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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How long did it take you to recover?

60 replies

Amjk · 26/03/2021 15:22

Hi, just wanted to know peoples experiences with childbirth and how long they took to recover.
I had my baby 10 days ago, I didn’t have any tears or stitches, so just wondering if anyone else had a similar experience :)

OP posts:
UnCoffreDor · 26/03/2021 18:41

I had mine 18 days ago and only just beginning to feel like myself again. I've deep cleaned the bedroom today, I was so chuffed to be able to actually do something around the house! Finally giving DH a bit of a break! I lost about 400ml of blood, not classed as pph, but it exacerbated my iron deficiency. I've also had an infection, which was the worst thing!! We stayed 4 days in hospital, and upon discharge I was so weak, exhausted, achy and sore everywhere! It was dreadful, but thankfully both baby and I are fine now! I did have some stitches done, which I believe have healed? How do I even check?! I suppose I'll give it more time

Littlepaws18 · 26/03/2021 18:51

My baby is due a week before my wedding. Just got everything crossed I will be ok!

edin16 · 26/03/2021 18:53

Apart from being a little tender I felt ok after a few days.
@Littlepaws18 you're brave! Good luck! What happens if you go overdue?

Fred578 · 26/03/2021 18:55

7 years since the last one and I still have haemorrhoids (that took me a long time to spell!) but apart from that probably 6 months to feel back to BAU

stormelf · 26/03/2021 18:55

With my first (traumatic birth, post birth surgery) it took about three months to feel normal. My second was a very quick birth, although I did need stitches for second degree tear, I felt back to normal the next day. Didn't feel I needed any recovery time

Russell19 · 26/03/2021 18:55

After about 2 weeks I felt better but I ended up with thrush after antibiotics which was way worse than my stitches healing Blush

Findahouse21 · 26/03/2021 18:56

My first, about 4 weeks before I could walk or sit comfortably for long periods. Second, I did the school run the following day and felt a bit tired but fine.

chipsandgin · 26/03/2021 18:56

@Littlepaws18 blimey that’s an optimistic plan! Only 4% of babies are born on their due date, 90% are born within two weeks before or after it, but first time Mums without any intervention are most likely to give birth at 41 weeks and 1 day. One in four UK births are by caesarean. How flexible are your wedding plans!?

Tianatiers · 26/03/2021 18:58

Both of my labours were quick and I tore and needed stitches. With DC1 it took about 2 weeks to feel normal again down there. It hurt to sit down and I walked a bit like John Wayne. With DC2 I literally felt normal again within a day! Maybe it was because it was my second labour but it may also have been the position I gave birth in. DC1 I was on my back and DC2 I was on all fours over a bouncy ball.

ohidoliketobe · 26/03/2021 18:59

@Littlepaws18

My baby is due a week before my wedding. Just got everything crossed I will be ok!
Erm... What?? I don't mean to alarm you but babies don't always come on their due date! I have soany questions flying around my head right now. What if you go into labour the day/ night before? How have you worked out a dress - you could have a 4 week old, or still be pregnant...?!

I had pph and stitches with both of my childbirth. If you take the sleep deprivation out of the equation, I felt OK after about 3 weeks, a lot more 'myself' by about 6 weeks.

sausagesandbeanz · 26/03/2021 19:02

I had an episiotomy and moved house 2 weeks later, I didn't do any heavy lifting though but I felt so much better at 4 weeks, I stopped feeling like I'd been punched in the fanny at about 6 weeks 😊

TheBabyAteMyBrain · 26/03/2021 19:02

First few days I felt like the world would drop out me vag and extremely hungover with both DC.

DC1 3rd degree tear, complications for both of us after birth, about 6 weeks to get back to any realms of normal.

DC2 2nd degree tear, was back at toddler groups and in routine on day 2...dc1 has ASD though so it was a push for his routine to continue. Wouldn't say I felt normal but was doing normal things without too much difficulty.

stormy11 · 26/03/2021 19:03

Following Grin

sausagerole · 26/03/2021 19:03

DS came very fast, so I had an episiotomy and significant swelling. Also developed a contact allergy to all maternity pads, then an infection in my stitches, followed by a bout of nipple thrush Confused. Couldn't sit upright for about 10 days, managed a walk outside during week 3.think I recovered alot more slowly though because I gave birth during lockdown so my older kids were at home 24/7 which meant I had no time or space to rest.

AJB3001 · 26/03/2021 19:07

Honestly first time round it took me a couple of weeks, it was a slight adjustment as I went home on my own and it was just the two of us! Second time round was an entirely different it was a shockingly bad labour but I felt amazing afterwards...maybe just the adrenaline from thanking God I was still alive hahaha but hubby went back to work after two days (self employed so had to) and I was completely fine 🙂 I think first time round I was completely emotionally drained, second time round felt so much better 😊

MaverickDanger · 26/03/2021 19:09

4-5 days with a second degree tear.

ladyvimes · 26/03/2021 19:12

Not until the 12 week mark!! Was in a fog til then!!

OverTheRainbow88 · 26/03/2021 19:12

Can’t remember with first but he was forceps- don’t remember being in significant pain down below- maybe the cracked bloody blistered nipples distracted me 🤣!

Second baby, maybe 4 weeks- but the after pains of womb contracting were horrific for about 2 weeks then stopped

Subordinateclause · 26/03/2021 19:19

A couple of days to be back to 90% both times, which both involved a tear and stitches. Was lifting my toddler, chasing her at the park etc on about day 4. About 3 or 4 weeks not to feel like I was constantly stinking of lochia and leaked milk!

Ihaveoflate · 26/03/2021 19:21

Couldn't sit down for 3 weeks (episiotomy, haematoma behind stitches) and couldn't walk properly for the first 2 or 3 months. I ended up with a grade 2 rectocele (posterior prolapse) which is still symptomatic 20 months later.

Obviously, I had a traumatic forceps delivery that couldn't have been predicted, which is not everyone's experience. If I'd had a wedding planned for a week after my due date I would have cancelled it. There is no way in this world I was in any fit state, mentally or physically, to be getting married!

Quail15 · 26/03/2021 19:21

About 7 weeks.
My DD was born via emergency induction. I had a large PPH, blood transfusions, 2nd degree tear and retained placenta (requiring surgery).
I developed an MRSA infection at 5 weeks post birth and needed really strong antibiotics to help to start feeling back to normal.

I hoping this time will be a lot easier (due number 2 in the next few weeks).

GintyMcGinty · 26/03/2021 19:25

C sections.

First took 4 months and second took 5 months. Totally hideous both of them.

museumum · 26/03/2021 19:26

I went out in my bike three weeks after my first.
I honestly didn’t realise at the time how lucky I was. He was born in water which I think really helped.

BackforGood · 26/03/2021 19:28

Well, my dc1 is coming up for 25 yrs old. I'm not convinced a full recovery is every going to happen, tbh Wink

stuckinarutatwork · 26/03/2021 20:21

DC1 - about 6-8 weeks before I felt like I'd physically recovered.

DC2 - I felt great after about a week.