postpartum pain

[cdc]

I delivered my lovely girl on Oct 12. She is my first, so I am unsure how I am supposed to feel now!

I had a long labor, but quick pushing phase, with just a small tear. I have felt some general irritation, which I had attributed to the blood, since delivery. Now, I have noticed a small, grape size lump just inside my vagina. It is inside the labia, and just on the fleshy tissue at the entrance to the vagina. It feels like something is pushing out a bit, and is uncomfortable to sit on. It is not in fact protruding outside the labia. I am not having any problems with urination.

I am not due for my post partum check for another couple weeks, and calls to my OB/GYN result in another prescription for the "discomfort" (nystatin/steroid cream)

Any idea what is going on with me? Is this an abcess that needs attention or is it normal?? I have discharge, but usually slightly bloody, so hard to see any infection. No odors.

My OB/GYN has got me feeling foolish, so any advice to help me avoid calling them again would be great!!!!!!

Thank you.

[Malga]

My advice would be to stop poking around down there ! Its probably fine, I would just continue to monitor like you have been-- watch for infection (smell, worse pain, or a temp) and watch your bleeding amount (should be getting less and less). It will probably resolve by your 6 week check and the OB will examine you then to see how things are healing. Congrats on your little one!

[courtenay_e]

Actually, I disagree. If you feel like there's somthing there you'd like looked at, then I would make an appointment for as soon as you can get in. Woman centered care means trusting that a woman trusts her intuition when she feels that there is something inappropriate going on with her body. Don't talk to the nurse on the phone-- go in and get it looked at. If I'd let the nurse practitioner run MY show when I knew there was something wrong 10 days PP, I'd be dead right now, I'd have bled to death(different issues, mind you, but still!). Trust your gut. If you don't think it's right go get it looked at. Sounds like perhaps (did they stitch you?) they stitched you unevenly and you have a flap of skin, or maybe you have a prolapse...regardless, even if it is "just" irritation? If you can't get in at your current practitioner, they aren't trusting that you know your own body, so I'd go elsewhere. But if your gut is telling you it's not normal, get it looked at sooner rather than later. You'd feel a lot better knowing that it's "just" irritation AFTER they've actually laid eyes on it. Can't really tell that over the phone, can we?