My poor girly parts...what can I do?

[True Blue]

Ironically enough, I had no tearing despite my large baby. BUT...I am super sore. It will be one week tomorrow, but I don't feel better. I actually felt better the first day and a half than I do now. On her second day I spent a lot of time sitting, and I think I irritated things. Parts of my labia toward my back are so swollen and sore, it hurts to walk too much or sit wrong. It burns to pee (and did not the first day). I iced it a little last night. This just seems crazy to be so sore and raw without needing any repairs...never had this with the first two, and only had a minor skidmark with each of them. Any ideas? The herbal sitz bath I have burns.

[Mama2-4]

I would probably say to continue with the ice if you are really swollen. You said it burns when you urinate, is it burning like a uti or burning from the swelling? Increase your fluids and maybe include cranberry juice or cranberry pills. Also lying down instead of sitting if you find you are more irritated from sitting. Good luck Mama! :

[Teenytoona]

hbak

i second mama2-4's suggestion of determining whether its uti type burning or muscle soreness... if its muscle soreness, keep up with the ice - i find frozn witch hazel or comfrey tea pads work wonders. also, sometimes your vag/urethral muscle area can get strained during a bowel movement. use a warm washcloth to provide counter pressure to your crotch while pooping. it make a big difference on you urinary/vag muscles.

[sarahn4639]

nak

i'd do homeopathic arnica and some comfrey leaf soaks (if it doesn't burn but i doubt it will.)

[True Blue]

The burning is not at my urethra...it's when my urine hits farther back, definitely not a uti. No pain during a bowel movement, thank goodness! It's kind of like the parts of my vagina and inner vulva are just kind of raw. DH was kind enough to get me a donut pillow yesterday, that is making sitting more comfortable.

[flapjack]

I'd bathe and/or ice with calendula or chamomile. I don't feel comfortable recommending comfrey postpartum because its no longer recommended for internal use.

[sarahn4639]

Helen, I steeped comfrey leaf for a long time and then just added it to my bath water and peri bottle now and then. Would you consider that internal use? I'm just curious, thanks!

[applecore]

I'd suggest using a peri bottle while you pee to dilute the urine. That should help with the stinging. And ice should help as well. I don't think it's strange that you should still be sore a week postpartum. Especially if you are sitting and kinda reclining while nursing.

[flapjack]

Sarah, there is NEVER a concern with anything that you've already done I think because the vulva is so delicate and there's likely to be abrasions there from birth it's worth using something very gentle anyhow.
The safety concerns with comfrey are that the young leaves are potentially carcinogenic and more research is needed, so the advice (over here, at least) is not to eat them or drink comfrey tisanes. SO, you know, it's a chance in several million that something is going to go wrong but it's not a herb I love anyhow because it's so strong.

[avalonfaith]

putting a little witch hazel on a pad, freezing it then using it can be very soothing also.

[mkmama]

i heard a great tip yesterday...take a poise pad, BARELY dampen it with water...shape it to your body and then freeze it. I have heard this feels WONDERFUL. Don't freeze it without first shaping it to your body tho, or you will have a cardboard like stiff things between your legs.

HTH.

[isra1986]

I was still sore 1 week after delivery. The tip about using the peribottle to dilude the urine is a good idea. Thats what I did and it really helped. I had my baby 15 days ago and I am not really sore at all anymore. You just have to give yourself time to heal.

[smokeylo]

witch hazel in peri bottle (i diluted it, about 2 oz in the 8 oz bottle), ice, and arnica tablets! I had a 2nd degree tear and skid mark near my urethra but no discomfort using these things.

[loraxc]

GET THIS:

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/ea...ttom_balm.html

I didn't tear either, but was sore...OMG, this stuff is heaven-sent.

[mkmama]

i also heard using a small squirt bottle to rinse yourself after going to the bathroom and using a hairdryer on cool setting to dry yourself is much nicer than wiping the sore parts....

[Limabean1975]

Hi there. I was the same as you - big baby (9lbs 14oz), no tears, but I was purple and swollen for a couple of weeks after. The pressure (in some cases...obviously some women don't tear OR bruise) has to go somewhere! IT is totally normal that you are still hurting. THere's some great tips already in this thread - best is use that peri bottle and pat yourself dry or use a cool hairdryer (I just patted gently). I remember calling up a friend and asking "When will I get my vagina back???" ..she asked "For sex? Are you crazy?" and I said "NO! Just to walk around feeling somewhat normal!"
It was at least three weeks before I could go for a walk and not feel like my lady parts were just going to fall out and land on the sidewalk.

All that to day, it's normal, and you will be back to normal soon, and even feel like you could do it all over again!

[MKury]

been there! My girly parts looked like a hot dog bun for about a week pp... and the burning when it hit the raw areas was terrible. All the suggestions above are going into my arsenal for the next go round! I just used a peri bottle and gently patted dry- and I did the herbal sitz baths a couple times a day, but diluted it into about a 1/3 tub full of water, so it didn't burn. I hope you get to feeling more normal very soon!