Will I ever be fast and agile again???

[Hushammi1]

Hi I’m 2.5 weeks postpartum.

Had a bit of a complicated delivery where DS was delivered via forceps and large episiotomy + 2x 2nd degree vaginal tears that needed stitches (PPH also followed)

Things have improved since then, a lot of sensation has returned and pain has largely gone so not needing pain relief or haemorrhoid cushion, can feel myself need to wee and easily doing no.2s. Am managing to get up out of chairs of bed far more easily and walk more easily than initially

BUT, I am used to being very quick, being able to moved around very quickly and walk fast. Have tried walking outside the house of several days now and find that if I go too fast then a get an uncomfortable dragging sensation inside as if something is weighing down and threatening to fall out. That sensation has improved a bit but not massively. Not sure if it’s stitches healing or (shock horror) potential prolapse. Am doing pelvic floor exercises and trying to doing them quite often now.

Just need to know, will i get back to how I was? Please tell me you all did?

Ask to see a physio.

after my first (traumatic) labour, it took me a month to walk down my road. It really took it it of me physically! I also had the horrible dragging and did loads of exercises for my pelvic floor and core.

I did recover in time.

I had a very similar labour to yours, including PPH. It took a long time to feel nimble again - probably close to 6 months post partum. I made the mistake of trying to do too much too soon.

My advice would be have a healthy iron-rich diet, and take a vit supplement. Try gentle exercise after 6 week check if you feel up to it. And do your kegels!

I hope you heal swiftly and well, I really sympathise

I had forceps/episiotomy/tear/low iron and I didn’t really begin to more myself until DD was 4 months old. If I attempted to run/jog within 2 seconds it felt like my insides were going to fall out until I was 6/7 post partum. I was very bruised internally from the forceps and was slow to heal. Keep doing pelvic floor exercises. I also did a Pilates class from 8 weeks plus to try to strengthen my core and just general walking around (if I did longer walls I used to get the ache down below)

Keep doing g pelvic floors. I think your hip flexor shorten a lot after pregnancy too but you will get there, just take your time and remember it will take a long time to heal.

It's really early days yet, your body just did an amazing thing, give yourself a break!

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I just thought it would take weeks rather than months. Feeling quite bleugh about it tbh.

I was active right up until the birth of my first child - gym, dog walking etc and went for a run at 4 weeks - was shocked by how I felt. I waited another 2 weeks before I ran again. I took the dog for walks from 2 weeks as I had to - DH was back at work etc

I had similar to yours. Long labour, big baby (9.5lbs), forceps, 3rd degree tears. Wet myself every time I stood up for a week- literally. I saw a physio but can't say it was helpful- just told me to do pelvic floor exercises. Several years on I'm fitter, healthier, slimmer than what I was before giving birth so yes it can be fine. Give it time. Good luck

Agree with others that it does take time. I had a 3rd degree tear and episiotomy and it was a month before I could walk to the local shop, but I was in the gym by 12 weeks. Took longer to be fully recovered but didnt feel like my insides were falling out by that point.

It's just time OP. I had a really straightforward actual birth (complications afterwards though) and I'm only just feeling more normal down there 12 weeks post-partum. I'm usually a super fast walker but still can't get my usual pace up, plus I have a bad back which is worse now than in pregnancy with all the extra lifting that having a baby entails!

Look after yourself and you'll very gradually start to feel more your usual self.

As others have said, it’s just time. I was at the gym the day before I gave birth but couldn’t even walk to the end of my road for probably 4 weeks after, and I had a fairly straightforward birth (although did have an episiotomy that healed badly at first). By 10 weeks I was still slow and fairly uncomfortable most of the time, but I can honestly say that at just under 6 months PP I really do feel totally normal again. I know that feels like forever right now, but honestly it will pass so quickly. If you have any issues that don’t seem to be improving within a few months though, make sure you see your gp and pester if necessary - don’t put up with feeling rubbish forever!

I had a similar birth - long labour ending in episiotomy, ventouse and then forceps. Healing was very slow and episiotomy took 12 weeks to heal. Like you, pre birth, I was very active including running several times a week. It took me several weeks to build up to even a short walk, and I moved at a snail's pace. I also had the heavy, dragging feeling. I was very very down about things, as I felt like I'd lost myself.

I booked in with a women's health physio to build up pelvic floor and core muscles which was good, and she helped reassure me that I was doing PF exercises properly. I'm now 7 months PP. Things have improved and I'm back to fast walking. Not running yet, I don't feel ready and don't want to push things too early, but I'm hopefully getting there.