How long after childbirth do these things improve?

[Havingkittens]

There are a couple of things, either following pregnancy or the birth, that are bothering me and wondered if anyone had an idea when they will calm down.

The hangover from pregnancy is joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. Very annoying as my hands and wrists hurt when I'm holding the baby to feed and my hips, elbows, shoulders & knees hurt when I sleep in the same position for too long but I can't move around much as the baby will only sleep in the bed at the moment.

The other thing is the pain in my urethra/clitoris area following the birth. I'm guessing this is from the catheter. Any experience anyone can share would be great as this is really uncomfortable.

[AmandaPayneAteTooMuchChocolate]

No idea on the first one, but the second was just a couple of days for me (both times, so I think it was the general distortion down there as much as the catheter, as I only had that first time). It was never very uncomfortable either, more part of the general beaten and bruised feeling in that area.

How long has it been? Have you mentioned it to your midwife?

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

I think the joint pain is probably due to your muscles in your hands/arms being used so much for the 1st holding and lifting your baby, mine did but it went away and now I've got lovely toned arms from all the toddler lifting and carrying I do!

I wouldn't worry about changing position in bed you probably won't wake baby.I slept with both my babies until they were 2yrs old and my movements never woke them up.

You will be sore down there for a while, its normal after all that stretching and it does pass. Try warm baths with a couple of drops of tea tree essential oil in as its soothing and anti-bacterial.

[ChasingStaplers]

Can't remember exactly when the wrist pain went but DS2 is only 3 months old and I don't have it anymore.

[Gruntfuttocks]

How old is your baby now?

Baby will adapt to your movements, so don't let that stop you moving - after all, you turned in bed when you were pregnant, so it's nothing new to them!

[ShowOfHands]

Most of my postnatal friends found the joint thing is prolonged if you bf (common, it's your loose ligaments from the relaxin in pregnancy just being a bit more prone to wear and tear) but can take a few months. A few found around 4-6 months to be normal.

[cassell]

I still have hip/back/joint pain if I sleep in one position at night and ds2 is now 12mo, I did have SPD during pg though and it's a lot better than it was. My Physio said that while you are still bf then the relaxin hormones stay in your body so I don't expect my joints to get back to normal until I stop bf.

I didn't have the carpal tunnel thing.

This time I had v little pain down there and only lasted a couple of days.

[Havingkittens]

Thanks for all your replies. It's early days yet as little one is only 2 weeks. The acupuncture lady at the hospital told me what I had was carpal tunnel. I'm not sure as my other joints hurt too, although not as much. Definitely not just from holding/lifting the baby as they hurt more when I first wake up. I'm hoping, if my nipples don't combust or fall off before then, to bf for 6 months so I guess I just have to hope he takes to his cot before too long. I can't sleep with my back to him or on my front whilst he's in with me and the only way to prevent the pain is by turning over regularly. Ho hum.

I forgot to mention the urethra pain to my midwife when she last came as I was too busy moaning about my piles and episiotomy. She's on holiday now but I have an appointment at the post natal clinic to check my healing in a week and a half.

[GrandPoohBah]

The carpal tunnel pain I had during pregnancy is still there, my dd is 5mo and exclusively bf. It has improved, but not gone completely and makes doing up poppers on sleep suits a complete PITA. It is definitely affected by the position I sleep in.

The clitoral/urethral pain (which felt like very localised bruising and hurt more when I was bearing down?) went after about 8 weeks, IIRC. It lasted for long enough that I worried it would never go, and then suddenly I hadn't had it for a while.

[cravingcake]

The carpal tunnel may be with you for a while longer, I still have this 18 months on. Some days are bad, others not so much but I find night-time the worst. If it continues you can see your gp about it and from what I've been told you can get splints to help. Don't worry though, it does improve as time goes on.

You mentioned episiotomy, did you have forceps? If so the clitoral/urethral pain could be from where your pelvis was basically forced open and is now recovering. I had a bit of this but it went after a few weeks.

[Londonmrss]

yep, about 2 months for the urethra thing abs same as everyone else, it hurt to bear down. Not sure if it was catheter of just pelvis moving to push out giant baby but it definitely took a few weeks to go completely. Not sure about carpal tunnel, but watch out for De Quervain's syndrome which I now have since having baby.

[Havingkittens]

Thanks. Although it's annoying and uncomfortable it helps to have an idea how long i have to put up with it. The wrist and hand pain isn't very helpful for night and morning feeds though. Mother Nature should've thought that one through a bit more carefully!

[Chubfuddler]

The carpal tunnel may not spontaneously resolve - you may need surgery or steroid injections.

The grazing I would say 6-8 weeks. That's how long my 3-4 degree year took to heal so yours should be faster.