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Childbirth

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

Original poster

vaginal birth - how long for recovery

64 replies

overagain · 04/10/2018 13:40

If you have a vaginal birth how long was recovery.

For the purposes of 'recovery' I mean:

  • physical recovery, not mental health or baby related exhaustion etc
  • no more pain
  • grazes/ cuts healed
  • sex back to normal
  • normal continence
  • could walk comfortably over a common distance (e.g. do a full supermarket shop).
  • felt 'normal' (whatever that means to you)

I just want a sense of what is normal. There's loads of threads about c section recovery! I want to know the other side.

OP posts:
ApplestheHare · 04/10/2018 16:11

About 9 months for my 1st degree tear (I felt very hard done by this) to heal and for sex not to hurt. I started exercising again at 10 months as my muscles and pelvic floor felt up to it. Sadly I'm a little bit incontinent for life. At least good old Tena exist.

adviceonthepox · 04/10/2018 16:13

First birth I had stitches and I would say it was about a week before I was comfortable. Sex was about 4 weeks later and was amazing!
2nd birth no stitches no pain and felt fine straight away. Sex about 3 weeks later
3rd no stitches but I had ragged membranes so dr had to cut them away from my cervix after birth. I was uncomfortable for a few hours and then fine. Bleeding was heavy and lasted 4 weeks. Sex after that was fine but I got pregnant when baby was 3 months old. I suffered with continence issues in my 4th pregnancy such as when I coughed or sneezed. Occasionally at the end I had urge incontinence. I felt fine straight after birth no stitches, bleed for 2 weeks sex after 3 weeks and everything was fine. The urge incontinence went straight after birth but I still occasionally wee if I cough really hard or if I have a full bladder and sneeze. I should really ask for some help as pelvic floor exercises have made no difference. My last child is nearly 4 years old 🙈

VinoEsmeralda · 04/10/2018 16:19

DS straight forward homebirth, up soon as had him in our bath. Shower after, slight jelly legs. All good, dtd 2weeks later.

DD- shot out and was up and about same day. Dtd I a week but could have been earlier but Dh was worried he would hurt me....

WhingyNinja · 04/10/2018 17:30

I had a 3rd degree tear and healed very well. I felt back to normal in 6 weeks or so. I am fortunate to still have a pelvic floor to speak of and don't wet myself when I sneeze but sex was not something I rushed back into! All good now though, I'd expect so considering I have a now 3 year old 😁

rebelrosie12 · 04/10/2018 17:34

About 9 months 1st baby and a year for my 2nd. Both 2nd degree tears.

LuluJakey1 · 04/10/2018 17:38

DS - felt achey but ok the next day and walked into the village with him in the pram. Sex after 3 weeks. No stitches and just a tiny tear.

DD - same. No tear or stitches. Felt pretty normal within hours of birth. Just a bit achey. Sex after a month - too tired before.

With both I had about 2 weeks of bleeding and not really heavy.

ToddlerTamerMumma · 04/10/2018 17:52

I was surprised how long it took to recover as my birth was okay - waterbirth, G&A, minor tear no stitches.

I felt very unsteady for about a week after, and couldn't walk fast at all (it didn't hurt, my body was just exhausted). Pelvic floor felt weak for a good year afterwards (no incontinence issues ever... just an odd heavy feeling and 'bouncy' when I coughed or sneezed) despite kegelling all the bloody time - eventually I had physio which helps tons and now it's fine.

I felt sore and bruised for about 4 days. I bled A LOT and that went on for about 5 weeks. I suffered with terrible piles and a fissure after labour which unfortunately gave me daily pain for about 6 months so I can't say I really felt normal for a long time!

With all the bleeding and bum problems I wasn't feeling particularly up for sex, but we tried @ 8wks and it wasn't right. I felt too sensitive and it hurt. It took us a good 7-8 months to get back to sex, despite numerous attempts! It's fine now though.

StillMissV · 04/10/2018 17:58

With my now 10 week old (breech birth with good sized episiotomy) I was home the same day and out and about with the toddler two days later (went to an urban farm for the day). In retrospect it was probably a bit too much too soon but I'd say I was definitely physically fine to be taking my toddler and baby out after less than a week. Stitches took about 4 weeks to heal but were no longer sore after 2 weeks. Sex life back to normal at 5 weeks. No issues with peeing etc!

Rebecca36 · 04/10/2018 18:00

Two to three weeks for small episiotomy to heal and all felt good down there.

I didn't have sex for at least eight weeks, was fine when I did but i didn't actively 'fancy' it for several months which I understand is not unusual. Luckily I have a really loving husband who was considerate but I didn't mind sex, just didn't care that much. That changed I'm happy to say.

You don't want to know about psychological things, fair enough (they take longer).

silkpyjamasallday · 04/10/2018 18:09

I was totally fine and back to normal by three weeks post birth, but I was very lucky in that I didn't have any cuts/tears to deal with (I did perineal massage with almond oil religiously a few weeks before the birth and I think it helped) I didn't have any issues with continence or my pelvic floor either. We had sex after three weeks and it was just as good as it always was.

I did do my back in a few weeks later (I'm prone to disc injuries anyway) as my abs weren't as strong as they were and I was stupidly moving heavy furniture around on my own, I thought I was more recovered than I actually was!

CherryPavlova · 04/10/2018 18:16

It entirely depends on many factors and the birth process itself. A 17 year old with beautifully toned muscles, a swift but not precipitous labour might well walk out next day in size 8 jeans and feel like partying at the weekend.
An anxious 41 year old with a high bmi, a forceps delivery or poor recognition of a fourth degree tear may not recover physically for months and might need post partum surgery.
If you have a major post partum haemorrhage or placental bed infection you might end up in intensive care.

Luckily most woman have something in the middle and are able to do most things 24/48 hours after the birth.

smellsofelderberries · 04/10/2018 22:30

I had pelvic floor damage from my vaginal delivery, so for me;

Physical recovery (tear healed, could sit without pain) about 3 weeks.
Walking could do within a week, just had to rest afterwards!
Normal continence was 48 hours.
Sex we didn't try until about 4 months, but was back to feeling great immediately when we did.
To feel like I was back to normal (or a new version of normal) honestly was 14 months for me.
I've heard it's very common for women to notice changes for a few years after pregnancy and birth, and from a medical point of view my specialist says 3 years is when you can reliably tell which changes are permanent (from a pelvic floor perspective).
The main thing is- rest as much as possible, ask for help, and see a physio (even just to check your stomach muscles and pelvic floor) so you can help with strengthening things back up.

DramaAlpaca · 04/10/2018 22:37

Back to normal after 6 weeks with DC1. It was a bit longer with DC2 because I had a lot of very sore stitches. With DC3 it was only a few weeks as the birth was easy & I didn't need stitches.

Peanut91 · 05/10/2018 08:02

I gave birth 2.5 weeks ago (episiotomy and ventouse) and felt completely back to normal after 10 days. By normal I was back to walking the dog for an hour comfortably and was no longer taking painkillers.

Not had sex yet but not planning to before 6 week check

Charlottejade89 · 05/10/2018 11:15

with my dd who is now 10 weeks, I had grazes so it was quite sore but probably felt alot better after about 10 days, after that it felt fine, I could walk etc but felt a heavy sort of sensation when standing up for long periods. But only bled properly for 2 weeks and had sex after 3 weeks.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 05/10/2018 11:22

I've felt 'normal' by 2-4 weeks after all of mine, sex at 5-12ish weeks after. Bleeding gone by 9days- about 10 weeks. (I have 5dc, hence the quite large differences). Was doing school runs again very soon after dc4 but had a grace period of 5 weeks after dc5 as he was born at the start of the summer hols.

Numero2 · 05/10/2018 11:22

So I had a 2nd degree tear and stitches which healed well and didn't cause me any problems.

I'd say about 6 weeks to be totally 'back to normal'. I went out for a walk after a couple of days (I'm not one to sit around for long as I get bored) and got on with normal things, but I did find I was quite 'achey' down below if I was on my feet for too long until I hit about the 6 week mark. Continence wise I was fortunately OK pretty much straight away.

MargoLovebutter · 05/10/2018 11:25

1st birth, failed ventouse and emergency forceps after 20 hour labour. Episiotomy and tore. Stitches were too tight and became infected. Was diagnosed with PTSD about 8 months afterwards. Would say physical recovery took about 5 months, although didn't have a period until 7 months afterwards, even though I stopped breastfeeding after 4 months. Mental recovery took longer, probably 10 months to a year.

2nd birth, popped out after one and a half hour labour. Did tear badly again but midwife did repair, which took as long as the labour and I healed much quicker and better. Unfortunately, I had a ragged placenta and I did get an infection again afterwards, but recognised what was going on much quicker and physical recovery was probably a month. No need for mental recover as no trauma that time.

SecondTimeCharm · 05/10/2018 11:28

a good solid 2 to 3 weeks before walking/going to the loo/getting up and down felt near normal again - i had episiotomy and ventouse birth after extended labour. all healed well though.

as for sex... i think it was about 10 months! but i was breastfeeding and co sleeping with DD who fed little and often (every hour on the hour for months!) and couldn’t be arsed with it

MrsPworkingmummy · 05/10/2018 11:35

Dd1 - took about 3 days before I could do a grocery shop and walk comfortably around the park. We had sex about a month later and it was a little uncomfortable as I'd had a lot of stitches.
Dd2- 3rd degree tear. Very quick (but lovely) labour. Took about 2 weeks to feel normal. Had sex about 8 weeks later and it was great.}

Verbena87 · 05/10/2018 11:41

margo so good to hear it can be so different the second time round - thanks

trevthecat · 05/10/2018 11:43

Baby 1 I had forceps and was cut so was a good 4 weeks. Baby's 2 and 3 just had small grazes and felt fine after 2 days

FrangipaniBlue · 05/10/2018 12:04

Sex - about 6 weeks

Cuts/grazes - maybe 48hrs or so of stinging when I had a wee?

Physical/walking around - 24hrs, I went to town on my own for bits and bobs the same day I came home

Continence - had no effect on me whatsoever

I realise however you asked what is normal, I'm fairly sure my experience isn't that though?!

Stillwishihadabs · 05/10/2018 12:26

Similar to others on here.
Walking around outside 3 days first time, next day 2nd time
Bleeding a week to 10 days
Sex around a month
Never had continence issues

Girlwiththearabstrap · 05/10/2018 17:10

I was induced, had back to back births and episiotomies both times. Big PPH with dc1 though and dc2 was bigger.

No more pain - just a few days each time. I only had paracetemol and ibuprofen. The back to back births did leave my pubic bone feeling a bit bruised!

  • grazes/ cuts healed. My episiotomy healed quite fast. I can't really remember how long exactly. I don't think it stung to pee for long.
  • sex back to normal. About 4/5 weeks each time. After dc2 I felt a bit numb the first time but normal after that.
  • normal continence. Straight away.
  • could walk comfortably over a common distance (e.g. do a full supermarket shop). I was walking around the shops and doing the nursery run after 3 or 4 days with dc2. I was in hospital for ages first time so I'm not sure how long that took. I did have a slight heavy achy feeling if I walked too far, lifted heavy things or stood for too long. That lasted a few weeks.
  • felt 'normal' (whatever that means to you)
As above - doing day to day things fairly quickly. I did postnatal Pilates after 4 weeks and that helped my.abs and pelvic floor loads. I was doing Piyo and low impact gym classes from 6 weeks and went back to my usual high impact exercise at 12 weeks and feel absolutely fine now. (Dc2 is 4 months old)