recovery time for a vaginal birth?

[ghuaghua]

I had a c-section with my last birth that left me in recovery for quite a while. This time I had a natural birth- its only been a week and I still feel pretty sore. How is everyone else doing with pain, and what is considered normal? My baby was in a difficult position (sunny side up, brow presentation) so I don't know if that makes a difference, and I also had some stitches.

[Beppie]

I had my baby 8 days ago, and had a 2nd degree tear. I didn't get stitches though. I felt much better after 6 days. ByTuesday I wasn't sore and I could sit anywhere (before that I was much too sore to just sit on any hard surface!).

With my first child, though, I had an episiotomy and stitches. It took me a lot longer to recover from that. I was sore for a LONG time. I wish I could tell you exactly how long. Maybe 2 weeks?

[minsca]

With my first child I had a 3rd degree tear and couldn't sit well for at least 3 weeks. As for having no pain down there... at least 3 months. This time around I only had a 2nd degree tear, I was able to sit basically from day one. But it's still tender down there, and that was 5 weeks ago now. (but I think that's because I went down some waterslides the other day with my younger sister, and I forgot to cross my legs, so I got a major wedgie. I don't think it helped the healing either.)

[MCKH]

With my first it was about 5 or 6 days until I felt decent. This time it was about 3 days for the pain to go away. 9 days out I am still not *quite* back to normal - there is no pain though. I had a moderate tear the first time and only a very small one this time.

[Code Name Mama]

kieran was also sunny side up, but i only had a minot tear (no stitches) and skidmarks. the tear/skidmarks felt almost good as new around day 8. i still have a sore tail bone though, i think it might be cracked

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

My first two I had episiotomies and I was so uncomfortable for weeks. This time we had a home water birth and I'm only on day 4 and I feel amazing. I seriously don't feel like I just had a nearly 10lb baby 4 days ago!

[Belleweather]

I felt really good just a few days after birth last time, except for my bottom -- with a second degree tear and a pretty bad labial tear -- which continued to hurt for several weeks. Mainly, though, I think that was the labial tear and the fact that I was wearing pads that I became really sensitive to... I think as much nekkid butt on a towel time as you can manage can really help speed up healing from tears.