How long does it take to "recover" after giving birth?

[MeadowHay]

I know this is probably a silly question because everybody is different but I would be interested in hearing your responses. How long was it after giving birth before you began to feel not as exhausted/in pain etc? Or are the first few months just like a huge blur of exhaustion because of having the newborn to look after? How long was it after giving birth that you could, I don't know, socialise, or resume a hobby that you have or go back to work for those of you who returned to paid employment?

Thanks. :)

I would ensure that you don't try and 'struggle through' afterwards and see your GP if you have any concerns. I was told that I would know if I had an infection after the birth, but clearly they gave me too much credit as I did have an infection and as a result it took months for everything to heal.

I also think that if you have any kind of anaesthetic is takes much longer to recover - one of the anaesthetists I spoke to said that it takes a year to get over something like a spinal block or similar, and I definitely found that I was achy and pretty creaky for about that long. Not sure if it was completely down to the spinal block I had - carrying an increasingly large baby around, sitting in awkward positions to breast-feed, getting trapped underneath him as he slept, not to mention falling asleep in stupid poses myself. I think putting a number on it can only be unhelpful - you may fee great, you may not, but you have to play the hand you're dealt and look after yourself no matter what.

i was out and about having lunch in a hotel the next day and went for a walk along the seafront. i was still on a massive adrenaline higg but i had an exceptionally easy birth, only 1 stitch and no pain relief so no hangover from pain relief, dd slept all the time.

Ds1, i was up and about 2 days after, back at work 10 weeks. was bloody exhausted but no choice no year long maternity pay 20 years ago. DD1 i was on maternity leave for 12 weeks, was shopping in supermarket two days after she was born and trying to be good mummy to the 2 year old. Still bloody knackered for about a year but needs must so faked it till i made it as they say.really in my experince having a baby is really not that hard, its the baby that tires you out for the year or so afterwards..lol

I had straightforward, 'textbook' births but took quite a while to feel anything approaching normal, particularly in the vag/arse/pelvic floor/belly department!

I was able to go to the gym 5 weeks after having my second, but found it incredibly hard for a while- my previous fitness level took a long time to come back.

In terms of tiredness, it took months, if not years, but that was obviously more due to baby sleep issues rather than recovering from the birth itself.

For me I felt back to normal after about 2.5 weeks. I was in labour for 3 days, had a second degree tear. Stitches front and back and had a back to back baby.

The first 5 days I needed to take paracetamol every 4 hours (I was in agony with my back) but I took my dd for a 6 mile walk before she was 3 weeks old.

First baby, pretty immediate, second a bit longer. Did anyone tell you about bleeding yet??? It lasts about 6 weeks . The first I knew about this was after the birth of my first. How did I get through 30 years and 9 months of pregnancy without finding out about this ??
Tiredness? 13 years in and it's ongoing....

With DS1 I was 19 and it was an episiotomy and ventouse delivery. After about 4 hours I felt fine enough to get back into doing most things. After 8 weeks I was back to normal.

With DS2 I was 21 and it was a prem EMC. After 2 days I was travelling through London on my own, and after 3 weeks I was back to normal.

I would much rather have a similar labour to my first though, as I needed so much help for the 3 weeks after my caesarean, and there was more pain through the first 2 days of recovery than throughout the whole of my first labour.

I went back to work [physically back in the office] at 6 months x 2 children. By then I felt fine and while sleep often disturbed, it was manageable and I could function at work.

I went back to work [half days from home only] with my second at 12 weeks. By then DD2 was sleeping well and gaining weight but prior to that my focus was on getting enough food into her mouth. By 12 weeks I was also "normal" insofar as I could walk without discomfort following forceps delivery. Fully recovered in 4-6 weeks after EMCS with DD1 but she was a shit sleeper so at 6 months I was very pleased to be going back to work and getting in some long haul business related sleep travel for work.

Hobbies - have never recommenced. Kids are 3 & 5.5. I work FT and my hobbies are largely incompatible with spending time with my kids on the weekend. I watch more TV than I ever did before and my evenings consist of a large glass of wine in front of the TV in the one hour window between dinner and pre bed time tidying up/school bag collection/detritus binning.

Our social life is very different - we tend to meet mutual friends for lunches on the weekend rather than evening meals out. A lot depends on whether or not you have a good babysitter/reliable relative; your finances [at £10 per hour min, and a taxi home it adds up to quite a lot for a simple meal out]. We socialise separately more - with friends who are closer to one of us. Plus there's the energy side of it - do you simply have the get up and go to go out to midnight and get up at 6am. I guess you generally get more selective about the events you choose to attend.

I had an emcs and other complications. I couldn't drive for 6 weeks (I think i should've left it longer as I kept stalling from not pushing pedals down hard enough)

I was out of hospital in 2 days and walking out and about but limited after about 5 days. 5 weeks in I went through a protracted interview process for a new job; it was too much in retrospect. 6 weeks and my iron levels were back to normal and day to day I felt much better. Your progress is slowed down because unless your baby is a sleeper you aren't sleeping either. Also I EBF so was up more establishing supply etc and that also takes a lot out of you physically.

My scar stopped hurting/ itching after about 3 months and I tried some exercise. It was ok.

I reckon at 6 months I was 90% recovered although still EBF which again takes a lot out of you physically

ELCS on Monday, screaming pain Monday night when the block wore off (they had to give me more serious pain relief), discharged Weds lunchtime and was waddling round supermarket with new family on the Friday. Never took any more painkillers for the CS. Returned to work f/t at 5.5 months. I was 40 and unfit as anything.

Still shattered most of the time - something to do with a permanently on the go small child!

After dd about 9 months. 18 days overdue, Bad induction, back to back delivery and shoulder dystocia, followed by hideous infection and 900 ml estimated blood loss. After DS, literally a couple of hours. I went down the big slide at soft play with dd the day after I got home with him. He was 3cm to out in under an hour, no stitches or ought. A textbook birth can follow a shitty one, best of luck.

I suffered a traumatic birth (PGP, induction, b2b, forceps, 4.5lpph, undiagnosed (for 2 weeks) accreta, nerve damage, sepsis, contracted for two months before placenta finally came away) baby will be 3 in December and I'm still recovering. Physically I still have PGP but it is miles better than it was due to instead private physio, osteopathy (NHS were crap) and nerve blocks. Emotionally I still see a psychologist for PTSD. I need reconstructive surgery for my lady bits too. I don't think 'back to normal' is ever on the cards but I'm getting to a place where I'm ok with that.

First was an emcs. Took several months to feel good again but stopped feeling sore after two weeks. Scar took a year to completly heal.
Second one 5 weeks ago. Episotimy and suction.
Felt very bruised and weak pelvic floor for two weeks. Developed an infection in wound at 10 days with stitches falling out and wound gaping. Infection cleared a week later. Now at nearly 5 weeks wound is no longer gaping and no pain. Still haven't tried out sex with the new vagina. This is a concern to say the least. Pelvic floor nearly normal thanks to exercises.
If you have a rough delivery don't be tempted into vigorous exercise to soon as it could lead to a prolapse.. Just concentrate on improving the pelvic floor.

I had terrible bleeding a blood transfusion and stitches and still felt recovered about 2 weeks after and was out and about by week 3

to all those who've had such a traumatic time.

It took more than 6 months for me, but then I had lost a lot of blood and wasn't treated for it. I had a baby that fed for 16 hours out of 24 (I kept a diary) and I had PTSD from the assault that I suffered during the birth but only found out it was that in hindsight (before that I thought it was how people gave birth normally and spent ages staring at other mothers pushing their babies around wondering why they weren't in pieces like me).

2nd and 3rd babies I could have run a marathon within hours of giving birth and since they both coslept and I went to bed early each night I never had a single night of sleep deprivation. Sure I was woken regularly, but if you're in bed for 10 hours then somewhere in all that you get a good 7-8.