Grade 3a tear recovery

[chillin12]

Hello all!

I gave birth two weeks ago, had a 3a tear and and an episiotomy. Had stitches done afterwards etc. What’s everyone’s recovery stories?? I just feel so uncomfortable in the whole pelvic area, and also around my anus, as I had a bad case of haemorrhoids (these have improved). But I just feel so sore down there, in a lot of pain, discomfort, difficult to get up and move around/walk. I am still bleeding continuously.

How long until I feel better again, the area heals, and I can feel comfortable in that area? And how long until sex is also doable? ( not a massive concern, but would like to know 😂)

Thank you

I had a grade 3b and honestly it took a while. I saw a women’s health physio regularly to help ensure my pelvic floor was recovering (not before the gp check 6-8 weeks post birth though) , I made sure my diet had good fibre and veg, and took lactulose daily, probably for months. Read up on how to poo safely/well. I took the stronger pain killers for more than a week although I don’t remember how long- as long as I would know if it was time for the next lot because I could feel it. I was doing that soak and freeze maternity pads in ziplock bags and sit on them thing, and shallow saltwater baths.
re sex-for me I needed physio help, possibly due to the stitching. I needed to use dilators which she provided me with to get to the point it was comfortable again, so we didn’t even try for 6 months. But everyone is different.
I did have two more natural births. 2nd was a 2nd degree tear which was negligible in comparison to the 3b and 3rd was nothing at all (I at least partly credit a very experienced obstetrician there, was quite a different experience and I was so happy with it)

I take daily baths with dettol, which helps at the time. I am just taking paracetamol otherwise, with iron tablets as I had low Hb levels in my blood. I am taking as much rest as I can. Any other advice!!

Oo okay, thank you. This is my first birth, so I have nothing to compare it to 😂. The physio is a good idea! I have been managing to pee/pass stool okay. It’s more the soreness and discomfort whilst doing anything else! I only tend to feel better when I lie down.

Aah okay - I guess it takes time and patience! I keep getting paranoid if the stitches are healing properly, will get them checked soon too!

Hi @chillin12 i hope you are okay.
I had a 3c tear with my first and was in quite a bit of discomfort for a while. if I remember rightly I was still putting a pain killer pessary up my bum at this stage so sounds like you are doing well.
I used to set an alarm for painkillers and alternated between paracetamol and ibuprofen to really keep on top of it. I had stronger ones from the Drs prescribed but they had codeine in so had to take them more irregularly due to causing constipation.
I added lactulose in more as a preventative measure and picked up some flax seed to add to my morning cereal as well, again preventative.
I would find that if I did too much I would really feel it in the evenings so I am almost treated it as a c-section recovery …no lifting the car seat, pram etc, don’t Hoover/change the beds and so on

hope things improve soon!