Aftercare- what do I need to know

[zinher]

As D-Day is getting nearer I am panicking quite a bit. Wanted to know how to care for any vaginal tears/stitches. What do I need to keep in mind. If I end up with c-section how is the aftercare different.
Any information is appreciated.

[flowerpotgirl12]

firstly don't panic, what you're imagining is always 10x worse than what happens. I had my lo 14 days ago and haf a 2nd degree tear. basically you change your oad every time you pee, wash your hands before and after peeing, also at hospital I was told not to bath only shower but mw told me to ignore that as helps with healing etc. so bath if possibl twice a day if not twice definitely once. and first sign of a smell or increased blood lose tell mw or go to gp nip it the bud before it gets really uncomfortable. Good luck you'll be fine

[Babycino81]

First of all good luck and op is right, it is never as bad as you imagine it will be. I had EMCS which I had nightmares about and it was fine. The only thing I'd suggest is taking it easy (obviously!) and that the wind pains after cam be quite something so get some peppermint capsules or tea to relieve it and that should help a lot. Also, big old granny pants for comfort and you can throw them away. A nurse told me not to bath after CS but to shower and this was definitely easier!!

[DipDabDabDip]

If you have a natural labour I recommend one of those blow up rings to sit on ... And anusol.

The piles were worse than my nearly 3rd degree internal tear.

[lilyaldrin]

I had an episiotomy and stitches and healing was fine really, but I would say - take the painkillers! They gave me voltarol and paracetamol afterwards, I continued to take them regularly for the first couple of days and then only when I needed them.

[Franchini]

Agree with previous poster. Piles are the worst. I have stocked up on lactulose, anusol suppositories, and cream in prep for my next birth in 4 weeks. Good luck. X

[Seeline]

If you tear/have stitches it needs to be kept clean and dry so rinse with a jug of warm water when you go to the loo and pat dry afterwards. I had a bit of a graze too which the MW advised to give 'air' time to help healing.
Lactulose is great to stop you straining and pulling on the stitches.

[Greywacke]

Tea tree oil, put a few drops in the bath and arnica tablets.

[missmargot]

My midwife recommended bathing twice a day with a few drops of lavender oil and a cup of full fat milk in the bath water (the milk helps the oil emulsify) to help the stitches to heal.

[ch1134]

I would disagree with flowerpotgirl. Having a baby to look after, for me, is wonderful, but I was shocked at how much pain I was in after the birth. I had a tear and an episiotomy, and my back hurt a lot after the delivery.

Have: lots of maternity pads, even more sanitary pads (my baby was born 16 days ago and I've got through 10 packets of pads)
lavendar oil for the bath (only if you do have stitches, you can buy it after the birth)
calendula cream for the stitches
lots of paracetemol and ibuprofen, though I managed to get stronger painkillers prescribed by the midwife

Hopefully no stitiches for you though - good luck!

[Mummytobe2014]

Silly question from first timer here sorry, is piles a definate? I hadnt even given thought to what happens afterwards so will watch thread with interest but interested to know if everyone gets piles after? Thank you

[JanePurdy]

PILES! I had an episiotomy first time (forceps delivery) & massive piles (epidural), but I assumed the fact that I was unable to sit down for a week was due to the epi. Actually it was the piles & the bruising from the forceps. With my second I had a 2nd degree tear & some "grazes" but I was absolutely fine afterwards. No piles

So my tips are stock up in case of piles, & know where to source a valley cushion (my local NCT rented them out) in case you need one. But I didn't 2nd time round.

In terms of aftercare, the midwives will advise you, but all I remember doing is keeping it clean. If it stings when you wee have a bottle of water with a sports top so you can squirt water on yourself at the same time so it doesn't sting!

[ch1134]

I got piles too... just buy some anusol from the chemist, and I sat on a travel pillow.

[meerschweinchen]

I agree with the lavender oil / milk in the bath. I had a bath every day for the first couple of weeks after the birth and it really helped. Have in a good supply of maternity pads and breast pads tpo. Don't panic though, everyone is different and has different experiences, so wait and see rather than worry about every eventually! For what it's worth, I had a second degree tear and stitches, and yes, the dreaded piles, but really didn't feel too bad or need any painkillers afterwards. In fact, for me it was much better than being pregnant as my heartburn had gone. And I was on a high for days with my lovely baby. Enjoy those baby snuggles!

[lilyaldrin]

I didn't get piles with my first, haven't so far in my second pregnancy either.

[thereisnoeleventeen]

Piles is not a definite thankfully!!

Things were pretty awful stitch wise after DC1. The one thing that I should have done differently was speak up and ask for more painkillers, 4 days post birth and I still couldn't sit, 1 prescription from the MW later and things were much much better. It's worth avoiding codeine if you can (or taking it for a short a time as possible) as it causes constipation for a lot of people which is the last thing you want pp. My MW with DC1 recommended Fybogel which is ace and makes 'going' really easy if you have had stitches.

Changing pads every time you visit the bathroom worked and so did wearing a nighty rather than pyjamas, the theory being that the cooler the area was kept the better.

[Trooperslane]

Witch hazel on your pad and yy to the teetree and lavender baths

My piles were more bother than the episiotomy but mw made up a gel with essential oils in ky jelly which was amazing. Good for epi and piles.

Stock up on anusol suppositories and cream.

And the whole thing was so much easier than I imagined - I sort of went into the zone and it was as if I wasn't there (not explaining that very well!)

Good luck

[zinher]

Thanks for the info. I was in denial about the birth till now but slightly panicking as am in the 9th month now.

What size pants should I buy for after the birth? I have heard you need bigger sizes. I am a size 12 normally. Would size 18 be ok?

Also when should I take arnica tablets?

[drbartlet]

didn't get piles. had a few stitches but really didn't suffer after the birth at all (lucky i know).
as a pp said - a jug, or even better, a perineal irrigation bottle (any squirty bottle that can be properly cleaned) so when you go for a pee you can rinse with warm water at the same time to stop your urine stinging the stitches.
zinher i don't think you'll need size 18 pants - prob just 14 would do - just so they're not too tight when you've got a big maternity pad in.

[meerschweinchen]

I'ma size 12 too and bought pants in size 14 and 16. The size 16 were huge -proper granny style ones -my MW laughed at me! Think size 14 would be fine!

[zinher]

What sort of food should I take in labour? Would I be able to eat at all?

[lilyaldrin]

I couldn't bring myself to eat or drink in my first labour, but it became a bit of a problem as it was long and I was exhausted. What do you think you might fancy? I'm going to take some lucozade this time I think and maybe some biscuits and bananas.

[bluebeanie]

5 drops of lavender oil, 5 drops of tea tree oil in a shot glass of milk. Stick it in the bath water. It hits the spot, trust me. My doula recommended it 3 times a day for the first few days.Without the milk, the oil will just sit on the surface. Worked a treat on my second degree tear.

Oh, stock up on Anusol and use liberally. Drink loads of water to keep you regular. Take advantage of the local anaesthetic for the tear to get your first 'business' after the birth done with so you don't have to worry about it later.

[Melonbreath]

If you get stitches guzzle lactose. First poo is scary.
i sat on a frozen condom for relief.

[pettyprudence]

Piles and stitches are not inevitable - i pooped and wee'd fine within an hour or two of giving birth to ds and didn't have so much as a graze (not sure what that says about my vagina!). I was scared but it was fine!

Food in labour - i drank lots of iced water and ate all the chocolate hob nobs I had bought in for the midwives (planned hb - my mw asked me to provide biscuits in case they were there a long time!)

[QuietNinjaTardis]

If you have a tear or graze then leaning right down and touching your feet while you wee helps keep the wee from flowing towards it. Lavender oil in the bath. Piles are not a given, I've had two children and no piles. You'll be fine