How long does it take for your 'bits' to recover post birth?!?!

[Baretoes]

I gave birth vaginally a week ago and amazingly I had no tears. I have been feeling swollen since and as if my pelvic floor may explode downwards when I go to the toilet. How long does it take to feel more normal??

Also - for the first time ever, I have become constipated (am being very careful about not straining though!) - does anyone have any ideas as to why this might be???

1. Swollen bits - will get back to normal in a few weeks - well before the 6-week post-natal check if I remember correctly.

1. Constipation - Don't know why this should be as am not a health professional, but would say that your body has just been through a major physiological experience so some disruption to 'normal' activity shouldn't be anything to worry about. Advise you eat All Bran for breakfast every day for a week plus drink loads of water (at least 2 litres per day) to get things moving.

HTH

Constipation happens to many women who've just given birth, your body seems to try and do you a favour by not making you poo but , in the long run, it is much more difficult, increase your fibre and fluid intake and try a gentle laxative such as senna or fybogel, the longer you leave it , the worse you will feel.
I didn't go for 15 days after DD was awful!!!

6 weeks , minimum! your body has been thorugh amazing physical and hormonal changes....not least the birth itslef!

do pelvic floors now ! and keep doing them , to get things feeling more secure

constipation..well, have loads of water, dried fruit.esp prunes , apricots, figs and dates and don't strain..if it helps, hold a pad on your perineal area to support it to stop the feeling of exploding downwards! rememebr , you gut has all been squashed by the baby and all your innards need time to recover!

Thank you! What would I do without you all?!?

I seem to remember feeling "normal" a few days after having both of mine but they were relatively easy births with no tears. 2 hours pushing with ds but didn't affect me afterwards. Hoping for the same this time. I think I was just lucky though.

baretoes, I also didn't tear, but things did take a little while to go back to normal, I'd say a month to normalish, and two months to completely the same as before.. so give it time! I just wish my tummy had gone back as easily!

Baretoes are you breast feeding? If so could make you constipated if not drinking enough??

I am breastfeeding and am drinking loads of water (approx. 2.5 - 3.5 litres a day) - I admit though that my body still seems a bit dehydrated! My milk must be extra watery!!

Two months to get back to same as before - lucky you! Don't think my bits ever got back to normal ... not in a bad way (well, after DD1 I had to have an op to sort it all out again, but better after that), just different. But that awful dragging heavy feeling does go def by 6 week check (do those pelvic floor exercises) but if things are painful after that time then go back as that's not right.

Constipation - totally normal. Looks like you're drinking lots. Make sure you're active too to get things moving. But not too active as you still need lots of feet up time.

Congrats too ... xmas babies are lovely. DD1 was born on xmas eve and it's such a special time.

I had an episiotomy and did not have sex for 10 months after giving birth - everything was amazingly tight although the scar healed well.

However, my son is now just over 4 and the scar sometimes gets inflamed and itchy if I have thrush which I suffer from from time to time so I have to say....in my case....never! Definitely puts me off a second one.

I can't remember really with DS1, it couldn't have been that bad as I have managed to forget!!

I gave birth 4 weeks ago I had a small tear (only two stitches) everything was very swollen after but it only took about 10 days for the swelling to go down, and we were practising for no. 3 after two weeks!