Post natal discomfort

[blondiebonce]

Well ok, when I say discomfort I mean Ouch with a capital O.

I only gave birth last Saturday so I don't know if I'm just being wimpy or if this is actually quite normal.
I had a water birth and everything progressed a lot quicker than expected and she was out in 9 hours from first contraction. I apparently only "grazed" my vulva but f* a doodle do if this is the discomfort from just a graze I salute all women who have worse. Peeing is burning pain (has improved since last night but still mega ouch). Sitting, standing, walking is so painful I assume from things rubbing and being inflamed.
I'm on paracetamol every 4 hours and taking regular baths (nothing added), changing maternity pad regularly, drinking plenty to reduce the burn when peeing, bending down when peeing or pouring water over my bits at the same time to neutralise it a bit.

Plleeeeaaaassssee someone recommend something I'm missing or tell me this is normal so I can at least stop worrying my vulva is going to fall off.

Oh and also...sorry for TMI but one is a lot longer now...is that normal/is it likely to go back to normal in due course?

Sorry for the whinge but I'm struggling to do things which isn't good with a newborn and partner already back at work.

You poor thing! Have you spoken to your midwife about the pain you're having? If you can then weeing in the shower will probably feel better for you, although not ideal to shower every time you wee.
Are you drinking enough? Pearl barley is good for diluting your wee and making it less acidic.

I poured a jug of warm water over myself as I peed when my stitches were stinging as you describe, it waters the wee down as soon as it comes out so doesn't hurt nearly as much!
Also, if I remember correctly it went from being so painful I would cry from day 1-4, then probably 4-7, painful but I could pee without crying out in pain, by about 9ish most pees were okay- unless I hadent drunk enough! So 9 days all in all in my experience, count it down!!

Get yourself some arnica gel and tea tree oil.

Arnica gel to help with bruising. Also a drop of tea tree oil on your pads to help keep things fresh.

I also washed my bits in arnica bubble bath.

Walking about helps. Also take spatone for iron levels and if you're BF drink plenty of water. Plenty!

Congratulations by the way! I felt like I'd been through the wars post dc1 (I did tear though) and wondered why no one told me it would be that way! Second time it was much much easier.

RoseberryTopping I said I was struggling and she just said to do what I was doing and maybe air it out a bit but because of the bleeding etc means I'm limited to when I can lay an old towel out etc. she didn't seem worried.
My house is ridiculous because it doesn't have a shower :( cursing it now!

BeanyIsPregnant I want to tick it off my calendar!

I'm already forgetting how painful labour was and am inclined to think this is worse because it's ongoing :(

Thanks guys :)

Iggly ooh where did you find best to get those???

Thank you! I knew after something as...hardcore...as childbirth I'd know about it for a bit but not this much! Nature is mean :( just want to enjoy my baby instead of crying and sitting on a bloody rubber ring.

My midwife suggested getting a wet pad and putting it in the freezer. It could then be used as a lovely cooling pad on the sore bits...

I never actually got as far as trying it - was on the mend by the time I got round to putting it in the freezer - so can't comment on it's efficacy.

Also you say you're taking paracetamol - if you're able to stomach ibuprofen then take that too - the long lasting stuff seemed to work well.

Arnica gel - supermarket or chemist will have them.

Tea tree oil - Holland and Barrets or chemist

Arnica bubble bath - that was a gift from Neal's yard

Loads of salt in warm bath and wee in there after you've sat for a bit - shower after and dry your muff with a cool hairdryer. sounds ridiculous but salt water is obviously great (and natural) for wounds but you also have to make sure they're fully dry to start the healing/clotting process.

Oh and get some decent drugs paracetamol and ibuprofen at the very least. perhaps also get a mirror and have a look if you can bear too - sounds like its a bit worse than you initially thought.

Hi, I had a lot of pain too. You can take ibuprofen at same time. I'd take in between the paracetamol. It was fine for breastfeeding in jan 2013, might be outdated advice now. I also took arnica, salty baths 2x a day, used frozen peas in my pants and strapped my tens machine back on. I've heard of putting manuka honey on your pad but didn't fancy having sticky painful bits so no idea if it works

Go to your gp if it still hurts. Might be an infection. Also they can prescribe stronger drugs.

Bend over on the loo when you need a wee. My sister had awful graze and this was the very best piece of mumsnet advice! Congratulations!

Tea tree and lavender in the bath.
Drink plenty to dilute wee.

BTW I grazed with number two and stitches hurt much less than the graze. OUCH!!

I always thought that the after pains were worse than labour.. Mainly because, there is no end in sight, which at least you have with labour! Soldier on, you will not feel like this forever..
bold because I'm due today and I need convincing of this too!

Blondie Boots sell these things that you clip on to your bath to make them like a shower... worth investing? They come in useful anyway (having lived in bath-only flats I always bought one to fit my sink/bath).

Thank you so much guys! Going to try all of these if I can!

Unfortunately after being in agony at midnight last night to the point of sobbing and giving up on a wee mid way because the pain was so bad, my partner made me see a dr. Turns out I have a sore graze that would cause discomfort AND a UTI. Lucky me.

squizita...that sounds awesome. Definately looking for that- thank you!!