[Voltige]

I'm due with #2 in approximately 10 weeks. I had a relatively easy first birth but a very long recovery. I was extremely sore for months, despite only a minor tear. I'm hoping for an easier recovery this time and was hoping for some product recommendations.

I was told to use a sitz bath for 3 days after my first birth, but I never followed through.

I could not even sit in the tub, I was so swollen and tender. Is there another way to soak that is less painful? About the only thing I could do was stand in the shower and use the detachable shower head to spray the area gently.

What did you use/do post partum to relieve the pain and swelling? I want to start stocking up on stuff soon!

 

[Romana]

I got pads that had cooling stuff in them - you break the capsule inside and there's a chemical reaction that makes the pad cool. It was wonderful. I had those in the hospital after #1 and ordered some for myself off the internet for #2. Well worth the money. I think you just use them for the first 24 hours or so - can't remember for sure. It was very helpful in keeping the swelling to a minimum, though.

I also found I needed to take stool softeners regularly until at least the first couple of bowel movements. I think that can vary from woman to woman. Just OTC stuff.

I didn't do the sitz bath thing. Just seemed too difficult to me. Can't you get a sitz bath thing that rests on the toilet seat, though? Then you sit on that. Maybe that would be easier for you if you wanted to do the sitz bath.

 

[groovynaturemama]

i actually used the sitz bath like this (well, a member of my birth team prepared it): poured it on pads and stuck them, unfolded, w/ wax paper in between, in the freezer. they would get a little wet after they started to melt, but they felt very good on my healing skin, and it wasn't too messy if i sat on a chux while using them. i also used the sitz bath in a peri bottle; everytime i went to the bathroom, i'd just squirt it on myself. i liked cold a lot for the healing period, so i kept the leftover/extra sitz bath in the fridge.

another thing that we do for some moms at births is make epsom salt packs to help pull out swelling (in cases where the swelling is pretty great). a warm washcloth filled with epsom salts seems to help a lot of the moms.

 

[Voltige]

Quote:

Originally Posted by liss_420 i actually used the sitz bath like this (well, a member of my birth team prepared it): poured it on pads and stuck them, unfolded, w/ wax paper in between, in the freezer. they would get a little wet after they started to melt, but they felt very good on my healing skin, and it wasn't too messy if i sat on a chux while using them. i also used the sitz bath in a peri bottle; everytime i went to the bathroom, i'd just squirt it on myself. i liked cold a lot for the healing period, so i kept the leftover/extra sitz bath in the fridge. another thing that we do for some moms at births is make epsom salt packs to help pull out swelling (in cases where the swelling is pretty great). a warm washcloth filled with epsom salts seems to help a lot of the moms.

Where did you actually get the stuff to prepare the sitz bath? Was it something you mixed up yourself, or something you bought?

And did you put actual epsom salts into a washcloth and fold it up? Or soak a washcloth in an epsom salt water solution then apply? Just trying to get the specifics

Thanks!!

 

[jennyfah]

I did frozen pads with witch hazel; they're divine!

: I just moistened (maybe 2-3 T. per pad?) some disposable pads and froze them over a bowl so they'd have a gently curved shape. I did this a few weeks before the "due" date and kept them in a big plastic box in the freezer. They are so very nice!

I second the rec for stool softener. I would even do it for two or three weeks if you tear or need stitches; I stopped taking mine after a few days last time and paid the price.

I also *adored* Earth Mama Angel Baby's Bottom Balm---I had a 2nd degree tear and some hemorrhoids, and that stuff saved me. It was heavenly on sore parts after birth! Their New Mama Bottom Spray is also nice but not as great as the Bottom Balm.

Best wishes!

 

[wombatclay]

I had a 4th degree tear with dd2 so I got to try a lot of different healing options!

For swelling, bruising, tearing, or random physical "trauma" try homeopathic arnica (in pill form). You can start taking it immediately after the birth and keep going as long as necessary. Dosage info is on the bottle, but if you have major birth trauma (big tear, c/s, etc) you can take more initially.

You can also apply honey infused with comfrey (buy the comfrey herb or oil at a health food store and add it to the honey) straight onto the ouchie tissue... it's good for healing. Pure Aloe Gel can also be applied to swollen/torn tissue for soothing and healing. The honey blend is obviously sticky/messy and the aloe isn't much better... I usually did a sitz bath, then applied the honey or aloe, let my bum air dry while I took a 5-10 minute break, and then got into the shower to clean everything off. However I do know some people who have just smeared on the honey or aloe and then put on a pad and gone about their day.

Let's see... the sitz baths I used were either plain water (as warm as possible), epsom salt dissolved in the water, or comfrey or ginger made up like a tea and then poured into the sitz bath. Did you have an actual sitz bath to use? I found the toilet topper style pretty comfortable since there wasn't any pressure on the perineal tissue.

In general, stay hydrated, don't strain on the toilet (use a stool softener if necessary), try to rest as much as possible, get some sun or air on the sore tissue each day if possible, try the honey and comfrey (external) or arnica (internal). Make sure your diet has enough protein (necessary to rebuild the tissues) and that you're eating enough calories to support the repair as well as the general post-partum needs (like breastfeeding). Use ice packs or warming pads as necessary (I was told cold in the first 12 hours, then heat for the next 12, then whatever felt best), sitz baths, and peri-bottles filled with water or an herbal blend (like comfrey or epsom salt or ginger) while toileting.

Hope you have a wonderful birth and a quick recovery!

 

[mom2threenurslings]

Frozen witch hazel pads are great - but make sure you're not allergic to witch hazel first.

Also avoid sitting with your legs apart/squatting until you're healed.

Also...anything to make your life easier postpartum is a big help ... getting meals prepared and frozen ahead of time, lining up people to bring meals when they come to see you and the baby ... having a "nursing basket" with new-to-him toys for your ds to play with while you nurse the baby ... putting a "help wanted" list on your fridge with a list of things people can do when they stop by for a visit (dishes, laundry, picking up toys, taking your ds for a walk, etc.). The more you rest and let your body heal, the easier your recovery will be.

 

[mamatolevi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romana9+2 I got pads that had cooling stuff in them - you break the capsule inside and there's a chemical reaction that makes the pad cool. It was wonderful. I had those in the hospital after #1 and ordered some for myself off the internet for #2. Well worth the money. I think you just use them for the first 24 hours or so - can't remember for sure. It was very helpful in keeping the swelling to a minimum, though.

It's cheaper to get unlubricated condoms and fill them about half full of alcohol and water to make a freezEpac. double up with the tied off ends opposite eachother so they don't leak. They can be washed off and re-frozen. Also, you can wet poise pads a little and freeze them.

I couldn't do the sitz baths - too stingy! I also needed more support when sitting so a really firm pillow to sit on if your couch is squooshy helps a lot.

 

[JamieCatheryn]

I found I healed much better when I started using cloth pads for the lochia; air could circulate that way. New folded up flat cloth diapers worked for the heavyish flow after the first day (cleaned them up with hydrogen peroxide between uses).

 

[Voltige]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieCatheryn I found I healed much better when I started using cloth pads for the lochia; air could circulate that way. New folded up flat cloth diapers worked for the heavyish flow after the first day (cleaned them up with hydrogen peroxide between uses).

Interesting. I didn't use cloth pads postpartum last time, but have been using them exclusively for my cycles until we conceived. I hope it does help!!

 

[Voltige]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamatolevi It's cheaper to get unlubricated condoms and fill them about half full of alcohol and water to make a freezEpac. double up with the tied off ends opposite eachother so they don't leak. They can be washed off and re-frozen. Also, you can wet poise pads a little and freeze them.

I have a box

I needed them a couple years ago for a little dog with a broken leg. The cast and then splint needed to be kept completely dry- and rolling a condom up her leg over the splint was absolutely the BEST for keeping everything dry. I always had to explain to visitors why there was a box of condoms sitting on her crate though

There are some great suggestions in this thread. Thank you!! Hopefully a combination of them will work for me and make recovery easier and faster this time around.

 

[wanderinggypsy]

All the above, and remember: the peri-bottle is your friend.

 

[Jilian]

There are some great healing herbs available on InHisHands.com - I'm pretty sure most Midwives get their pp herbs from that website. I used the herbs to soak and freeze disposable pads like another mama mentioned and to put in my peri bottle. I also love Earth Mama Angel Baby bottom balm. I made up some witch hazel pads (just soak a cotton circle in witch hazel and use for comfort on your bottom) you can keep them refrigerated. I also used arnica and it helped because when I ran out I noticed a difference. For uterine involution pains I used a tincture by Wish Garden called afterease and it was great. I also took some Ibuprofen for the first day or so and when the after pains got really bad.

 

[mysticmomma]

I always sit on a towel in the tub to do a sitz bath.

 

[veganfox]

Hello mamas. I was just wondering, how do you prepare witch hazel pads?
I got the witch hazel and some heavy flow pads but don't what to do now. I'm due in about 3 weeks. Any advice welcome..!

 

[Mal85]

I brought home everything I could from the hospital (my SIL is an OB nurse there, so she stocked me up pretty good). Tucks pads were wonderful, the peri bottle was my very best friend (with warm water, I used this more and longer than anything else), and numbing spray. DH said I was going to a spa for my crotch every trip to the bathroom!

 

[SeekingJoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by veganfox Hello mamas. I was just wondering, how do you prepare witch hazel pads? I got the witch hazel and some heavy flow pads but don't what to do now. I'm due in about 3 weeks. Any advice welcome..!

I used my cloth pads, but I would think it would work similarly with disposable ones. I just poured witch hazel over the pads and stuck them in the freezer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, I stuck them in a bag. They were great. Even better was the EMAB Bottom Balm!

 

[veganfox]

thank you SeekingJoy!!!

 

[BabyMommee]

Yep, peri-bottle is a MUST

In the hospital they gave me frozen preemie diapers to use as pads. I don't know if they got them wet and then froze them or what, but the coolness definitely helped. I really like the frozen condom idea from a pp!

I got some spray from the drug store that sort of numbs you, but I HATED it. I forget what it was called - it starts with a D.

I just recently found the most WONDERFUL stuff, though. It's from Earth Mama Angel Baby - it's called Bottom Balm. I was having some hemrrhoid issues and this stuff is HEAVEN. It makes you feel cool without stinging, and it doesn't stink. They have the same stuff in a spray version, and I will DEFINITELY be getting that before my little one comes. It's a little on the expensive side for me - I think the balm I got was about $10 at Whole Foods - I don't normally spend that much for stuff like that, I kinda just thought you were paying for the cutesy picture on the front, but honestly, it is worth every penny!

Good Luck!

 

[jennyfah]

IME the EMAB spray is nowhere near as good as their Bottom Balm. The spray didn't do much for me, honestly, but I bet it would be nice sprayed on a pad and frozen. The Bottom Balm is worth every penny though. HEAVEN!

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