2nd baby = longer recovery???

[LoveChild421]

I'm 2 weeks 2 days post-partum and still have fairly moderate bright red bleeding (like a period). I also still feel swollen inside- tried to feel around to check things out and had to stop because my tissues just feel sore. I don't have any soreness or pain unless I go poking around...I didn't tear at all but my midwife gave me some arnica because my cervix was swollen (had a lip she pushed back).

I just remember with ds1 I wasn't bleeding (any more than spotting here and there) at this point and dp and I were able to DTD because everything felt completely back to normal...

Is this normal? Anyone else take longer to heal from the 2nd birth? could it be because he was bigger (with a much bigger head)?

[Gunter]

i bled for 4 weeks with my first and am always so surprised when people talk about getting it on after a few weeks. which goes to show how different each person's pp time can be. still bleeding at this point it fine, i would say.

with this feb babe (my second), i had the same lip that needed to be pushed back, lots more pushing and way more support from my MW on my perineum. also, a babe who was 2 lbs larger than my first, born sunny side up. and, i am bleeding way LESS. i am sore but it doesn't feel really painful at this point. (i am 4 days pp.)

healing vibes to you, mama!

[True Blue]

With both of my first 2 pregnancies, I bled for 6 weeks and was not even close to comfortable to dtd until at least 8 weeks. FTR, I had no tears, stitches, lips, etc.

[CalebsMama05]

I had a really tough time healing from ds2's birth. I didn't feel comfortable walking around without pain until he was over a month old, and my tear didn't feel *healed* until he was almost 3 months old.

oh and he was almost 7 weeks old when I stopped bleeding.

[mamatomax]

I bled for 3 weeks with DS1, and my recovery took about a month (had an episiotomy). This time around, I got a 1st degree tear right along the scar from where they cut last time, and I feel pretty darn good after only 2 weeks and 2 days. I bled for a week and it stopped for about 5 days, and now I've had a day here and there where I'll bleed a little bit. During those 5 days, I had a thick, yellowish mucus that was very strange (sorry probably TMI). I don't remember anything like that w/ DS1.

[eilonwy]

ok, it took me A LOT less time to recover from my second birth than my first, despte the fact that Bean was vaginal and BooBah was an emergency c-section. that said, you are under more stress this time just because you have two kiddos around, and given the easy recovery you had from your first, you may simply be overdoing things. Not that i'm anyone to talk, mind you, but it could be as simple as you needing a nap.

[LoveChild421]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

that said, you are under more stress this time just because you have two kiddos around, and given the easy recovery you had from your first, you may simply be overdoing things. Not that i'm anyone to talk, mind you, but it could be as simple as you needing a nap.

good point! I was able to get more rest last time and I do have a tendency to overdo it in general. I probably need to stop pushing myself to do things and get out of the house and run around the yard with ds

Glad to know its still normal to be bleeding at this point- I was a bit worried...

[anj7]

With DD1, I bled for 8 weeks and was in mat clothes (stretchy waistband stuff)for ages. DD2, I bled for 6 weeks, but honestly felt close to 'normal' within a week of her birth. Her birth was prety easy though, no swelling to manage or anything like that. So for me 2nd baby = quick recovery. I did have to remind myself to slow down though.

[Mama2-4]

You and I share the same delivery date! I am at the same point as you with my bleeding. I wish it would go away, but I remember with my last baby it hung around for about 4-5 weeks. I am sure I bleed so long b/c I can not stand to sit still, and with 4 kids simply can not sit still! It is totally back to life as usual here, Mama constantly running after the kids and now doing it all while nursing a little infant!