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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

First poo after 2nd degree tear

35 replies

makemineaginandtonic · 08/03/2007 20:41

Just had DS2 and waiting for first poo. Quite scared what it will feel like due to stitches. They are not painful as such, but not sure how they will stand up to the pressure. Any tips on how to do it/what to expect?

OP posts:
hillary · 08/03/2007 20:42

Are you on Lactalose?

bristols · 08/03/2007 20:44

If you're not on Lactulose, start! Without being too graphic, the softer you keep the poo, the less painful it will be. I stayed on the lactulose for a good 3 or 4 weeks after giving birth. Had stitches following episiotomy. Good luck!

SlightlyMadScientist · 08/03/2007 20:45

Lactulose
And I found it muh more comfortable (phsycologically if nothing else) to apply pressure to my fanjo with a clean sanitary towel whilct bearing down. Kind hoolding everything in - made me feel like I wasn't going to push all my insides out of the wrong hole IYSWIM. Sorry for TMI

skirmish · 08/03/2007 20:46

never had lactulose...tip from mw was to hold a pad/wad of tissue against your stitches when you go...i honestly dreaded the thought of going but found it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought it would be! Drink lots of fluid, eat fruit and veg...

oh, and your stiches won't burst...

and your fanjo won't fall out

hillary · 08/03/2007 20:47

It doesn't hurt and it won't bust your stitches even though the thought of its terrifying. Lactalose is brilliant, don't strain just let it fall out(sorry

Loopymumsy · 08/03/2007 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FunMumm · 08/03/2007 20:48

yet another vote for Lactalose here... with my second child the dr asked me if I had any worries about giving birth... I told him my only worry was having a bowel movement after the birth... He prescribed Lactalose... I will love him forever....

sweetkitty · 08/03/2007 20:50

I ate loads of dried fruit especially apricots as I just have to look at an apricot and I get the runs hadn't poo'd since the birth and DD1 was in hospital for jaundice and I really needed to go so I went just as the paed came in to check on her, the room stank she never said anything, maybe she thought it was DP!

Not as bad as you think it's going to be!

littlefishy1 · 08/03/2007 21:01

had two little ones now and stitches both times... thought of poo much worse than doing it, was a big relief (in many wasy) when all over, similar to others, suggest holding hte stitches with a pad or something (if nothing else made me feel better)
good luck!

DumbledoresGirl · 08/03/2007 21:06

Definitely agree with letting it fall out and not straining. I found, after an episiotomy, it was quite hard to even let go enough to let it fall out, I was so scared of what might happen.

Oh and my top tip: be careful how you wipe afterwards! Nice and gently does it!

skirmish · 08/03/2007 21:08

agree with DG...also use arnica cream, really helps with swelling (in fanjo, though wouldn't do any harm anywhere else either ) and think its got antisecptic in it too

SoupDragon · 08/03/2007 21:37

I thought a 2nd degree tear didn't go all the way through... you'll be fine. Yes, you'll be scared that the world is going to fall out of your bottom but you'll be fine. Keep up our fluid intake, don't strain, just let it happen.

(I had a 3rd degree tear with DS1, some sort of tear with DS2 and a 2nd degree with DD so I'm good at post-tear poos!!)

SoupDragon · 08/03/2007 21:37

You shouldn't use arnica cream on broken skin! Or so the leaflet said.

skirmish · 08/03/2007 21:40

really soup?...oh...i slapped it on left, right and centre (and i had a labia graze

funnypeculiar · 08/03/2007 21:41

It won't be as bad as you think ( I had 2 2nd degree tears and have pooed since) - but agree with SMS's technique - pyschologically reassuring...
Lots and lots of water & fruit (if you haven't got Lactolose, which I didn't have)
Try arnica tablets rather than cream for 'general' healing

SlightlyMadScientist · 08/03/2007 21:43

I'm glad I am not the only one to physically hold it all in whilst doing my business

charlottegeorgiaolivermums · 08/03/2007 21:48

For me it got worse after each dc. After ds3 in Oct 06 I was not able to go for days and the longer time went by the worse it got. I got gp to give me something stronger than lactalose as I'd started this 2 weeks before due date after dd1 & 2 but it didn't work. I ate sugar free polos by the packet for weeks afterwards as they have the right effect on me. 1st poo painful but continued to have problems for 1st 3 mths so continued sugar free polos. Seems like a million years ago now and ds3 is only 5 mths. I had piles as a result of the poo issues so if you have problems I'd recommend that you see your gp. Don't push to hard if you wait it will just happen.

mrsdarcy · 08/03/2007 21:51

You'll feel so fabulous afterwards and want to tell everyone you see. I think there should be First-Post-Natal-Poo announcement cards

seriously, good advice from everyone...

hillary · 08/03/2007 21:53

I had a 3rd Degree tear and thinking about it remember not having much control about going, knew the time and made sure I was in the bathroom waiting.

Peridot30 · 08/03/2007 21:56

Love that idea Mrs Darcy!!

I can remember after 1st child the thought was worse than the actual event. Can remember crying to dh about it. Definately recomend Lactulose!

I had an episiotomy and stitches too.

Good Luck

cheritongirl · 09/03/2007 10:06

wish someone had told me about lactolose! I went for the holding stitches and everything together with a big wad of loo roll for maybe a couple of weeks. I was on iron tablets which really did not help (they constipate you)..
my doula gave me arnica tablets to take for a few days post-birth and i reckon they probably helped with the bruising etc..
although it did all hurt for quite a while, maybe a few weeks? My word of encouragement is that it WILL get better!! All the best

lulumama · 09/03/2007 10:10

do what SMS has suggested

and eat loads of figs, prunes and apricots !

cupcakesgalore · 09/03/2007 14:24

I did what SMS did after my 2nd deg tear. Def. helped!

daisyhun · 09/03/2007 16:04

Eat lots of kiwi fruit - it makes your poo soft and you don' have to push!

Oh, and as for wiping I found moist toilet tissue better than the normal stuff as you don't have to wipe as hard/as much (really sorry if TMI!.

lorie · 09/03/2007 16:11

I had 2nd degree tear, I read somewhere NOT to worry because your stitches WILL hold together and I kept that thought in my mind when the time came!

It was fine...and you'll feel dead proud of yourself after...well, I did!

Good Luck xxx