Postpartum Healing « Back to Group Discussions

[Sasha's Mama]

I was wondering how everyone's healing/postpartum period is going. I had my baby 19 days ago and it seems like when one thing stops hurting, another thing starts! This birth was a vbac and I was totally unprepared for what would happen to my vulva/vagina/everything else down there. My body is achey and I feel like I need to exercise my muscles, but I'm still healing from a 2nd degree tear and every time I'm up walking too much I start to feel like my butt is going to fall off  

I know it still hasn't been very long, but I'm ready to be feeling a bit more normal! 

[IwannaBanRN]

This birth took a toll on my body in other ways. I was fine around my nether regions, but my whole body is taking me for a ride! First, I had postpartum fever, after a 3 day no sleep NICU stay, then I had a clogged milk duct(OW!) and then I spiked another fever and got 35 bumps all over my body which turned out to be tiny infections. I only KNOW they are infections, because there are four on my stomach that are the size of dimes and I can squeeze puss out of them. I have NO idea what it's from. Could be my immunity is low because I was exhausted the whole first week of his life.

[CDsMom1031]

I had a c-section. I was not prepared for the SLOW healing process and the amount of worthless it made me.

Not to mention the fact that my kid is almost 5 weeks old and I'm still spotting old blood. O_o

[Abraisme]

I'm only on day 3, but so far things are going pretty good.  My bottom is starting to feel normal-ish again, I suspect that everything will be pretty healed 'down there' in another few days.  However, my hips are really starting to feel dis-jointed and out of place.  I expect that it'll take a few weeks before my hips start to feel normal again.  I do plan on seeing the chiro for a pp visit or two within the next few weeks.  I'm also still light-headed and really need to take it easy, but again, that's pretty normal. 

Just to add my experience..  After I had my DS it took me nearly a month to heal.  My bottom felt like it had been smashed with a 2x4.  Even though I didn't have any tearing, I was still bruised and swollen for a very long time.  I think that it's more common with your first vaginal birth to be very sore.   Also, it's really normal to still be bleeding 5w pp.  I've always bled lightly for around 6w after each birth.  It sucks, but then I get a vacation from AF for at least a year.  ;)

[birdhappy85]

I'm 10 days pp and have felt great ever since my slight dizziness subsided after day 3, but I really need to stop doing so much. I can't seem to convince myself to ask for help more often. With DH on an opposite schedule as me, I really have to get things done when I can during the day on my own so I've been walking around doing most of my normal activities and my bleeding has picked back up. So that sucks. Besides the bleeding, the only other thing I'm having issues with is my pelvis/pubic bone popping. It's driving me nuts! I cringe every time it happens, just thinking it's going to hurt (although it doesn't really). Anybody else having the popping thing happen too? It usually happens when I roll over in bed or sit/stand up from lying down. I plan to set up a chiro appointment; things just feel misaligned. I might have the baby get her first adjustment too since my chiro works on infants!

[jbk21]

I am ten days pp and still sore.  It's definitely much better than it was, but my pelvic cage just feels achey.  My abs are a bit sore still and my inner thighs- this was all sore the last two months of pregnancy so I assume it's all still some residual soreness as well as adjusting to my post-pregnant body.  I have been coughing a ton too, so it keeps my lower abs sore.  I think if I wasn't sick I would have felt a lot better a week ago.  

Tissue-wise, my vagina feels awesome, haha.  I didn't need stitches with DS1 and my recovery was so fast, which is why I really didn't want stitches this time either.  I never got that stinging pain from going to the bathroom (alleluia!) and generally everything just goes back to *looking* normal within a day or two!  No swelling, but it definitely feels like my bottom is very weak- like everything is going to fall out, especially when I have a bowel movement or when I have been standing/walking too much.  My pelvic floor is sad, LOL, and it's definitely worse this time than it was with DS1.  I'm finally starting to be able to do a kegel here and there, which is good because the first week things were NOT responding at all (normal).  We might even try to DTD before the 6 week appt.  We'll see 

[meesh933]

I'm 10 days PP too, and I feel pretty good. This baby has been easier in some ways than the other two. I had three small tears, but this is the first time I haven't had stitches. The difference in the amount of swelling alone was amazing. And with the other two, I felt like I'd been hit by a truck around day 2 or 3. I didn't get that this time, but I've been making a more conscious effort to lay low so that my non-sutured tears heal well. We've gotten out a few times, and I even braved taking all 3 kids somewhere quick alone earlier. It's going ok. DH is going out of town for three days this week - I am TERRIFIED of that. Other than that, things are getting back to normal.

[FaithF]

I'm 3 weeks PP right now. Feeling great. We actually DTD yesterday and it was great. Everything felt normal. After this delivery my vagina didn't feel huge like it did the first time. Lol. I was able to kegel just fine and it felt the way it normally did. I didn't expect that. My first baby it took about 6 months before sex stopped hurting. I didn't have any tears with that one, my midwife said it was possible nerve damage. So I was pretty happy that healing has happened so fast this time around. The first week and a half or so I did have some horrid abdominal pain, not cramping, but my lower ab muscles were so sore! And my hips and pelvis were still pretty out of whack just like they were during pregnancy. I'm feeling fine right now though.

However, hopefully someone can help me with this. Since I've delivered 3 weeks ago, my vagina (as far up as around my clitoris) and butt crack have itched so bad. Its like I have diaper rash. At first I thought it was because I haven't used pads in so long (usually I use a Diva cup) but I've stopped using them and the itching hasn't gone away. I asked my midwife and she says she thinks its vulvovaginitis (?) and is going to prescribe Nystatin but I'm not sure. Anyone else have any ideas about what it might be?

[MrsKatie]

Originally Posted by FaithF 

I'm 3 weeks PP right now. Feeling great. We actually DTD yesterday and it was great.

I'm 3 weeks 3 days PP and crazy lusty for my DH, but we haven't DTD yet because he's so scared of hurting me.  Which is sweet and all but I'm kinda like "then HURT me, baby, I can take it."  Of course, I don't wanna do any damage, but I didn't have any tearing or anything and kegels feel pretty normal and I badly want to just try... but he's insisting I talk to a doctor first.  And I have yet to find a primary care physician.  Think I'll just get the go-ahead from the nurse at baby clinic on Tuesday (more of a moms social meetup at my birth center).  Assuming she'll give me the go-ahead... oh please say she will!

[Sasha's Mama]

Originally Posted by FaithF 

However, hopefully someone can help me with this. Since I've delivered 3 weeks ago, my vagina (as far up as around my clitoris) and butt crack have itched so bad. Its like I have diaper rash. At first I thought it was because I haven't used pads in so long (usually I use a Diva cup) but I've stopped using them and the itching hasn't gone away. I asked my midwife and she says she thinks its vulvovaginitis (?) and is going to prescribe Nystatin but I'm not sure. Anyone else have any ideas about what it might be?

I've had that same feeling at the top too, I didn't know if it was the nerves trying to regain sensation from everything being stretched or what. I need to find a new GYN because I'm not going back to my old OB group from my first birth (I'm concerned they'll harass me about choosing to hbac and I don't feel like dealing w/that) and my midwives had said it's probably normal, but I'm still wondering.

Also, I'm glad to know what I'm feeling isn't totally different from everyone else. Although I can't even imagine a time when we will be having sex again! 

Oh, and I've been worried to do kegels because of the tear, but maybe that would help? 

[Paigekitten]

This recovery has been very different then my first two births.  With my first I never really rested and so it just dragged on and on and on.  With my second, it was pretty normal, but I had that "hit by a truck" feeling.  With this baby I have felt GREAT in some ways.  I didn't hemorrhage, I'm not anemic for once, I had no tears and the bruising went down quickly.  I stopped bleeding at about 10 days, except for occasional bursts that tell me I'm overdoing it.  However, my abs are practically non-existent.  It hurts my stomach muscles just to walk, and the more I do, the worse it feels.  Last night, after DH being at work for three days and me being on my own with the girls, it hurt so bad to move that I had tears coming out the side of my eyes and when DH brought me tylenol I took it.  (Which is significant for me because the last time I took a painkiller was for the migraines I had at the beginning of this pregnancy, and before that for the hit by a truck feeling after my second birth).  I'm actually a bit nervous about how I'll hold up with DH back at work full days next week.

[IwannaBanRN]

Originally Posted by MrsKatie 

I'm 3 weeks 3 days PP and crazy lusty for my DH, but we haven't DTD yet because he's so scared of hurting me.  Which is sweet and all but I'm kinda like "then HURT me, baby, I can take it."  Of course, I don't wanna do any damage, but I didn't have any tearing or anything and kegels feel pretty normal and I badly want to just try... but he's insisting I talk to a doctor first.  And I have yet to find a primary care physician.  Think I'll just get the go-ahead from the nurse at baby clinic on Tuesday (more of a moms social meetup at my birth center).  Assuming she'll give me the go-ahead... oh please say she will!

 then HURT me baby. hahaha That's funny.

[dashley111]

My last 2 children flew forth from my body and probably could have got distance if someone didn't catch them.  Both times it wrecked my pelvic floor muscles.  This time my recovery feels much much slower, and I can feel every joint aching and my pelvis and back adjusting (so so so so slowly) back to normal.  Im not even 30, but I am kind of wondering how much of this is an age thing since I had my first 2 so young.

[FaithF]

Omg Katie, too funny. I've been pretty lusty too which really surprises me. I did a ton of google research about PP sex and basically if you aren't bleeding anymore, then everything is healed. And if you actually FEEL like doing then you're likely fine. The issue comes in when you've got tears that aren't healed or are still bleeding. That could technically introduce bacteria & cause an infection. Hope you get some hurtin' in! Lol ;) I was so surprised how normal everything felt when we DTD. Especially considering I got that baby into the birth canal and completely out in one contraction! I thought for sure there'd be some major damage but nope!

Sasha's mama - Yes kegels will help it heal! It encourages blood flow to that area which speeds up healing, I believe it's also helpful for those who have had c-sec as well. I start kegels right after the birth.

[Code Name Mama]

Originally Posted by FaithF 

I'm 3 weeks PP right now. Feeling great. We actually DTD yesterday and it was great. Everything felt normal. After this delivery my vagina didn't feel huge like it did the first time. Lol. I was able to kegel just fine and it felt the way it normally did. I didn't expect that. My first baby it took about 6 months before sex stopped hurting. I didn't have any tears with that one, my midwife said it was possible nerve damage. So I was pretty happy that healing has happened so fast this time around. The first week and a half or so I did have some horrid abdominal pain, not cramping, but my lower ab muscles were so sore! And my hips and pelvis were still pretty out of whack just like they were during pregnancy. I'm feeling fine right now though.

However, hopefully someone can help me with this. Since I've delivered 3 weeks ago, my vagina (as far up as around my clitoris) and butt crack have itched so bad. Its like I have diaper rash. At first I thought it was because I haven't used pads in so long (usually I use a Diva cup) but I've stopped using them and the itching hasn't gone away. I asked my midwife and she says she thinks its vulvovaginitis (?) and is going to prescribe Nystatin but I'm not sure. Anyone else have any ideas about what it might be?

I'm only 10 days pp and I'm already lusty too! I wonder how long I *have* to wait

My body was SO much better this time around - virtually no swelling, no tearing, no noticeable bruising. My lower ab muscles were also sore the first week, but it was from the horrible cough I had, not labor.

I also had nasty itching, but it stopped as soon as I switched to my cloth pads about 2-3 days pp. I would probably use something topically if it went on too long - are you worried about the Nystatin? I'm not familiar with it. I wonder if something OTC like Vagisil would help? I've had to use that before for a yeast infection, and it does a pretty good job of numbing you so you're not itchy.

[IwannaBanRN]

DH and I had to stop ourselves last week from doing anything. lol Kissing got a bit hot and heavy.  Hey, at least I know he's interested. I wish the damn wait wasn't 6 weeks. That's how long I bleed usually, and DH won't go near it until it's done bleeding. Also, we need to figure out what to do about birth control. He wants a vasectomy, but doesn't want to trust just anybody with his junk and we don't know what to do for birth control until the vasectomy takes full effect. I can't do the IUD(complications in the past) I can't do the pill because I won't remember it everyday, I can't do the patch because that's how I wound up pregnant in the first place, the depo shot makes me gain weight and I want to LOSE weight, and neither of us find sex with a condom enjoyable at all. Pretty much rules out everything except me getting my tubes tied.  Oh and I don't trust the natural family planning since I'm so fertile.

[birdhappy85]

I hope DH and I can DTD soon. I'm only 11 days pp but raring to go! I usually have a higher sex drive than DH but he is cracking me up lately with his comments about my bigger breasts and asking, "When are you allowed to [DTD]?" even though he knows I'm not supposed to yet. I wish I could share some of his comments on here because they are getting SO FUNNY but his word usage is probably too inappropriate to share. Let's just say that now that I'm breastfeeding around the clock and my boobs are hanging out in all their glory, he has this new lust in his eyes I've never seen before.   And he wasn't even a "boob guy" before. Can I keep these breasts even after I'm done breastfeeding? Please?

[birdhappy85]

On another note, I woke up in the middle of the night to feed the baby and realized I had bled through my pants. Ugh. My bleeding totally came back in full force. Not cool. My body probably retaliated because I had the most stressful evening with breastfeeding and crying baby issues and I couldn't calm down. *sigh* I'm sure trying to go out shopping briefly was a bad idea yesterday too. Oh well. Lesson learned.

[IwannaBanRN]

Joanie my bleeding has picked up a bit in the last day or so too. I passed a clot and had cramping yesterday too. Take it easy mama.

[jbk21]

DH is suddenly a boob man as well.  He LOVES the girls now, OMG.  I have been pregnant or nursing for the past 3.5 years but there was a brief (month long?) time right after I weaned and right as we got pregnant where I got a glimpse of what the twins will look like after I'm done breastfeeding.... It's not pretty.  I used to have cute perky little things- 34C- and now they have stretch marks and when not nursing are just sad and floppy.  Someone please tell me that maybe if I work out I can get some of that perkiness back????  Otherwise DH says he wants me to be a wet nurse forever LOL!