Forcep Birth Recovery

[CrazyCatLady2788]

Hi there,

I had my baby 5 and a half weeks ago now and ended up with forceps and an episiotomy. Even though I was really sore to begin with, the episiotomy stitches have healed quite quickly and I feel that part of my recovery is fine and I have no issues...

But I just feel like all my muscles down there are still bruised and sore... especially when going to to the toilet. It hurts to sit on the toilet as I feel like I'm being stretched and I've had some problems going for a number 2. I don't have constipation, I don't think, but I struggle when pushing and it feels really sore. Sorry for the TMI! I've also had a bit of urinary incontinence... not awful but it does happen slightly at times and I've been trying to do my pelvic floors when I remember. My bleeding also stopped and started again and seems to be stopping again now. I did hemorrhage during the delivery and was worried that was something to do with it, but it seems ok now I think.

I guess I'm just wondering what everyone else's recovery from a forceps birth was like and what is 'normal' or should I be worried?

Thanks so much and sorry for my waffle! :)

I had the same, episiotomy, forceps and pph. It took me a good few months to feel back to normal, it wasn't debilitating, just felt slightly sore. I did have another pph 2 1/2 weeks after ds was born. I thought the green discharge and revolting smell was just one of those things. It wasn't, it was retained placenta 🤢

Sympathies OP, not fun for you. And congrats on your new baby.

I had a complicated first birth with long induction, episiotomy, year and forceps and PPH. Stitched up and all seemed ok. Then for second birth another episiotomy and another tear. All stitched up but it didn’t ever quite heal right. I couldn’t really feel pain but everything was too tight around the perineum and sex was really difficult. I ended up having an episiotomy repair operation- which was a very easy, home the same day procedure and that has made it all mostly normal.

Quite rare to require this but I’d never heard of it before so just something to consider if in discomfort long term.

That sounds very similar to my recovery OP. I definitely still had a bit of an achey, bruisey feeling & sometimes sharp stabbing pains until about 10 weeks pp. Especially when on the toilet or if I sat on the floor or squatted down for more than a few seconds. The GP I saw at 8 weeks pp said that forceps delivery is physically traumatic and its very normal to still have some pain at 8 weeks. My bleeding also stopped & started a couple of times around 4-6 weeks though I think had stopped properly by around 6 weeks. Hope you start to feel better soon, do try to take it easy x

5 and a half weeks is still very early! I had a vaginal delivery with no interventions and 'down below' still ached and hurt for at least 8 weeks. Just give it time