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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Feel so weak

37 replies

mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:00

I know i’m only 3 days PP… but i’m only 24 and feel so weak? I had the epidural and 2nd degree tears ( no forceps/epi or anything else).

I know every body is different and every pregnancy/birth is different but i’m just sad… i’ve been given iron tablets but idk… can it even get better? and if it doesn’t what else needs checking other than iron? I wasn’t dieting/excersing in pregnancy but i still felt myself and fit only towards the end when I felt squashed because bump was getting bigger tbh the only positive atm is that I don’t feel squashed up anymore…

OP posts:
Hotvimto3 · 03/04/2023 11:09

You could be enaemic my love. Ring the doctor or midwife. Dont just get on with it or listen to anyone who tells you to.
Are you eating? Getting enough water. Do you have anyone to help

Eatentoomanyroses · 03/04/2023 11:12

I felt shocking after both mine. I had an infection both times as it turns out and ended up back in hospital. Check your stitches

BuzzyBusyBee · 03/04/2023 11:13

If you are anaemic (quite likely) and they have already given you the iron tablets then you just have to patient and wait for them to take affect. It can take a couple of weeks - that is completely normal, but I promise they will work and you will feel better!

Original poster
mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:14

Hotvimto3 · 03/04/2023 11:09

You could be enaemic my love. Ring the doctor or midwife. Dont just get on with it or listen to anyone who tells you to.
Are you eating? Getting enough water. Do you have anyone to help

yes i have people to help me and drinking water.

i was going to go walk in tomorrow or triage to check if stitches haven’t burst even… thank you. I can walk but I just feel weak as hell

OP posts:
Original poster
mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:16

Eatentoomanyroses · 03/04/2023 11:12

I felt shocking after both mine. I had an infection both times as it turns out and ended up back in hospital. Check your stitches

how did you know you had a infection?

im scared to look at my vagina lol but maybe i should

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 03/04/2023 11:16

At 3 days PP you usually experience a huge shift in hormones and it's perfectly normal to feel how you do.

If you have a DP, get them to as much as they can with the baby and concentrate on recovering yourself. You need to try and eat well, easier said than done with a new baby I know, take the baths if that's what the MW has suggested for the tears (you can feed LO then get DH/DP to do a nappy change and take LO out for a long walk whilst you bathe/sleep) and try not to do too much.

We have done kind of obsession with "getting back to normal" in the Uk. I prefer the "babymoon" approach Wink

Original poster
mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:19

PritiPatelsMaker · 03/04/2023 11:16

At 3 days PP you usually experience a huge shift in hormones and it's perfectly normal to feel how you do.

If you have a DP, get them to as much as they can with the baby and concentrate on recovering yourself. You need to try and eat well, easier said than done with a new baby I know, take the baths if that's what the MW has suggested for the tears (you can feed LO then get DH/DP to do a nappy change and take LO out for a long walk whilst you bathe/sleep) and try not to do too much.

We have done kind of obsession with "getting back to normal" in the Uk. I prefer the "babymoon" approach Wink

thank you in so much pain with the stiches aswell

OP posts:
Eatentoomanyroses · 03/04/2023 11:21

Nobody else is going to look at it. They don’t check stitches any more routinely. I was the same though and tbh I don’t think I’d have known what I was looking for anyway. You’re looking for redness, if it feels hot or burning, a smell. If you’re not sure make an appointment to get them checked

Perpendicular3562 · 03/04/2023 11:22

At 3 days I felt dreadful, like someone had removed all my cure muscles. And my pelvis and hips were so sore. Midwife pointed out all the muscles had had a bowling ball sized baby forced through them so it’s normal to be bruised and battered. Also hormones are crazy at that stage. Agree with what others have said about anaemia and infections, please talk to your midwife, however it may all be normal. Your body has gone through a huge physical thing. I think you might be surprised how much better you feel in a week or two.

PritiPatelsMaker · 03/04/2023 11:22

Are you due to see the MW at all? You should have been given a phone number. If they stitches are really painful or hot, or you have a smelly discharge I'd call them and say that your stitches need checking.

Paracetamol is fine to take if you are BFing Flowers

embarrassed23 · 03/04/2023 11:24

I felt weak and shaky for weeks afterwards k

Original poster
mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:35

Eatentoomanyroses · 03/04/2023 11:21

Nobody else is going to look at it. They don’t check stitches any more routinely. I was the same though and tbh I don’t think I’d have known what I was looking for anyway. You’re looking for redness, if it feels hot or burning, a smell. If you’re not sure make an appointment to get them checked

should i make an appointment at gp or go triage/walk in/midwife?

OP posts:
Original poster
mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:35

Perpendicular3562 · 03/04/2023 11:22

At 3 days I felt dreadful, like someone had removed all my cure muscles. And my pelvis and hips were so sore. Midwife pointed out all the muscles had had a bowling ball sized baby forced through them so it’s normal to be bruised and battered. Also hormones are crazy at that stage. Agree with what others have said about anaemia and infections, please talk to your midwife, however it may all be normal. Your body has gone through a huge physical thing. I think you might be surprised how much better you feel in a week or two.

thank you gives me hope too

OP posts:
Original poster
mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:36

Hotvimto3 · 03/04/2023 11:09

You could be enaemic my love. Ring the doctor or midwife. Dont just get on with it or listen to anyone who tells you to.
Are you eating? Getting enough water. Do you have anyone to help

i’ll ask my midwife

OP posts:
Original poster
mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:36

PritiPatelsMaker · 03/04/2023 11:22

Are you due to see the MW at all? You should have been given a phone number. If they stitches are really painful or hot, or you have a smelly discharge I'd call them and say that your stitches need checking.

Paracetamol is fine to take if you are BFing Flowers

i don’t think so tbh but i’ll try and get an appointment

OP posts:
Luna42 · 03/04/2023 11:37

Days 3 to 6 were the worst for me, in terms of exhaustion and hormones. Your body is recovering and emotions will be all over the place due to hormones. Plus the adrenaline rush of giving birth is wearing off. Just rest, eat, drink and have no expectations of yourself other than to cuddle and feed the baby. I hope you have people around you to help. Congratulations Flowers

Hotvimto3 · 03/04/2023 11:38

mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:16

how did you know you had a infection?

im scared to look at my vagina lol but maybe i should

Show quote history

Are you hot. Does it feel hard by stitches?

onthefence23 · 03/04/2023 11:39

Eatentoomanyroses · 03/04/2023 11:21

Nobody else is going to look at it. They don’t check stitches any more routinely. I was the same though and tbh I don’t think I’d have known what I was looking for anyway. You’re looking for redness, if it feels hot or burning, a smell. If you’re not sure make an appointment to get them checked

This might depend on area. I was offered a stitches check at all of my post partum appts and took them up on it once to check things. Definitely worth asking though if they don't offer.

I started to feel less totally broken at day 5 op but it also coincided with a massive whoosh of hormones and emotionally I was all over the place.
It's a huge thing you've been through be kind to yourself ❤️

Hotvimto3 · 03/04/2023 11:39

mrxrsx · 03/04/2023 11:16

how did you know you had a infection?

im scared to look at my vagina lol but maybe i should

Show quote history

Get the midwife to. Ring her now

Isthisexpected · 03/04/2023 11:39

Eatentoomanyroses

^ all the midwives offered to look at mine

Eatentoomanyroses · 03/04/2023 11:41

Maybe it is an area thing but I was definitely not asked after either of my births ( 2 different parts of the uk)

ChairOfInvisibleStudies · 03/04/2023 11:42

I don't want to dissuade you from getting checked out - please do! But just to say that this can be normal. Your body has been through a lot! I had a very fast, intense labour with my first and felt like I had been hit by a bus for a good couple of weeks afterwards, plus sore stitches etc. Nothing was wrong, as in there was no infection or other complications, I just needed to give my body time to recover.

ChairOfInvisibleStudies · 03/04/2023 11:44

Eatentoomanyroses · 03/04/2023 11:41

Maybe it is an area thing but I was definitely not asked after either of my births ( 2 different parts of the uk)

My experience was similar to yours - I was worried mine weren't healing well and had to request they check them, and they seemed almost surprised to be asked.

Eatentoomanyroses · 03/04/2023 11:51

ChairOfInvisibleStudies · 03/04/2023 11:44

My experience was similar to yours - I was worried mine weren't healing well and had to request they check them, and they seemed almost surprised to be asked.

Show quote history

And it’s not an easy thing to ask for but as the op said it can be scary to look yourself.

turnthebiglightoff · 03/04/2023 11:59

Days 3-6 are the worst. I had lots of birth injuries so recovery was horrendous but days 3-6 (milk comes in, hormones surge) were unbearable. Day 6+ I started feeling much more like myself.