how much pain is normal for after giving birth?

[mum2bean]

gave birth almost 2 days ago, and apart from the obvious places hurting (fanjo) i was wondering how much my 'kangaroo pouch' should hurt and is it meant to be all over pain?
it's more of a sharp, uncomfortable pain.
everyone keeps saying it feels like period cramps. but, i never had period cramps?!(and paracetamol isn't really helping much, just takes the edge off)

If it is sharp, it sounds worse than what I experienced. Is your mw calling tomorrow?

Are you breastfeeding?

And is the pain worse during a feed?

It's normal to have afterpains as the uterus contracts back down to it's pre-pregnancy size. BFing speeds up this process and the pains during and immediately after a feed can be quite bad......not unlike the contractions of early labour.

If the pain is general and there all the time though, then I'd call the MW tomorrow and get her to come out and check you over incase something isn't quite right.

yes, but not sure what time, they just said between 9 and 4

no, im bottle feeding.
i was told that DD pooed inside me while i was giving birth, but they never checked me after that, so i assumed it isn't a problem/unheard of

not unheard of and only a problem for the baby if they inhale the meconium stained waters.

tell your MW tomorrow when she calls. I've always BF mine at the beginning so not sure if the way you experience afterpains is different if bottle feeding.

Does your tummy feel nice and soft?

Congratulations on the birth of your DD by the way

There is a November postnatal thread if you want to come and chat to other mums of new babies. Mine is a week old today

I had a rough start with bf and was bottle feeding ds1 for a while, but afterpains were still bad.

it's probably jsut that, but mention it to the midwife when she comes

yes, my tummy feels like half done jelly!
thanks
will check out the thread, and congratulations on your baby too

half done jelly is good. If it gets hard and sore to touch then you need to call a doc.

Is your discharge OK? not foul smelling or anything?

It is probably afterpains, but get the MW to giove you a good check over tomorrow and to check your pads incase there is an infection there.

FWIW I only stopped feeling like my fanny had been kicked by a horse yesterday on day six.

discharge is fine, definitely not smelling or too clotty.
fanny still very much feeling like it has been kicked by a horse or two! walking like john wayne!!

I was able to walk the ten mins to school for the first time yesterday.......took me over half an hour to crawl home though!!

My MW said to keep up the pelvic floor exercises as they increase blood flow to the area and aid healing

I hope your tum is OK.

and I see you have found us on postnatal

talk to you some more over there!!

I experienced nice births drug free
But with 2nd and 3rd I was reaching for painkillers afterwards as afterpains hideous
Died down prob 2 weeks post natal

I was surprised by how bad the afterpains were. Wasn't expecting that. Also had stitches and didn't anticipate how awful that would make me feel. I felt like a wreck for a few weeks. It'll get better though. Congratulations