Bit of a daft one...is everyone always bruised/swollen after birth?

[Oscy]

This one's been playing on my mind with no. 2 due this year. After dc 1, I had (tmi alert) the most swollen bits I had ever thought possible. Honestly, everything was literally three times the size it had been down there. Also massive bruising on one side from a haematoma. My daft question is does this happen everyone? Or just those with long pushing stages? (mine wasn't that long, 1hr 15mins). I am very much not looking forward to seeing the car crash that was my ladygarden after birth, but at least I can prepare myself if the same thing is going to happen. Thanks in advance, and excuse the daftness.

Like a baboon's bottom

Er yep! Get that Arnica in your hospital bag. The tablets obviously.

Mine was fine - no idea how long I was pushing for, had my mind on other things.

When you think about what goes on down there, it's not surprising there's some evidence of a car crash! There may be any number of things you can do in an attempt to minimise the damage, but I think it's fairly inevitable really. But I've got friends who swear by arnica.

I wouldn't worry too much about the swelling and bruising, unless it doesn't seem to be improving.

lalalallalallalallalla

Would you all reccommend arnica cream or tablets?

I used tablets, because I had 40 stitches and didn't want to rub anything down there!! I bought them beforehand and took them into hospital, and started taking them straight after the birth. Baths helped, with either lavender or tea tree oil. Apparently you should always pat dry gently, and NOT used a hairdryer, contrary to the advice of some midwives. The most recent research shows that this increases the likelihood of infection.

Second time I had more stitches (pushing stage 7 mins instead of 2.5 hours) but less bruising/swelling. All stretched out already I think!
Now totally recovered but like my tummy, the flesh is definitely less springy these days... riding a bike is uncomfy due to the pressure, even with padded shorts! Do others find this too?

um

yes, pretty much

it doesn't last long though

I didn't use arnica but salt in bathwater and a bit of lavender oil very good

also bloody rest, 2nd time mums are CRAP at that ime

I pushed for 10 minutes and it was huge, but deflated back to normal (ish) within a few days (I think).

Arnica tablets are fab for any kind of swelling or bruising.

Everybody here knows that 'arnica tablets' are sugar pills with no arnica in them, right?

To answer OP's question - I was a train wreck after DD's birth, with a huge episiotomy that didn't heal for weeks. Everybody else I know acted/said 'it was fine', but I don't really believe it.

Arnica gel is 'fab', but there is arnica in those.

By the way, this is the cream that saved my ladybits from terrible scarring and possibly a lifetime of pain.

Months after the birth, sex was really painful. Male gynecologist offered to do an injection that would kill the nerve there, to stop the pain Then I found a female gynecologist that recommended Contractubex - it softens scar tissue & restores functionality. Its prospectus says it is especially recommended for gynecological operations and mastectomy scars.

I can't recommend it highly enough.

I wasn't, but i have been lucky dispite having 2 dd's both over 9lb's (me 5ft1in) didn't have big heads and small frames just very long, so i had no tears or brusing.

I was basically ok with ds1, not tearing or grazing, maybe a little swollen but not much (1hr pushing, but only 2 hr labour in total). I didn't use pain killers at all, pee'ing was fine, had sex within 2 wks etc.
I had a small tear (or graze) and was more swollen with ds2 (who was a 15min labour with maybe 5 mins max of pushing). Still wasn't too bad, but worse than ds2 and disproves the longer pushing thory in my case.

I didn't tear with any of them but was quite bruised.

I had less bruising/swelling/tenderness with each birth. No. 4 has just given me a 1/2" straight tear which I can't actually feel and no bruising at all. He did have a small head though, the lovely boy! He was born in 1hr 8mins btw (DC1 was 7hrs). And my pelvic floor is still working.

I couldn't believe, after the prolonged pain and discomfort of DC1, that DC2 would be so much better.

Deal with it as it comes but there is a very good chance that it won't be nearly as bad as first time.

CoteDAzur - is that cream for outside or inside? Most of my problem is inside and with the muscle tissue. I'm guessing that the cream is designed for skin. But I'm willing to try anything!

Yes, much swelling and bruising here too. Quite a first time. My pregnancy yoga lady sold a bag of herbs which you boil up with garlic and then sit in the strained liquid. It was a total faff but v soothing and helped the disaster area repair quite quickly.

But, tbh, it's best not to look really.

MrsTittleMouse - I put it a bit inside as well as rubbing it in the scar tissue outside. Since it is specifically administered in 'gynecological operations', I would think there would be no problem if you put it in.

I really recommend it. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

vERy swollen - and the best advice I got (which came from on here of course) was DON'T LOOK! 6mths on I still haven't ha ha! But was shocked by the swelling when I felt it in the shower. I have to say it went down quite quickly though.

After having my first baby I felt like someone had given me a good kicking "down there", it was really sore and took a while to feel back to normal.

After my second I honestly didn't feel like I'd had a baby!! He was the same weight as dd but I didn't tear and had no pain or swelling or anything - it was amazing!! It's all a bit tatty though , but I think that all happened with the first delivery.

I was a complete car crash after DD1 second degree tear loads of bruising (she came out with her hand up by her face).

DD2 was 3lbs heavier with a big head and never got a tear at all, felt a bit sore downstairs for a day or so but arnica tablets and lavender baths helped.

i was, 2 hrs pushing, tears, grazes, and stitiches.

everywhere!! even my poor old clitoris had to be stitched.