2nd degree tear- healing

[joeschmoesmum]

Had my lovely DS2 yesterday and had a tear, which was stitched up in about 20 mins. When I enquired with dr he said it was 2nd degree but warned me it will be sore etc.

He was right, although I know it's v early days (hardly 12 hours) but it feels I have little control down there (can't do Kegels and really scared of going to the loo for a no 2).

Anyone had experience of 2nd degree tear healing- how long before you could walk, sit, drive etc? Should I get a donut pillow in the meantime? Thank you!

I've had 2 and they were fine (and I'm not a good healer!) Just took painkillers and arnica. Congratulations! (On the baby, not the tear!)

I also had 2nd degree... Could walk slowly and hobbling to the car the next day to go home and had a walk round the block a few days later. I was terrified of pooing but it was actually OK. I held a sanitary pads to my stitches when I went.
Sitting was also fine.
10 months later my fanjo seems completely back to normal.

Congratulations!! Enjoys your newborn snuggles xxx

What you describe is probably more the General effects of the bruising than the tear. It will pass.

Mine healed fine. Get some hot and cold compresses. I was terrified of going for a pop and ended up holding it for 2 weeks. Don't do this!!! Get stool softeners if you need to get things moving.

Dose up on painkillers and be kind to yourself

I had an extended second degree tear and never really felt any pain from it day to day. Sex was painful til 8months bit I think that was because the scar tissue meant things weren't as stretchy as before.
I agree with pp not to panic and give it a day or so to let the bruising go down and it might feel much better.

Oh and arnica for the bruising is amazing

Yes to painkillers, yes to donut pillow and yes to lots of rest. My stitches got infected so took a while to heal but now 6 months later have been running and exercising for last month. The worst bit that lasted the longest was going for a number 2 but even that is ok now. I think I could drive once I was comfortable in a car- maybe 2 months? I remember feeling frustrated that it took longer than friends who had a c-section which no one had ever told me was possible!

Thank you for all the replies- it has mostly put my mind at rest. Also you are probably right- did not think about bruising etc, given the quick delivery there's bound to be lots of that, unrelated to tear. I will not panic and will invest in donut pillow and keep taking all drugs offered!!

Congratulations! I always recommend the senokot stool softener, take it today if you can and your "visit" won't be too bad. Don't worry about your kegels just yet, in a few days' time the pain will die down.

Ice helps too as it reduces the bruising.

Lots of water to help soften your poo and make we plentiful. Regular doses of paracetamol and ibeprofen.

I had a second degree tear and it healed really quickly. Obviously was sore for a day or 2 but it's bound to be when you push a baby out of a small hole! I was driving pretty much straight away and took baby for a long walk to a cafe for lunch on day 2. I damaged my coccyx during labour and that took much longer to heal and was much more of a hindrance than the tear.

Congratulations on your new baby.
I remember being quite panicked about my 2nd degree tear but actually it was just very sore tbh. The midwife didn't recommend a donut pillow- you'll have lots of cushioning anyway if you get the massivest maternity towels going. I sat on a big fluffy beach towel!!- this was 3 yrs ago, I still remember loving that towel!
Don't worry about kegels etc yet. Also don't just take all the drugs offered as they might not offer them! I had to ask specifically for recommendations for painkillers and then get dh to supply them. Just over the counter stuff but take them regularly for a week or so. I didn't need stool softeners but do drink lots and maybe eat dried fruit.
Congrats again.

I had a fast birth and a 2nd degree tear and it was fine after about a week. I took painkillers every 4 hours regardless of whether I felt I needed it.

Drink ridiculous amounts of water and take some lactulose. I was terrified of pooing and left it 5 days, but due to the lactulose and water it was fine!

don't worry - am 8 weeks down the line and all is well.

First day things felt weird, but honestly I could have ridden a bike after a fortnight. My stitches were the one recovery thing that didn't bother me, the rest of my poor aching bod though.. urgh.

That's exactly how I felt ohthegoats. I think I expected it to be horrific down there and it wasn't at all, but the rest of me took ages to heal (my own fault for lying on my back throughout labour!).

Interested in others experiences of this. I had my ds 4 months ago. Had a 2nd degree tear, but I'm still sore. I can't wear jeans as they seem to rub (sorry if tmi), sitting to breast feed for long periods gets really uncomfortable and everything is very tight. I've been back to the GP twice, I've been given steroid cream and was told it should mAke it less sore day to day but it wouldn't make it good enough for me to have sex, haven't even tried as doesn't seem to be much point given my discomfort. She could only use a paediatric speculum to examine me. Getting really down about it and wondering if there is anything else I can do?? I've had a look and I think I've been overstitched and it's pulling but GP says they won't do anything.

I had two, second degree tears and agree with pp that it's the swelling and the bruising that make it all feel so sore. They were absolutely fine within days really, I was actually surprised at how well they healed and how little they bothered meas tearing was my biggest fear when I was pregnant. Mix a little lavender oil with some milk and add it to a warm bath-helps to heal and relax. Congratulations

Arnica really helped me too! And either Lavender or teatree essential oil in the bath, mixed with milk as Nicky says.

Btw don't be tempted to mix lavender and teatree as can give you a rash.

Congratulations.