PP mamas - how are you feeling???

[momoftworedheads]

Heloo all,

To all the mamas who have given birth already - how are you feeling - physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.?

What is new?


I was feeling pretty good until the last 2 days. I have gotten constipated (sorry if this is TMI) and each day I still bleed for part of the day which is odd for me at this point PP. I took a bath the other day and that felt good!

Anyone else still bleeding (enough to use pads still) almost 3 weeks PP? I especially bleed after sleepig or after a long nursing session.

I see my Dr next Fri so if it has not slowed by then I'll be asking him what he thinks.

Take care all!!!

[wombatclay]

I'm one week pp as of this morning and feeling pretty good!

Emotionally I'm handling the pp hormone roller coaster pretty well... I had PPD and mild PTSD after dd1's birth (long painful labor ending in c/s) so DH and I are pretty careful about my emotional state postpartum. After dd2's birth (wonderful vbac but 4th degree tear) I avoided PPD but still had massive, cry for hours, mood swings. This time round though (very fast intense vbac, 2nd degree tear) things have been much smoother. I've been "laying in" all week... hospital on Sat/Sun, home Monday, and basically just staying on the bed with ds1 all day while dh handles the girls downstairs and brings me food! This way I can keep my feet up, relax, heal, and focus on ds1 instead of looking around at all the undone projects/dirty dishes/sibling squabbles/etc. I'm also taking homeopathic pulsatilla and that's helping keep me on an even keel.

It's odd, and I'm sure it's hormonally based, but DH and I never wanted more than three kiddos. And honestly, this babe came sooner than we expected in terms of siblig spacing. We had many conversations about permanent BC during this pregnancy and just two weeks ago we were discussing the best timing for a vasectomy. But now that I'm holding my second vbac babe I'm having doubts! I know it's hormones, and I know that if this birth had been a c/s or another 4th degree tear I'd feel differently, but right now I'm sort of feeling like I want more kiddos! I think I'll opt for the IUD instead of the essure, just to see how I feel in a year. Especially since I think a lot of this is the birth "high" and what I want is more birth high... not necessarily more people in the family. But I guess we'll see.

Physically I am bleeding a bit, but not much. Ds1 is a marathon nursling and after a long session (with luverly uterine contractions) I'll be "gushier", but I'm actually surprised at how quickly the bleeding has faded this time round. The stitches are pulling a bit but most of the swelling has gone down... I'm hoping that by my 3 week follow up visit everything will be healed and happy. Though starting next week I'm going to be up and around a lot more so I'm a bit worried I might undo some of the healing that's already happened. I'm taking arnica for the swelling/tissue damage, eating lots of protien (necessary for tissue healing), drinking lots of RRL tea, and planning on more sitz baths and honey/aloe for when I'm more active. And I'm taking my regular prenatal vit, a probiotic, and a dose of flax or EPO (alternate days) with meals.

Also on the physical side, my belly is shrinking down pretty quickly this time. I still look "pregnant" but maybe just 3-4 months pregnant. It would be nifty if I could get back into pre-preg shape quickly! Though not nifty enough for me to stress about it.

Oh... I drink a big mug of prune juice every morning (my girls love the stuff and call it "Plum juice") and that's been a big help in terms of keeping things regular.

[Spring Sun]

I am on day 5. I am feeling pretty great, which is making it seem like maybe I don't need to rest so much? I guess I am not sure exactly how much is too much? Should I not be gettin gup at all except to go to the bathroom?

I had no tearing, no swelling. I feel much better than I did pregnant. I have more energy, more mobility. I actually got sleep last night, which is great. My midwife said no stairs at all, but I have been going downstairs twice a day just to hang out a little outside. YOu think that is okay? I go down the stairs slowley.

My mom is hanging out with ds, and dh is cleaning like crazy. It is just hard to stay in bed all day long...anyone else feel that way?

[wombatclay]

I have a hard time "doing nothing" as well... but I keep reminding myself that it's too easy for me to "do too much" without noticing until too late. And that I'm not doing nothing... I'm actually nurturing myself and bonding with ds. This is my only chance to shut out the "should do" stuff and just be here with my newborn.

That said, I'm not just sitting here in my jammies! I take a shower every night (and for the last three nights I've gotten the girls showered and into bed while dh spends time with Tor), get dressed every morning and do my hair, and then I build a nest of pillows and boppies and the laptop and a plate of snacks and a pile of books and a bottle of water and snuggle with ds. Sometimes we move to the poang and sit in a sunbeam for a while. And after the girls are in bed and I've showered I sit downstairs with dh and watch Cirque du Soliel or a movie while eating frozen fruit/drinking super sweet tea while dh snuggles the babe.

I'm a BIG fan of being up and active, but this time I'm really trying to balance things and focus on building a strong base that I can rely on instead of always playing "catch up" in terms of having energy.

I got the modified laying in idea from an article in Mothering... three days in bed, three days on the bed, three days near the bed. Starting tomorrow we're going to welcome visitors to the house and then next week "real life" takes over with preschool starting (dd1) and dr visits (dd2, ds1, me) and birthday parties (dh) and therapy sessions (dd2) and all the things that need to happen to keep the house clean/fridge stocked/life running smoothly (dh back to work half days).

[NaturalMindedMomma]

I think staying at home for the first 2 weeks is pretty important, but doing things in your home? That's ok if you feel up to it, don't push yourself, relax when necessary.

I am 5 weeks PP on Tues and I feel awesome. I took the girls for a walk 2 nights ago, baby in Snuggli and Abrie in the carriage, it was AWESOME! I can go back to the gym and use the child care when the babe is 8 weeks (I wouldn't leave her with anyone else because she really HATES the bottle). I can't wait for that!

I signed up for 1 college course this semester and that is enough time so far away from Anna, in my book. I am hoping that it will work out but I have the first week of classes to drop it and not pay...

I am feeling fantastic. I am finding dealing with the 2 year old hard these days but my newborn is a dream come true. I do wish I had more help so I could shower more often, but whatever, you can't have everything right? LOL

[JoyfamMama]

Pumping at keyboard...

Two weeks PP today. Ehh...i'm tired all the time, and no, i haven't even written my birth story for everyone here yet. I know I'm doing too much, but I don't know the first thing about stopping. lol. My PP has been as rough as birth. I found out I had a pelvic infection, so I was put on yet more antibiotics (on top of all the rounds in the hospital, since I didn't have time for my GBS results to come back in before being admitted), and feel like I'm getting sick today. My little guy just can't kick the jaundice, no matter what we do. We're on third day of formula and Wallaby, having already been readmitted to pediatrics, and on 4 lights, for 2 days last week. Waiting now to hear what it was today. So far, it hasn't been under 15.4, and has been up almost to 20.

We went down to TN this past Monday through Thursday to pick up my sister. She's been a big help so far, taking the baby at night since he's been on formula.

Otherwise, physically and emotionally, I"m doing great. Not feeling depressed at all, just discouraged about Josiah's levels, not being able to hold him much, and now not being able to breastfeed. Bleeding has almost stopped - did stop all day yesterday, but then I pumped on my bed and got it all over my clean sheets. LOL. And my sex drive....oooohhh baby! My hubby doesn't know what to think I'm like all over him all the time. ROFL. I've been preg. the entire time we've been married, except for the first two weeks, so that's all he's used to. 6 weeks...sigh...that's a long time...

[Pernillep]

Originally Posted by Spring Sun

I am on day 5. I am feeling pretty great, which is making it seem like maybe I don't need to rest so much? I guess I am not sure exactly how much is too much? Should I not be gettin gup at all except to go to the bathroom?

I had no tearing, no swelling. I feel much better than I did pregnant. I have more energy, more mobility. I actually got sleep last night, which is great. My midwife said no stairs at all, but I have been going downstairs twice a day just to hang out a little outside. YOu think that is okay? I go down the stairs slowley.

My mom is hanging out with ds, and dh is cleaning like crazy. It is just hard to stay in bed all day long...anyone else feel that way?

I am sure you are fine going up and down stairs. They didn't even tell me that and I had major surgery. That said, I have the worst case of cabin fever. With DS1 I felt grheat and was very active right off the bat. Easier to do with your first as you still get to focus entirely on the newborn.

i am allowed down stairs once a day until my appointment on Tuesday and then we will see what the surgeon says. I am hoping I get the clear to be more mobile as I am going stir crazy. The pain is manageable and actually not as bad as I thought it would be. I am just weak more than anything.

Emotionally, I feel kind of blank, indifferent even. I remember the hormone changes after DS. I was on a high for the first 48 hours then the rollercoaster started. This time I am just here. Not really feeling anything. I love my new baby but I am not feeling the same surge or bonding as I did with my natural birth. It is almost like of course i love him, that is what you do. I don't feel the same urge to be with him constantly and I was completely fine with MIL taking him for a few hours yesterday. i know this is because of the trauma i went through and i expect it will take a little while for me to process and move forward.

The one good thing is that nursing has turned around for us very quickly even after missing the first few hour window. He did not latch well in the hospital and it hurt. But I think we have figured it out already. I had major latch problems with DS1 and ended up pumping for the first month so this is a pleasant surprise for me.

The hardest part for me right now is that I feel like I am loosing my toddler since i can't do anything for him really. We try to spend some time together everyday but it is daddy who has primary care responsibilities. It was always me so I feel left out. I know once things get back to normal he will be back to mommy but right now it makes me a little sad.

[brooklynbabymama]

16 days pp here...and dtd today! I felt so much stronger after this birth than my first, at least once the initial wooziness and shortness of breath wore off. That feeling that my uterus is just leading the rest of my body is so strange! But the bleeding was super light from the start, I was in thin maxi pads by day 3 or 4. Kept expecting it to pick up but it never did, I think I was wearing pantyliners by the end of the first week.

Re. activity...we drove to the park on day 2 and I sat on a blanket while DB shopped the green market. That was too soon! I paid for it in afterpains all day. But I was wearing DS in a ring sling and taking little walks around the neighborhood in the late afternoon by the fifth day.

I think the moral is, your bod will tell you if you're overdoing it. Unless you've torn or had surgery, I don't think you have to be on bedrest. Just don't push it.

[stardust swallower]

daggit brooklynbabymama! I thought I was feeling pretty good. shucks. I'm 3 weeks + pp and still bleeding?! @!@*! *$@*& It's light, but it's there and just when I think it's over I stain a new pair of panties. ARGH. Haven't even considered making love yet.

At first, I barely left my room for a whole week and then the house for the first 2 weeks and that felt great. I think it's why I feel so good now. If you can do wombat style, with dh caring for kids and bringing you food -- do it! worked wonders for me.

I have managed a few outings this week with the entire family of four. Thursday night an outdoor concert and today we took a modest forest hike.

The nights are LONG though and this kid has a built in 2 hour timer. He'll go for 3 when we first put him "to bed" and then 2 like clock work all night. Might be because he only takes one side during the night... ?

Emotionally, I had some tough moments right after the first week -- all caught up in wondering how ds1 was feeling and then coming down from that blissful post-birth thing when everyone treats you like a queen. The first day dp didn't bring me breakfast in bed I cried -- just knowing I was going to have to buck up and start doing things for myself again was so depressing! Motherwort helped. So did a nice hot solo shower every evening.

In the end, getting into gear again (taking ds1 to school and picking up every day, starting grad school semester again...). was not as bad as worrying about it. And if I need dp to pamper me at any moment, I just ask for it. Usually works out just fine...

[Abraisme]

I'm also almost 3 weeks pp and still bleeding.. I bled for about a month with my first, so I wouldn't be surprised if I have another week or so.. My midwives said that it's fine and totally within normal range.

I feel very good emotionally. However, my emotions are always VERY stable. It's my husband that's the emotional one, we can't both be or it wouldn't work! ha ha..

My body feels great. Besides the light bleeding, I'm all healed up. I just have about 25lbs to lose, which I'm sure will melt off in the next couple of months.

My baby also wakes up every 2 hours to nurse, but she goes right back to sleep. I just stay in bed for around 10 hours to make up for it, thus I don't feel sleep deprived. I'm so used to waking up every couple of hours that it just seems normal to me.

We've been very active. I've been out of the house most days since about 4 days pp. I get too ansy to stay at home if I'm feeling good. We've mostly done house-hold shopping and gone to the park.

[Kim Allen]

I am 4 weeks pp and completely healed and feeling great.

I was acutally up and cleaning 4 days pp but noticed when I did my bleeding picked up so I just did things in moderation. 1 day pp I picked DS1 up (26 lbs) I noticed my afterpains were worse after that.

But by 2 weeks pp My bleeding was gone and dtd. (but i noticed spotting after dtd)

I have had no ppd or any emtional promblems Thank goodness.

DS1 is doing great with DS2 and being very helpful.

[wombatclay]

Yeah... I should add that after dd1's difficult/cesarean birth I had sever PPD and after dd2's amazinng vbac/serious birth trauma delivery I still had mild PPD. So we're really working hard to avoid any melting down this time round. I'd never wanted or been interested in "lying in" but thought I'd give it a shot this time and it's been great! I certainly don't think of it as "being in bed" as much as just "lounging", and I feel really lucky to have had this chance to heal and snuggle without having to be "on call" for anyone but the babe.

[Jilian]

I'm doing pretty good here at 10 days pp. Bleeding almost stopped then DH went back to work for 3 days and it came back. I only had afterpains for the first 3 days and was psyched that they were gone but they came back yesterday! OMG they hurt so bad, far worse than labor IMO. I cried like a little baby with the afterpains that I had today. H helped me into the tub and that helped. I hope to god they go away soon, they are brutal. The weird part is that they came at the same time yesterday and today. I'm taking Advil again tomorrow as a precaution.

[wombatclay]

Jilian- ouch! For the most part my afterpains have been pretty minor but I've found that if my bladder/bowels are "full" I get a much more intense sensation. And I have some wicked gas pain type cramps every now and then. Could it be you're getting hit at about the same time each day because it's X hours after a meal or something like that so the afterpain cramps are tag teaming with your digestive/elimination system? Hope the advil helps!

[Jilian]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

Jilian- ouch! For the most part my afterpains have been pretty minor but I've found that if my bladder/bowels are "full" I get a much more intense sensation. And I have some wicked gas pain type cramps every now and then. Could it be you're getting hit at about the same time each day because it's X hours after a meal or something like that so the afterpain cramps are tag teaming with your digestive/elimination system? Hope the advil helps!

Hmm, that could be it. It seems like it does happen when I feel bloated or gassy. I took some Advil & afterease as a precaution today so I'm hoping they don't come on as strong.

[JoyfamMama]

Oh My Chickens! Hearing you talk about pains, idk what happened, but starting the dya I got my staples out, for 5 more days, I had the worst stabbing, shooting pains in my abdomon. My narcotics from the dr. didn't even help. We almost went to the ER when I couldn't move and could barely breathe for 2 hours last Sunday. I wish I knew what they were.

[momoftworedheads]

Originally Posted by JoyfamMama

Oh My Chickens! Hearing you talk about pains, idk what happened, but starting the dya I got my staples out, for 5 more days, I had the worst stabbing, shooting pains in my abdomon. My narcotics from the dr. didn't even help. We almost went to the ER when I couldn't move and could barely breathe for 2 hours last Sunday. I wish I knew what they were.

OMG - I had this too - I did not havea C-section but I had these horrible stabing pains in my abdomen. I spoke to my Dr and he told me it was muscular pain.

Good luck to you, I hope you are feeling better soon!

Take care!!

[sahm2two]

I'm feeling a bit better after some sleep - my dh and mom have been keeping the older boys occupied and I've been able to nap. Makes for a much happier and less weepy mommy!

Anyone else having pelvic pain? DS3 was 9lb 13oz and I delivered him in standing and I swear I can feel the outline of my pelvic opening - like a bone bruise or something. I'm wondering about seeing a chiro or PT but I think I'll just give it more time. Any suggestions?

Other than that I am recovering well and am impressed by all you great mamas! Thanks for encouraging the "lying in" - it makes me feel better to know that I am not the only one.