https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 11:37:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2729138 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 23:10:39 +0000 catomd00 2729138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds normal given what you went through. Considering you pushed for so long, if you're still having a lot of soreness in another few weeks, is highly suggest seeing a pelvic floor PT to evaluate. I think this should really be standard after all pregnancies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2729072 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 19:12:33 +0000 Silva 2729072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't tear but wanted to comment about pain with sitting/activity- there could very likely be some pelvic floor muscle damage. I have had hypertonic pelvic floor muscles following both of my deliveries and had to do PT to resolve the issue. I'd get pain from overdoing it (just walking/chores), but also from sitting.<br /> I don't know why the "six weeks" mark gets pushed as thought you are magically back to "normal" at that point. It takes months for my body to heal fully (and I have had two pretty straightforward vaginal deliveries with very short pushing times and no tears), and that is with physical therapy. </p> <p>Glad you are going to the doctor, just wanted to say give yourself time, rest, be patient. I know its so difficult to feel like your body is damaged/not your body. If you are still having pain and your doctor is dismissive, see someone else. Pelvic floor issues are treatable and should not be ignore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2729053 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 18:21:11 +0000 pastemoo 2729053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weswife: i also had a labial tear :( i felt funny for a long time after, but the itching at 2 weeks-ish was probably the worst. The heavy feeling took a while, and I could feel the weird spot where the labial stitches were for a long time (a few months). I bled for 6 weeks, if bleeding increased it was usually because i was doing too much.<br /> and I bruised or broke my tailbone--that took months to feel better, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728943 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:16:17 +0000 gilmoregirl 2728943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I recently had some bleeding at 8 weeks after a super busy day so it can go on for a long time. </p> <p>I've had two 3rd degree tears with internal tearing and always felt super weird when my stitches were healing. I wouldn't say pain exactly, but discomfort for sure. </p> <p>Both times it has taken me a lot longer to feel good again than I've expected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728814 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 12:44:50 +0000 kiddosc 2728814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weswife: Whoo, pushing for 4.5 hours will cause a lot of internal trauma that needs to heal also. I'm sure some of what you're feeling is the internal bruising and tearing healing. I think a lot of women expect to be up and running around a feeling fine right away, but that's just not always the case. I would really concentrate on staying off your feet as much as possible for a week and see if anything improves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728716 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 09:49:43 +0000 Weswife 2728716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: yeah and I think the fact that I pushed for 4.5 hours and was incredibly swollen in the hospital probably doesn't help. We are five weeks out but for the first week and a half I walked like I just got off a horse! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728490 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:56:33 +0000 KT326 2728490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weswife: I've never had surgery or anything down there so nothing to compare it to, but the area does get pretty traumatized during birth! You pushed a baby out, it's gonna take time for things to get back to normal. I noticed if I sat certain ways I would get sore, a pillow helped. They gave me a donut one in the hospital and that helped too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728483 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:41:52 +0000 Weswife 2728483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: honestly it's hurts so randomly. Like I could sit on the couch for hours and the it will start to bother me. So I honestly think it's from the way I sit or the way my underwear run or pants or whatever. That's the only explanation I can assume. And sometimes I get a sharp pain for a couple mins but then it goes away. That's when it hurts the most it's just mostly uncomfortable. I just didn't think it would last this long and I think that's why I am stressing out. I have had two surgeries with stitches down there but it only took two weeks to heal to I imagined it would similar! But sadly it's NOT!! Labor tears are much worse!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728481 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:36:55 +0000 KT326 2728481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weswife: well in a previous post you said it was more sore when you run errands, I took that to mean you were going multiple places and probably doing a lot of walking. </p> <p>Recovery is different for everyone, heck my first and second were completely different! With my first I felt like I couldn't do anything for the first couple months without feeling sore or exhausted. With my second, recovery was much faster and I was out and about the following week without any soreness at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728479 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:28:05 +0000 Weswife 2728479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: @kiddosc: so basically all I do is sit around the house and breastfeed and pump. Every now and again I go to the grocery store and my husband and I have gone to babies r us or target a few times but that's it. Still overdoing it??? I don't feel like I am doing anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728472 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:58:07 +0000 KT326 2728472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely sounds like you are over doing it. With my first, my stitches were gone (dissolved) by 3 weeks but I still had some soreness until about 7-8 weeks. I had a forceps delivery and a stage 2 tear/episiotomy. I also had to be careful which underwear I wore, certain ones would aggravate the area. If it was getting bad I would put a pad on, it gave the area some cushion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728415 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:17:58 +0000 kiddosc 2728415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It definitely sounds like you're over doing it. You're only 5 weeks PP and need to remember that your body is healing. I didn't have stitches, but I definitely noticed an increase in lochia and some soreness when I overexerted myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728366 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:27:38 +0000 littlejoy 2728366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: That's where mine was too - ugh, the WORST! My midwife told me it would take much longer than the other tear, and honestly, since I was still bleeding and sore at 3 weeks, it could have very well still been bleeding. I do know that it was healed by 5 weeks, and at 6 weeks, I saw my midwife for a tight pelvic floor ligament (yay, childbirth) and the outside was healed. Granted, I was able to totally stay off my feet for 2 weeks, so it's possible mine healed faster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728360 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:24:40 +0000 PawPrints 2728360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: I definitely still had spotty bleeding in the "front" area (periurethral labial tear) where one of my tears was for at least 4-5 weeks, maybe longer. I think tearing in that area gets stretched very frequently whenever you move around. My midwife wasn't concerned at all and it healed completely fine - eventually. I don't recall exactly how long it took but it wasn't much more than six weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728351 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:19:11 +0000 Weswife 2728351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: @PawPrints: @nana87: @Peasinapod: look above </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728350 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:18:01 +0000 Weswife 2728350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I go to the doctor on Thursday and had dh look last night and he said he couldn't see any stitches, and it wasn't red or anything but was a little swollen. But he is wondering if on the days where I do more... (clean, run errands, etc.) is that the problem. Those seem to be the days that it's more sore. Probably due to rubbing I would assume. In terms of bleeding honestly have no idea where it's coming from! Boo </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728328 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 12:57:16 +0000 littlejoy 2728328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also had two tears: perineum and labia ... even when getting the stitches (with a ton of local anesthesia), the labia ones hurt SO MUCH WORSE. </p> <p>Are you sure you're bleeding from your stitches? Skin should be mostly healed within 2 weeks, so if you're still bleeding from that tear, you absolutely need to see your doc. If your bleeding from your uterus, that's normal. Where the placenta detaches, there's a wound. Too much activity can increase the bleeding. I bled lightly for 6-7 weeks, I think. </p> <p>We had sex 5 weeks after birth, and my stitches were totally healed at that point. It felt weird, of course, but the pain was gone. I'm so sorry you're going through this - I am sure it will get better with time, but I also think you should reach out to a doctor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728300 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 12:36:12 +0000 Pollywog 2728300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a bad labial tear. My stitches hurt and I didn't rest like I was supposed to (MIL decided I could host a dinner party for 9, 10 days pp). I ended up ripping my stitches carrying groceries and have a permanent notch. It isn't pretty, but not something I dwell on. </p> <p>My OB's advice was not to look and not to worry. If it is bad, your husband will just get a constant reminder of what a bad ass you were. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728288 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 12:21:04 +0000 PawPrints 2728288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember having a lot of anxiety about my tears, I constantly worried if they were healing properly and I had bleeding for a long time. Turns out it was all normal. You should have a 6-week appointment soon, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728139 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:16:11 +0000 wrkbrk 2728139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weswife: Mine did.....I had a ton of stitches. From what I recall, there was bleeding for longer than they said - like 10 days. Then it went away and everything totally healed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728132 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:13:00 +0000 bees_knees 2728132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a labial tear with my first. I can't remember exactly how I felt at 5 weeks PP, but I do know that I initially overdid it and had to go in at 8-9 days PP bc of severe pain. My OB put me on antibiotics bc my stitches looked "angry" (haha) and refilled my Vicodin. I'd def call your OB, but it should be fairly obvious if you're bleeding from stitches vs lochia. Hang in there, it WILL get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728126 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:06:50 +0000 peachykeen 2728126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had stitches with my first and was still mildly sore, but not in bad pain, at 6 weeks. When the OB looked at my stitches at the follow-up, she did not clear me for sexual activity yet because they were still healing. So I would probably evaluate your pain/soreness level and call if you're concerned, but I wouldn't worry if you're not 100% healed by 6 weeks. I felt much better down there soon after that, but not sure the exact amount of time. Hope it gets better for you soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728106 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 08:25:27 +0000 catlady 2728106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You need to figure out where you are bleeding. Blood from the stitches would normally be bright red, lochia at this stage would be more like pink or brownish. Lochia would be completely normal and nothing to worry about. It stinks, but it can last quite a long time (I think mine finally went away after 6 or 7 weeks). If it's bright red blood though, I'd probably call a doc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728080 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 07:07:47 +0000 nana87 2728080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is the bleeding coming from the stitches? There's a difference between that and lochia, the uterine lining you shed after delivery that can come and go. I didn't have bad tearing after either birth and still bled for a long time, like 5 weeks on and off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728078 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 06:15:30 +0000 Peasinapod 2728078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Still sore seems normal but actual pain I'd question. By 6 weeks the stitches should be healing. Can you check with a mirror if the area around stitches looks infected ? </p> <p>I did bleed for over 6 weeks though, and it kind of got better than started again so to me that seems normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728072 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 01:55:45 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2728072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know a lot of people say they are fine by then but I was sore esp with my second. And the bleeding can kind of come and go. My first one I bled for months and I think for quite awhile with my second too. Everyone is different. It's good to bring up wth the OB but not necessarily abnormal. Sorry you're sore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaginal-delivery-and-stitches-what-is-normal#post-2728069 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:20:37 +0000 Weswife 2728069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok so I need advice from people who have dealt with this. I am concerned and yes I should probably contact the doctor but I'm scared! So I had a vaginal delivery 5 weeks ago and I tore in two places. My perinum and labia... ouch. My kid was huge. My question is did anyone one tear on their labia like me and how did the healing process go? And bleeding how long does it last? </p> <p>I was bleeding and then I stopped for a few days and now I have bleeding again. Not a ton but I don't understand. I am wondering if I am some how upsetting my stitches and bleeding from those instead. Also my stitches hurt... which I don't know if that's normal. I mean I think since it's where they are they run against my underwear which irritates them causing pain.. but I am not sure I am too afraid to look down there! Any advice? </p> <p>Ps I have my six week check up this week... </p>