2nd degree tear healing

[basje]

I had my daughter four weeks ago, and had three second degree tears that were surgically repaired after my UC. A tear from the bottom my my vagina toward my anus, two tears on my labia minora that extend slightly inside my vaginal opening.

I've been doing the sitz baths, peri bottle, drinking lots of water, taking pain pills ect for the past four weeks. My bleeding stopped a week ago, and I am able to sit for a short period of time on unpadded surfaces. Sitting completely upright is still acutely painful, as is getting in and out of bed. Kegel exercises cause what I can only describe as very intense muscular pain of my clitoris and urethra.

So I am still having some trouble, walking, sitting, can't touch the area, forget masturbation, and have the most intense itching where the sutures are. I didn't expect this to still be so bad 4 weeks after giving birth as they are only 2nd degree tears. I am looking for advice and wondering how this compares to your own experience if you also tore.

[basje]

Seriously?

Nooboody? I am surprised to find that I am THE ONLY ONE who's experienced this.

[herenow2]

I think you might find some helpful info searching the Birth and Beyond boards.

[btallen]

Well, mine were 3rd degree tears, not 2nd degree. At my 6 week check up, I was still in quite a bit of pain. I couldn't sit upright, and I had to switch positions (sitting to standing) really carefully or I would feel like I was tearing again (I knew I wasn't tearing, but it felt like it). By the time I returned to work at 12 weeks pp, the pain from regular movement and sitting was almost completely gone. So, yours should go away, too, it just may be a bit slower going than you originally expected.