postpartum questions

[AshleyKeene]

What's it like after birth? Does it hurt to use bathroom/walk and what happens to your vagina sorry if tmi. Just want to be prepared. Is there any tips/ tricks to help recover faster

[fortlauderdale2]

With my first one 7,3lbs, I tore a lot. So i was sore for about 1,5 weeks. This time my 9.7 pounder didnt do any damage. I felt fine since day 1. For me, the hardest part is breast feeding. My nipples are, cracked, bloody, full, and sore. But it will pass..... you got this!  Just know all moms go through it an can ultimately handle all pain!  Ps, i had an epudural:)

[shushu5]

Peeing and pooping was hard the first 2 days. I tore 2nd degree and took 2 weeks for stitches to heal. It's been almost 5 weeks and the worst for me has been stomach cramps from hell every few days. They say it's after birth pains from uterus shrinking. But it hurts my upper stomach so I believe it has to do with my bowels, constipation. They also said I had a UTI so now taking antibiotics. I thought it was a yeast infection because the vajajay stays wet from blood and drainage and its hard to take a shower to clean it especially if you rip, you don't want brush over the stitches to wipe. Then you have to change pads every time you use the restroom or else you stay wet. One time after I stopped bleeding, I stoped wearing the pads, and my vajajay brushed against my underwear as I walked causing a burning rash sensation so I started wearing pads again. So you can easily get a yeast infection or UTI. so stock up on cranberry juice and yogurt. Reading other peoples posts, I see everyone has different pregnancy pains. Good luck to you. You really won't know what you feel to afterwards.

[GeekMom1213]

I had a natural vaginal birth - 9lb baby, no tearing, no episiotomy, no skid marks. It still stings like crazy to pee for a while but the aforementioned peri bottle is a lifesaver to neutralize the strong stinging. Tucks pads (or generic witch hazel pads) layered on top of the heavy-duty menstrual pads youll be using make a big difference in staying comfortable as your body heals and the tissues return to their normal shapes and sizes.
Stool softeners are your friend - and so is staying well hydrated. Don't strain, it makes hemorrhoids worse - I've found that putting your feet up on a low stepstool putting your body into more of a squat than a sit makes it easier to move your bowels. Tucks pads help with hemorrhoids, too.
Walking is a bit uncomfortable for a short period of time but it's not too bad. Be prepared to waddle as it'll feel like you've got a balloon between your thighs for a little while. There isn't really a way to speed up healing - it happens on its own and in its own time. Kegels do help strengthen the pelvic floor helping with bladder leakage but don't actually do anything to the vagina. The vagina is incredibly elastic and returns more or less to its original condition over time depending on trauma to the area - the best thing you can do is to be fully informed and prepared before going into labor on ways to avoid tearing (effective positioning and perineal massage, mostly) and how to help prevent being given an unnecessary episiotomy (they are done FAR too often and frequently for absolutely no reason besides speed and convenience for doctors).

[mgalej]

*Sitz

[mgalej]

Just had my baby Monday getting over giving birth is rough but so worth every moment I'm completely in love. Tuesday was bad but the third day was worse the sites bath helped me more than anything. Witch hazel pads, numbing spray, and ice packs all of which my hospital gave to me. I didn't lose a lot of blood and barely bleeding now. Today is day six most of the pain is gone but itching from the stitches is iritating. If not breast feeding do what u can about your milk coming in because breast engorgement is horrible. Using the bathroom hasn't been bad for me thank God I use a peri bottle is a godsend. You will be fine everybody is different I freaked out before delivery thinking of all of this stuff. Don't over stress it'll all be ok

[ShannyO]

Every experience is different and for me, I tore so it was very painful. Be prepared for lots of blood, like a long, very heavy period. I was given ice packs at the hospital to sit on & those were amazing for discomfort. You'll get a bottle with a squirt nosel to use when you go potty. That will remove the sting as well as replace the use of toilet paper.
I'm almost 8 weeks out from birth & I'm still sore from my tear. The doctor gave me an estrogen cream to use for 3 weeks to which he'll follow up with me. It's been 2 weeks & still sore. Don't even want to consider having sex yet! Ohh, here's something they don't tell you till afterward...if you're breastfeeding, your vagina will lose its natural lubricant due to low estrogen and be drier then normal. Estrogen can negatively effect your breast milk so you may also be put on the mini pill for birth control that does not contain estrogen. This is why I was given an estrogen cream for mu tear....without the estrogen, it takes things longer to heal.

[spade22]

The one thing I was not expecting/prepared for were the hemorrhoids  and pain when pooping for the first few weeks after birth - very painful.  I expected vaginal pain and had a couple of stitches and that wasn't as bad (for me) as the hemorrhoid pain.

[Dragonwings]

It's like a Jucuzee for your booty.

[AshleyKeene]

What's sitz bath?

[Peachy1584]

It's hard to prepare because you won't really know until after you know what will happen during birth. During one I ripped/tore and another i had an episiotomy and it was very painful to use the bathroom. They gave me a bottle to use when urinating to squeeze out water while I went so it didn't sting so much. Sitz baths were also a life saver for me.

[Sheba27]

Kegel exercises before and after birth are supposed to help your vagina a lot, and they're easy to do. Be prepared with some stool softener too and you can ask your doctor or nurse about what's best to use. It all gets compressed at birth and can be difficult at first, like right after baby is delivered, but not having a bowel movement is a big deal.