Post birth swelling - what's normal?

[LittleMilla]

Had my ds on Friday pm. 2nd degree tear on both sides and I was stitched in delivery room with disposable stitches.

Just had a shower and realised that everything is VERY swollen down there. I wasn't given anything to put on it and have been having a bath with tea tree oil and applying some arnica gel. Taking paracetamol and ibuprofen but eased off last 10 hours.

Before I panic I just want to know what's 'normal' and what I should expect?

Thx

Keep going with the medications, I sat on ice packs wrapped in flannels too which really helped, normal to swell though, it's been through a lot!

I had to look at mine in the mirror (was infected) to check it at about 2 days PP and it looked horrific . Like a bad fat lip but your Fanjo instead & it was all sorts of weird red/purple/black shades from the stitches and because he spent a long time crowning before I was cut.

As long as it's not 'burning' , causing you to feel fluey or smelling 'off' and it's not a 'searing' pain then you're probably ok. By 6 weeks I looked shockingly normal, considering I couldn't even tell it was a vagina the first time I looked at it after birth

(Obviously if you're not sure, contact your MW/HV asap as an infection will keep it swollen, cause more pain and delay healing).

I am not going to peek until it feels less scary! Unless it stays like this for much longer!

Just found some anti inflammatories from when I had ds (c-section) and will take a few to see if they can take the edge off.

Nothing too whiffy and pad is pale pink (sorry if tmi) so I don't think it's infected.

Thanks.

Don't actually put arnica anywhere near the stitches!

Hope you feel better soon x

I thought Kate was the OP & had posted rather quickly

Oh sorry I forgot the point!

I was very tender & swollen for a couple of weeks at least, I was in shock, no-one told me It would be like that

Congratulations!

Your community midwife should offer to check it for you at each visit. I'd get her to have a look to reassure you - embarrassing but helpful.

And from my experience (TMI alert...) be on the watch for piles!

Hope it feels better soon.

I found cool baths with badedas really helped. Keep an eye on it. Logically though its been through major trauma, it will be swollen for a while!

badedas is pretty full of chemicals (sorry keep the faith). My MW advised plain baths which I had lots of. A bit of lavender essential oil is good for healing but good to stay away from lots of perfumed stuff.