I ended up with an episiotomy and a 3rd degree tear and today (pp day 3) I'm in so much pain! I'm taking motrin around the clock and using tucks & dermoplast. What did you do to get relief?
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@Ash: sitting on ice!
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yup, ice pack pads. I can't believe they didn't give you any?! I made my own once I ran out..poured witch hazel into always infinity pads, froze them and used them.
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@cmomma17: I thought I had everthing to make padsicles but I was wrong. Gonna head out after dinner to stock up!
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@sorrycharlie: they gave me one but I hate the balloon feeling of it (used it anyways though lol).
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I'm so sorry, mama. I had a similar experience and was in agony until day 10. (The good news is that I have felt WAY better since then). I also had a hematoma which slowed my recovery, so maybe yours will be faster. Honestly, time was the main thing that helped me...
I alternated 600mg ibuprofen with Tylenol. I also tried Percocet, but found that it gave me killer migraines. I also took Colace and Senokot. Do not skip the stool softeners and make sure you drink a TON of water!
Ice pack pads helped to some extent, as did sitz baths. I found the toilet insert they gave me uncomfortable, so instead, my mom bought me a plastic storage bin I could sit in. She washed it really we'll and lined it with a towel. I called it my "bottom bin". I put it in the shower and sat in in for 20 min 3x per day.
Dermoplast spray, tucks pads, etc. helped to some extent, but not as much as I would have liked!
I bought an inflatable ring to sit on and it helped if I managed to sit just right. If you want it, let me know and I'd be happy to send it.
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I took Norco after delivering LO. I don't remember how many days but I was sent home with it so maybe 4 or 5?
Other than that dermaplast and witchhazel. Hugs.
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@Ash: ohhh yeah. the infinity DIY ones are flat! heaven!
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@Ash: I had a third degree tear and an episiotomy and am now 8 weeks postpartum and it feels a lot better. In the immediate aftermath, Motrin, Tylenol, and frozen pads helped. After that the thing that helped the most was the tylenol and motrin alternated around the clock. Recovery from it was no joke - it hurt an amazing amount for about 6 weeks. I kept feeling like I should feel better quicker, but it just takes a long time.
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@Ash: rip open back of the diaper and stick ice in it. Better than any padsicle!
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Are you still in the hospital? That crushed ball ice inside a tied off glove is not sharp on your body and it's form fitting. Don't be afraid to get a serious painkiller!
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In addition to all of the above, I used A&D ointment along my suture line to reduce friction.
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If you have a Boppy, sit on it!
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@Mrs. Coral: this 100%
The breastfeeding pillow was not used for breastfeeding until at least 6 weeks PP.
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@Ash: Is your pain getting worse? I only say this because I had a bad tear, and by day 5 pp the pain was so unbearable I couldn't stand it. Turns out all of my stitches (35+) had gotten infected, and I needed antibiotics. Keep an eye on it if you're worried.
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My hospital used newborn diapers. Get them wet, freeze em' and sit. Glorious relief.
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@blackbird: nope, we're home
@Mrs. Oatmeal: yes, worse! Yesterday was better and today is seriously unbearable pain. I only took motrin with my cs so I think I'm pretty tough but this has brought me to tears today.
@catomd00: that's what I give my patients at work! Sweet sweet relief. Gotta come up with a way to make my big chunky ice work!
@78h2o: that's how I feel. I'm using them but not feeling like they're doing anything. I got a donut from the hospital but I feel like it "spread things" which makes it worse. Thank you by the way! Also just took some Tylenol to see if it helps!
@Corduroy: i tried it once in the hospital and it didn't touch the pain so I didn't take any more.
Really grateful for all of this advice! And knowing I'm not alone in this painful recovery.
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@Aandmklover: really?! Anything else I do? Just put them over my pad?
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earth mama angel baby bottom spray, ice diapers and a donut. I had the same as you, episiotomy + 3rd degree tear.
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@Ash: Yeah, I hear ya on "spreading things" - that's how I felt about the sitz bath they gave me that you were supposed to set on the toilet and sit on. The inflatable donut only helped if I got it just right... and "just right" didn't mean sitting directly on it as you'd imagine... it was more straddling one side of it and having one butt cheek on it, the other on the chair... it's hard to explain!
I literally cried every single time I sat down for several days. My pain also got worse after I got home from the hospital. It got so bad I called for a f/u appointment with my OB. I felt silly, but when I went in, they found the hematoma. Basically it was a 2" x 2" blood filled lump along one side of my episiotomy stitches. It put a ton of pressure on them and made me feel like they were going to burst. The hematoma has shrunk a ton, but it's still there now (I'm 3 weeks postpartum today). However, it's really not bothering me too much at this point. It's truly amazing how much better I feel now compared to where I was 1.5-2 weeks ago. Hang in there! It will get better!!!
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So sorry! I had an episiotomy too (natural birth!!!) and ended up with a vacuum assist for my first child. I was in a lot of pain 6-8 weeks out. After that it got better.
Dermaplast, squeezing hydrocortisone and lining tucks on a gigantic pad helped. I had to take ibuprofen the pain was so bad, my dr rx'ed heavy duty painkillers I couldn't bring myself to take them.
One of the best things my nurses forced me to do was take frequent baths in the hospital. They wouldn't discharge me until I took 4-5. Seriously so impossible with a newborn, but I managed to continue when I was discharged and I think that helped also.
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Also had an episiotomy, same as above I rotated Motrin and Tylenol, dermaplast, ice packs, boppy. I hated the donut from the hospital too. I also took a hot bath every night and I really think it's what aided in healing and pain relief! Good luck!!!
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@Aandmklover: my hospital used nb dipes as ice packs too
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Ice packs, sitz baths, dermaplast spray, and witch hazel pads helped a lot.
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We found those "peas" style ice packs at CVS and they were about the size of a pad, I wrapped them clean flannel and used those for awhile, they were easy to clean (I threw them out afterwards though!) and soft.
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Fill a condom with water & freeze it - I found the greatest relief with that as I could really place it exactly where I needed numbing. I'd wrap it in a soft towel to start and when it melted a bit (so it was like an ice tube surrounded by cold water surrounded by condom) I would have it directly contacting my skin until it was room temp. Before I was discharged I made my husband make 20 of them at home so they'd be ready to go.
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@Ash: I had a CS with my first too, and I didn't take any pain meds after I got out of the hospital, but the tearing/episiotomy kicked my ass. I took around the clock pain meds for 6 weeks pretty much. The vaginal birth was much more painful.
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@Rockies11: afterwards, I asked myself what I was thinking wanting to vbac!
So, I'm really thinking how I'm feeling isn't normal. Was the pain unbearable?
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@Ash: it was pretty bad for me, but not unbearable. (I just cried a lot). Mine wasn't 3rd degree though... I had multiple 2nd degree tears and a mediolateral episiotomy. I called my OB though because I felt like I was getting worse, not better. They told me that was the right thing to do, as that (feeling worse) really should not happen. I think if you are really suffering it's worth having them check things. I felt better once they found the hematoma and I knew what was going on.
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@Ash: yeah, I feel the same way re: vbac! I was under the misapprehension that because it was the "natural" way to birth, somehow the recovery would be less debilitating. But it has been much worse, and I injured my tailbone as well, which is not recovering at all. Based on the injuries from this birth, I am eligible for a CS for my next birth, lol. So I am chalking this birth up to a failed experiment.
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@Rockies11: exactly! My dr told me after the delivery that if we have another, it WILL be a cs... which I'm all for.
@78h2o: I'm going to call on Monday if things haven't improved. Just wish I knew what was normal. Thanks for all of your help!
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@Ash: I would say it's not normal for the pain to be getting worse, so I would definitely go see a doctor ASAP. I had a 2nd degree tear and was up walking around day of, ever only needed some tylenol for a day or two, and only ever needed dermoplast and the peri bottle and my healing was linear--each day I felt better than the last.
My sister had a bad tear with her first and hers was worsening---she waited way too long (like 2 weeks) until she spiked a really high fever--sure enough, her stitches had all gotten infected. Better to go sooner rather than later.
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@Ash: shit man. That sucks. I had a horrible tear and had a thread with lots of tips. Let me find it
Pain was pretty unbearable for me. And the hard part was no one understood and expected me to be fine. So sorry you're going through this.
Edit: here's the thread http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/third-degree-tear#post-1608634
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@Ash: I'm so sorry you're going through this. It doesn't really sound that normal to me..but I only had 2nd degree so I'm not sure what is normal for 3rd. I'd definitely just call in and see if maybe they can phone in some stronger meds, or maybe they will want to see you. Hope you are feeling some relief soon.
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@Ash: have you had a look at the stitches? Whenever my pain was really bad I would have a look at them, and I could tell that they weren't infected - they were healthy and pink. It always made me feel better. If they look red at all, I would go in!
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I only had first degree tears and one 2nd degree so not sure that counts as bad, but, in addition to everything above, I would strongly recommend taking it easy. I practically didn't leave the bed for two or three weeks. DH did everything for me and for LO during that time. I avoided stairs especially. I definitely noticed that on days when I had to be moving around more, I had more pain (doctor appointments etc). I also had a period of time when the bleeding and pain were getting worse instead of better. Particularly around the two week mark. It was never anywhere near the kind of pain that comes from an infection though so I tried not to worry. Turned out everything was fine. Maybe take s look and make sure it doesn't look infected.
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Aloe vera ice pads for the first week! So sorry you're in pain! But congrats, mama!!!
Oh and I took Percocet the first few days and then Vicodin for about a week with my first.
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I haven't done a darn thing today except sit on the couch and nurse and take a nap and I feel so much better. Apparently I should be taking it easy
I talked to my ob NP friend to get her opinion and she advised me to put myself on bed rest and it definitely has helped. Thanks everyone!
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@Ash: So glad it seems to be getting better!
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Ice..... So much ice.... And time. Hope it dulls a bit for you.
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