Perineal Pain

[ROSIERASPBERRY]

Hi Guys

Am new to this chat room so I just thought I would say hi and look forward to chatting in the future.

Don't know if I am posting this message in the correct place, but here goes!!

I gave birth to my baby daughter Rosie 3 weeks ago. I had a relatively quick labour but because of this I tore very badly. I have been in absoloute agony and was wondering if anyone has any reccomendations for pain relief / soothing.

I have taken arnica granules and have had baths with a drop of Lavender Oil in them. I have also been told to take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen but im not really into taking too many drugs if I can help it. Nothing seems to work!

I have seen a product called the feme Pad on the NCT website. Has anyone any comments before I purchase one?

Hope that you can help or pop me in the right direction for a message board that can.

Welcome and congratulations Rosieraspberry!

Perineal pain isn't nice, especially when you're trying to get yourself together again after giving birth (been there myself). When did you last get checked - or when is your next check-up? People often say it just takes time to recover, but, from my own experience, at 3w you ought not to still be in so much pain. With my firt I was in constant pain and eventually had to be restitched, whereas with my second I healed up beautifully and was certainly not in severe pain by your stage.

A drop or two of Teatree oil in the bath (as well as the Lavender) is good, as is rinsing yourself with running water after you poo. Some people swear by drying yourself with a hairdrier set on 'cool', but I never liked that myself.

Is the feme pad the cool pack that you sit on? If so, then not my cup of tea at all. I found the edges too rough and could never get comfortable. You could try keeping a cup of camomile tea in the fridge and wringing a facecloth out in it and applying that to your bits. A bit mucky, I know, but your cloths would stay dry because of the maternity pad.

The best painkiller, I found, was Voltarol (Voltaren? I think they're the same thing) suppositories - they get the painrelief to the right area much faster than swallowed tablets, and don't have to be digested so are less 'invasive'. It's a prescription-only medicine though. I wonder whether you can get Paracetamol suppositories?

HTH

Oh, and could you possibly have thrush? It's difficult to tell whether you have any discharge because of the lochia, but if you are itching then it's quite likely. It could be the cause of the pain.

Thanks for the advice I am going to try all your remedies!

My next check up is not until next week so I think I will make an appointment to go sooner if I can. Will ask about Paracetamol suppositories.

Thanks again.

hi there.

when i was in hospital the physio used a tens type electrical pulse machine (not internally, just pointing it towards my bottom!) and that was really helpful - couldn't sit down as was in agony before the physio used it, could sit down immediately after - bliss!!! maybe your GP/midwife could refer you for physio.

i had an episiotomy and tear and felt quite grim down below for about six weeks after birth - a friend had a bad tear and also felt bad for six weeks - so hopefully things will improve over the next six weeks. i found that absolutely the worst thing for it was standing up still - like at sink or queueing - worse even than walking.

try and take it as easy as possible atm - i know that is difficult with such a newborn

I have the same problem with standing it hurts like hell. I have been trying to take it easy but as you say it's not that easy!

I will definatly ask about the physio, sounds fab.

Thanks for the advice - Have you heard of anyone using the feme pad?

oh i really feel for you as I too had a bad tear back in July after the birth of my 9lb 2oz son!

The best present I got from a friend was a rubber ring (just a £1 kids one) which I used to sit on at all times to take the pressure off the area - a real god-send! I even used it in the car and whilst feeding in bed at night. I also used a jug of warm water with tea tree oil to pour over / wash myself EVERY time I used the loo to make sure that I didnt get an infection. This was hassle, but very soothing. Lavender and tea tree oil in the bath are both great as well.

ALso take paracetamol 4 hourly. People under estimate paracetamol, but it is one of the best anagesics available if taken regularly (plus is safe to use whilst breast feeding). I would also encourage you to show the stitches to your midwife / GP every few weeks if you're worried so they can note if there's any chance of infection and get it sorted before it causes any problems.

I would also suggest that you don't change your baby on the floor as the pressure of kneeling / squatting is very uncomfortable. Get your partner (if you have one) to do the baths for next few weeks if you can.

I was uncomfortable for about 4 weeks, but it is now completely healed with no problems now, so hopefully you will be fine. x

Its good to chat to people that understand what you are going through. My partner is really supportive (and does the baths for me) but I don't think he realises quite how much pain I am in.

I thought that the pain should have stopped by now which was why I was getting worried but now I see this is not so!

not sure if it would help but you could try the homeopathic remedy hypericum, which is very good for deep tissue damage and so useful after tearing

hope you feel better soon

i guess i should thank my lucky stars!!! i had a third degree tear and didnt find it too bad afterwards... i had painkillers from mw (cant remember what they were though!!) and all i did was have a soak in the bath every day (get to relax too!) and bathed area after going the looeach time.the worst thing i found was how swollen i was (ouch!!) and when it started healing itches like mad guess this was the stitches!! must admit though i have had a few near miss accidents and still find sex uncomfortable dd is 10 mths. xxx