurora said:

that is milk! @annabenanna maybe you will be a lucky one and never have to experience the sudden uncomfortable engorgement feeling!

Yeahhhhhhh!!!! I've been using heating pads on them all day because they just hurt every time I move... And maybe that's why I don't feel the awful engorgement pain? So stoked to finally not worry about whether baby is getting food. It sucks feeding him Colostrum and not really knowing anything! I'm a visual person. Haha

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