asked before but first poo after episiotomy/stitches?

[yuletopian99]

That's it really! Terrified!

Told it's only a small cut but the whole area feels swollen, stiff and NOT what you'd want for going to the loo...

Any advice/tips hugely well received..

[SoupDragon]

It's not as bad as you may think :) I had a third degree tear with DS1 and all was fine, really.

Tweak your diet to ensure you aren't constipated and don't strain. Good luck! :o

[lidlqueen]

take some gentle laxative

[hostelgirl74]

I took some Fybogel in with me to ease things. I was determined to get one out asap as i knew it would get easier after that but i couldnt do one for ages as i must have got rid of loads at the birth. Lovely.

[allnewtaketwo]

It wasn't as bad as you expect, although I remember feeling like you do. Good luck!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Wodge of toilet roll and kind of press where your stitches are to support it. It stops the poo stretching your stitches and stops you worrying about tearing.

[AnyaKnowIt]

Have you got a top and tail bowl?

Use that to put your feet on when you are sat down and the loo.

[SilveryMoon]

I had a 2nd degree tear and a cut with ds1.
I used a pad to hold and keep the pressure on my woo as I went to the loo.
I know this sounds really awful but I also spent my first poo on the phone to my friend (I have never told her) so that I wouldn't scream or be tempted to push too hard.

[Jayne266]

I was the same when you feel you need to go don't wait and go and have private time. Lol I took a mag in with me to distract me try not to think about it.

[MadCap]

Ask your midwife to give you a prescription for lactulose and movicol. The longer you leave it, the harder it'll be.

[Onetwothreeoops]

Agree with the maternity pad pressed against all swollen parts. It's really not as bad as you are imagining. Good luck!

[NewYearNewBoo]

I remember the poo fear after stitches with ds2, I made sure to have plenty of fibre and water, when I felt it was time I didn't push or squeeze I just let nature and gravity do their thing and it sort of fell out with out too much discomfort. Good luck (and sorry for the tmi )

[fryingpanalley]

It wasn't that bad for me (second degree tear).
Just don't strain too much, I found it useful to concentrate on reading something like the side of a shampoo bottle in French to avoid concentrating or pushing too much.
Dried fruit is your friend. Fig rolls mmmm. And drink loads. And a shower afterwards so you don't have to wipe [shudder] then cool hairdryer to dry your bruised nethers.

[NewYearNewBoo]

Ooh nearly forgot, moist toilet tissue is definitely your friend!

[surroundedbyblondes]

My lovely midwife after DD2 advised me to raise my feet up slightly. It still took a while though!
Drink lots of water and make sure to have plenty of fibre-rich food.

[Passmethecrisps]

I was really scared but it was nowhere near as bad as I thought.

I put witch hazel in the fridge then poured some on a thick maternity pad. As others have said press this against your stitches while pooing. It helps stop the 'everything is falling out' feeling

[fryingpanalley]

Oh yes, the midwife said to me, "don't refuse the stool!" WTF
I think that means, when you need to go, don't put it off.

[littlemrssleepy]

I remember being terrified - & it was a good few days post birth before it came - always wondered if that was psychosomatic. But in the end it was fine. I think I emerged with a big smile on my face and phoned my mum to give her the good news.

[SarahJinx]

Lactulose and a warm bath if need be. Mine was horrific, iron tablets = pooing lumps of coal. I cried and gave up three times and then was so desparate, I shat in the bath.

[PickleSarnie]

Lactolose. Lactolose. And more lactolose.

It's really no where near as bad as you think it will be. I was scared my insides would fall out. But they didn't.

[Casmama]

Lactulose, lactulose, lactulose.

[umiaisha]

Sarahjinx - bad experience with iron tablets for me too. Avoid them like the plague!

[sittinginthesun]

I cried for 4 days. I was so scared, desperate to go, but couldn't. (3rd degree tear, and v.strong painkillers which made me constipated.

In the end, I managed with lactalose, and a folded over pad. oh, and tins of prunes.

[WutheringTights]

I was fine - first poo two days after an episiotomy, forceps delivery and PPH. I just made sure that I drank loads of water, moved around lots in hospital and ate lots of fruit and veg (got through a whole bag of dried apricots in a day). Perhaps I was lucky or maybe it was diet but it didn't hurt at all and stitches were fine.

[chocolatecheesecake]

As other posters have said, a pad pressed on the stitches helps, as does fibre/lactulose; and I would also suggest breathing out to ease the poo out rather than pushing. When I was expecting I was told about "breathing the baby out", practiced whilst pooing and haven't looked back! Much gentler on your wounds than straining. (But did naff all to get ds out )

[QueenofNightmares]

Please don't be afraid to go and be put off by it when I had DD I was 17 and had no idea about piles/constipation I didn't go for 3 weeks and when I did it was like a coke can in all aspects. I was having to hold the loo roll holder for support and was sobbing. I just realize it was wrong not to go for so long. This time around I'll be eating lots of fruit and drinking lots of water, So my advice is don't put it off.