Weird PP fear- (TMI) Advice, help?- long - Page 2

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

Originally Posted by babygrey

Another pad-hater here, too. Honestly, I abhore pp bleeding. Like pp said, you get thru it. Like everyone else said, the peri-bottle and a close cut are lifesavers. I used Depends the first few days, and, honestly, I liked them better than pads. That seems counter-intuitive, but part of what I hate about pads is the feeling that you don't always stay ON them, kwim?

Another thing that I don't know if is an issue for you- I have a HUGE issues sleeping in pads. Like, I just. can't. Even pp-exhausted. I couldn't in depends, either. I ended up sleeping on a bed layered with cloth dip inserts and towels. It was messy the first time up, but I'd just wrap the whole ordeal around myself and trudge to the toilet.

oh! another thing that really helped me was warm-water soaked washcloths to wash with instead of TP.

did you try putting a towel or cloth diaper in between your legs and held in place by underwear?


I'm not a pad hater, but i am a lochia fearer, as with ds I bled for 12 weeks pp, and I am not looking forward to possibly bleeding for that long, add to it my fear to be intimate with dh and my refusal to use tampons during that time for fear of infection. Needless to say, I went through a lot of pads. While it wasn't heavy the whole time it was quite annoying. Although the dr.s and midwifes i all spoke to during and after said it was hormonal and normal, I am beginning to suspect otherwise, like a possible piece of placenta that didn't come out until 12weeks when i finally stopped bleeding. And I still don't think it is normal to bleed for 12 weeks after giving birth.

[hotharmony]

Personally instead of down right shaving I always keep a close trim right now I use hair clippers that way I don't have to worry so much about a razor on my girl parts that I can't see. Or have DW help you out.

And I have been known to use my diaper sprayer to pray everything down when I feel I need a good cleaning but don't have time/ability to get in the shower at the moment. BUT word of warning its cold.

[Storm Bride]

I haven't read the whole thread, OP, but you have my sympathies. I also hate pads, and have used tampons since I was about 13 (went through my first 5-6 cycles with pads, then switched). I switched to a Diva Cup a few years ago, and I like it.

I was advised not to use any internal protection during the pp lochia stage - not even the Diva Cup. So...pads. I understand that the lochia is lighter after a c-section, but mine has always still been pretty comparable to my periods (which tend to be moderate to heavy, and last about 5 days). It does last for a few weeks. I did go out with the pads, but it wasn't comfortable, at all. I'm like you - felt like a horrible mess. Pads always make me feel as though I'm leaking everywhere, and they just feel gross, anyway. But...not to scare you off, but it didn't bother me as much post-partum as it normally would. I've sweated a ton after every baby. I've had all c-sections, so I also had an icky healing incision. And, my milk comes in pretty heavy, and leaks a lot.

Basically, ime, the first few weeks post-partum are just an all-around mucky time. I never feel entirely clean during that time, even right after I get out of the shower (can clearly remember my first at-home shower after I had ds1...got out of the shower, turned around, and happened to be facing the mirror, about to wrap my towel around me, when I saw both breasts open up and pour milk down my chest, stomach and upper thighs. So...yeah - it's just kind of mucky. From my standpoint, aside from the surgical recovery, the general muckiness is the worst part of being post partum.

[stormborn]

It might not be 6 weeks anyway; with my most recent it was really only 3 or 4 days of heavy bleeding and then that weird (!) discharge after that didn't really require anything but a liner. I used infant prefolds 'cause I was too cheap to buy postpartum cloth pads. But I hate tampons (or, rather, the idea of tampons) and have never used one in 30 years of periods so I can't really help with that part.
If you're planning on cloth diapers I love the diaper sprayer for cleaning up.

[Stitches]

I kept a peri bottle in every bathroom, and changed pads often. I found those mesh cotton panties helped a lot, they are soft and keep the pad on more snugly than underwear. I personally hate pads with wings and steer clear of those...all they do is cause leaks instead of catching them, and they tickle.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Stitches

I kept a peri bottle in every bathroom, and changed pads often. I found those mesh cotton panties helped a lot, they are soft and keep the pad on more snugly than underwear. I personally hate pads with wings and steer clear of those...all they do is cause leaks instead of catching them, and they tickle.

The last time I bought pads for the postpartum period, I couldn't find a single one that didn't have wings. I find them fairly effective for catching leaks...but they also have a tendency to come loose and then stick to my thighs, which is really uncomfortable.

[bella99]

I used the Depends type pads for the days in the hospital, and maybe one or two days at home?

Then I went to regular pads, and yes, I used plan old store bought pads because they are thinner, but hold plenty and I find them more physically comfortable. That was probably until 2 weeks post partum.

Then I wore panty liners until 6 weeks post partum because some days I had light bleeding and some days, just spotting.

Don't think as if you are going to be bleeding like a period the whole time, that part lasts 1-2 weeks.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Chiming in with my experience here too. I only bled heavily for about a day and a half with DS and then had medium bleeding for a day or two and then it was super light for maybe three or so more days. I would definitely compare it to a heavy normal period for me, with the exception of the blood bath that was my first trip to the bathroom after giving birth. Seriously, it looked like I murdered someone in the hospital bathroom. And the frozen pads that they gave me to bleed on were absolute HEAVEN, as were the peri bottle filled with warm water. Yes, everything hurt down there quite a bit, but the relief that I got from the ice and warm peri bottle water were pretty darned sweet though. Plus just ogling your newborn will make any pad ickiness fade away pretty quickly.

[MrsBone]

Originally Posted by Monarchgrrl

Thanks for the thoughts. I've tried cloth pads before. I still couldn't stand it. But if I have to stand something, and still not leave the house, then cloth would be better. I'm glad to hear that I might not want to leave the house anyway. I HOPE that's true for me. I really do because that would be great! Maybe I'll just make that the rule and everyone else can think it's a babymooning thing and not because of bleeding.

So, how do you stay clean then? Anyone want to tackle that one? I knew about the peri bottle, but I thought that was just while any tears were healing or while everything was still swollen and sore and not for the whole 6-8 weeks though. But that can't get all the blood off or especially out of your hair, right? So what do you do and how often? Thanks!

You could try to get some cut peices of cloth and wet them, and wipe with those. You could also get flannel baby wipes and use those. I'd say just use disposable, but you can't flush those anyway, so you might as well use cloth. I ended up using cloth pads pp because the disposables really irritated my skin. But yeah, unfortunately, you'll need to wear pads. I couldn't stand the thought of putting a tampon in until I was at least 8 weeks pp. So sorry you have to go through it, but you'll make it!

[MamitaM]

A couple of nice Chinese ladies I met at a childbirth class told me they drink a nice cup of hot water with ginger,brown sugar and egg in it. They said it helps the lochia go away faster.

[homemademom]

Good ideas all around. I just wanted to add that even if you aren't planning to use cloth, you might keep some regular old cloth diapers around just in case. I found that the disposable pads chafed SO. BAD. It was so uncomfortable. I decided to use a cloth dipe in my underwear and it felt a million times better.

And I definitely agree with the peri bottle advice. I preferred to fill mine with warm/lukewarm water.

[Sijae]

I had bleeding similar to a period that lasted a week or less after all 3 babies. Lochia is very different for every woman. I will say that the more you stay in bed or resting and take it easy in the first 2 weeks, the faster you will recover in general.

[phathui5]

So, how do you stay clean then? Anyone want to tackle that one?

As far as going to the bathroom goes, you can use baby wipes for wiping yourself instead of t.p. That will help get the blood off of you and can make you feel cleaner.

The less you move around, the less you will bleed, and the sooner you will stop bleeding. Take it easy as much as possible.

I agree completely. I really recommend either laying in bed or sitting on your couch for at least 2-3 weeks postpartum. Try to avoid going anywhere. Let your partner do all of the errand running and grocery buying. If people want to see the new baby, make sure they understand that you won't be coming to them, that they have to come to you, bring you food and do the dishes.

[mamaki]

I hate pads too. You can`t put ANYTHING inside you until after the lochia stops, no tampons, sponges, diva cups... nothing. If you did put something in there it could cause an infection.

1. Close shave - you won`t get blood stuck if you shave close, that only happens if the hair is longer

2. Peri bottle and blot yourself dry afterwards

3. Sitz baths with epsom salts - you can do this 3-4 times a day. You can buy a sitz bath from a pharmacy/drug store for about $10-15. They really help the healing, keep everything clean and feel soothing too. It`s like giving your bottom a bath without having to get your whole body wet - so easy to do more frequently

4. After the first couple of days the bleeding should become light enough that you can use thin but super absorbent pads. Change them frequently and you won`t feel as uncomfortable

5. Take a shower at least once a day (twice is fine too). Or if you prefer, you can take a bath, just don`t stay in too long

The bleeding is normally done by 6 wks. But some women stop bleeding as soon as 2 wks after a normal vaginal delivery (sooner with a c-section).

Good luck!