How did you feel "down there" immediately after birth? - Page 2

[JesseMomme]

#1 birth - pushed for 20 minutes on my back after a long labor, 2nd degree tear , which was sewn up afterwards plus a stitch in my cervix For weeks afterwards I felt like a train had run over my yoni.

#2 birth - wanted to push on my knees but they tried to roll me over (got as far as my side lol) 2nd degree tear was sewn up WITHOUT the lidocain taking! Took a while for that to heal too

#3 birth - UC on hands/knees - 10 lb baby - just a skid mark. I felt totally normal after only a few days.

#4 birth - only pain I had afterwards was the pee I had to take a few hours later. After that I felt completely normal (also a UC, pushed while kneeling over tons of blankets lol)

[catnip]

Originally Posted by blueviolet

Please do a search at MDC for "perineal massage". The previous poster is right, there is really no consensus on whether it helps or not, some are big fans and some are very opposed to it. As far as your situation, I would think that anything that makes you tense "down there" would further inhibit your ability to stretch.

I agree. In my case, I don't know if it helped, but I was comfortable with it, and it certainly didn't hurt me. If it makes you uncomfortable or goes against your instincts, don't do it. I still stand by the active upright labor and the tub time, if you can manage it.

[georgia]

With my first birth, forced pushing, epidural, in the hosp (obviously ) and had a completely unconsented and unnecessary episiotomy, I felt like I'd been slaughtered. Mangled. So much pain!!! It took almost a year to get to feeling *normal.* Killed to urinate for weeks. Hurt to sit/stand/move for months. I still get the shivers when I think about it

My second birth, at home (and baby 2 lbs bigger than first), I pushed beyond what I instinctually felt like doing (there was a small crowd of friends, family, mws and I wanted them gone). No tears, skids, etc. but, I felt swollen immediately afterwards. Other than that, felt SO much better than being cut open with a pair of scissors and sewn shut. It did burn to pee for a few days though.

Third birth, pushed only when I felt like it, totally uninterfered with, no one messed with me. It was me and dh (mw came in to the room during the last ten minutes of the birth---I called her in b/c I was concerned baby was sideways!!!---turns out baby hadn't tucked her chin!!). Incredibly, I had no pain during crowning, immediately afterward or since. It never even hurt to pee.

The difference has been amazing. I completely attribute it to following my instincts and being left alone to do what I needed to do.

Ok, that's my long-winded story! Good luck w/everything!!!

[mezzaluna]

had an unmedicated hospital birth... my pushing stage was really short for a 1st timer (20min), and he was a big baby 8lb14oz, so things were a bit of a mess. my OB was trying to do perineal stretching (which hurt!) and she and the nurse were trying to get me to pull back on my knees??? i was sitting reclining - had wanted to squat but that position felt all wrong when it came time. at least i had enough wits about me not to be on my back!

i got 2nd degree tears, and the stitching up hurt like crazy - affected me worse than the contractions because i wasn't emotionally prepared for that to hurt. she had injected local anesthetic, but i didn't notice any numbing. then it turned out she missed some internal tearing and she put me under general to figure out why i was still bleeding (after giving me pitocin... grr). annnyway - my recovery from that was pretty slow - i couldn't sit up to BF while in the hospital, and could only do it at home with copious pillows for the next couple weeks. it hurt to sit for about 4 weeks, and i occasionally overdid things and reinjured the site until about 6 weeks pp.

it never really hurt to pee or poop though - well, maybe a little on the pooping, but no major trauma there.

i'm hopeful for the next one that i'll be fine. i am thinking of planning of homebirth, since the reason i thought i needed an OB turned out not to happen (i was at high risk for pre-eclampsia).

[mommy2madison03]

Wow thank you for all of the replies!

LoveChild421-Congratulations! Sounds like you had an awesome birth! Great job Momma!

I have definitely decided not to do the perenial massage. I just don't feel comfortable doing it at all.

I delivered Madison in a hospital. I really wanted a hb but I was a scared cause Madison was my first. Now I know I should have been more scared of the hospital. I was induced with pit at 40 weeks 2 days and my waters artificially broken at a tight 2. My body was highly sensitive to the pit and I was having 6 minute long contrations. I got the epideral at 6 cm and was complete in 1 1/2 hrs. Madison's head was turned sideways and the doc tried to manually turn her, but it didnt work. After pushing for 40 minutes they said her hb was decelerating so I recieved an episotomy and Madison was pulled out by vacume with even more tearing. Madison was fine and mad as hell!

I was stitched and packed with guaze for 24 hrs because I tore an artery or vessell or something. Months after delivery I couldn't even pass gas because the muscles just wouldn't work. I had an awful time with bm's. I really don't want to go through that again.

We are going to ttc in about 4 months!