How long does the pain last after birth

[Kellym25]

Hi, tomorrow will be three weeks since I gave birth to my baby boy. It wasn't straightforward and ended up in forceps delivery, an episiotomy and two tears (one very high in my vagina) 2 liters of blood loss and almost 3 hours stitching me up.

My question is has anyone else experienced a similar birth and if so how long did it take before the pain down below went away?

My pain is still really bad. I had the midwife check the stitches 2 days ago and they said they're healing fine but it's red raw. I'm struggling with sitting comfortably still. The blood loss from birth is stopping and has now gone a yellow colour (not sure if that's normal)

Any advice or help on the pain would be greatly appreciated.

Are you getting in the bath and keeping your down-belows clean ? It will take time, the 6 week check is there for a reason

That doesn't sound right, and I don't remember yellow discharge. Sorry if tmi but does the discharge smell?

You could call 111 and try to get an out of hours appointment. When I was concerned about post birth bleeding they sent me for an ultrasound.

The yellow discharge could be the blood lessening and going a straw colour, which is normal.
As long as it’s not smelly it should be ok

Oh bless you op. I had a small tear and some grazing and I felt sore for a good 5 weeks.

They said to shower once a day but I'm having two, one in the morning and one in the evening and using the shower to wash down there.

The pad or tissue doesn't smell. Sometimes when I take my knickers off I can smell something but it's not bad.

I had a 3rd degree tear although I can't remember any significant pain like you're describing. I had 10 days of diclofenac, an antibiotic tablet and was told to take paracetamol as long as I needed it and I kept to this religiously.

I felt discomfort when walking and after anything strenuous for several months, but after that it was fine and I never had any issues sitting down. I would get checked in case it's an infection. And if you're washing twice a day I'd suggest maybe dropping that to once a day and drying yourself down there with a hairdryer on a cool setting

I had an episiotomy and it took pretty much exactly 3 weeks. Was taking ibuprofen and paracetamol every day and after 3 weeks woke up and it didn’t hurt anymore (or that’s how I remember it). I think epesiotomies do take longer - 2nd time round I had a 3rd degree tear and it stopped hurting after a couple of days. Hope you feel better soon!

Lochia is normal discharge after birth and will continue for a few days or weeks after bleeding stops. Yes normal. I think mine stopped completely about 7 weeks afterwards. Was your midwife check recent? I would be concerned about possible infection. If the area feels hot go back and keep an eye out for symptoms of infection and sepsis just incase (good advice post partum anyway.)

My injuries weren't as bad as yours but I had a lot of internal bruising as ds got stuck as he crowned. I was sore for about 4 months and I was worried that sex would always be painful afterwards but it slowly faded to nothing eventually.

I remember the lochia going yellowish before petering out. I also remember that after tearing and being stitched with DS1 I was pretty uncomfortable sitting or walking any distance for a few weeks. I think you had a difficult birth and it's bound to hurt for a few weeks, but I wouldn't necessarily panic and assume anything is wrong. Healing just takes a while. Maybe give it one more week and if you're not any further forward (with decreased pain even if not perfection) by next weekend then contact your GP the following week?

I had a very similar experience back in July - episiotomy, forceps in theatre, 1.5l of blood loss, blood transfusion, and 4 weeks of antibiotics as stitches dissolved too early and resulted in infection 🙃

I would say if you don’t feel right then keep on at your midwife, I had to really be on their back for them to finally see I had an infection, went to the GP in the end who gave me antibiotics straight away. I also used to sit in a bath of salt water twice a day which I think really helped the healing.

I started going out and about properly at about the 4 week mark I think, I remember feeling like I would never be ok again but I promise it gets easier 🙏🏼 xx

I had forceps and an episiotomy and I absolutely swore by 'spritz for bits' I was showering twice a day like you, using thick plain maternity pads - boots own, not Always or body form or anything like that as I found the scent irritating on my cut.. I also lived in paper knickers for 2 weeks, but spritz for bits I sprayed on my pad at every change and it was a dream, I was fully healed by week 3, duties resumed as normal.. I hope you're feeling better soon, it's awful feeling so rough after such a rough journey of pregnancy but it will get better, you'll be back comfortable in now time x