Episiotomy recovery - when did you get out normally?

[Oiwiththepoodlesalreadygg]

Hello, I'm 13 days pp with my first baby after a difficult birth ending with forceps and episiotomy. As far as I can tell, my stitches aren't infected but they are still very tender/sore. I'm taking painkillers and keeping them clean - I think I've read every thread going on episiotomies for tips on care! My midwife is also coming back to check them in a few days. The one thing I'm wondering, that I couldn't see much written about, is when you got back to normal activities?

I think I had wildly unrealistic expectations of my activities post birth, not helped by seeing other people bouncing back quickly... Basically in the two weeks, I've had a couple of very short, slow walks which I found difficult and the rest of the time have just been at home on the sofa with the baby. Feeling the lack of movement/fresh air taking a toll on my mental health (live in a flat so no garden) but not physically able to get out more. When would you say you could go for normal walks post episiotomy?

Desperate to just feel myself again!

Several weeks - maybe up to 8 before my body stopped aching weirdly when I stood up for too long.
I don’t think it was the stitches that really caused my issues, they were healed in a maybe a fortnight. I think I had quite severer internal abrasions/bruising that took ages to be better.

It’s a slow recovery I’m afraid - my forceps/episiotomy recovery seemed to be slower than my friends who has CS, or at least comparable to. I’d say it’s a good few weeks/2-3 months maybe but it will be improving over that time.

I can’t tell you for sure, but I remember having an argument with DH about going for a long rural walk when I was about 5 weeks post partum. It was still too tender for that kind of thing. At 6 weeks postpartum we went to a wedding and I was still uncomfortable. Our wedding anniversary was 8 weeks postpartum and that was a bit better (we did go for a short walk and a pub lunch), and by my birthday a month later it looks like we were doing more normal activities. At 6 months pp I had an examination for something else by my GP. She marvelled at how well it was healing/had healed and commented that she had something positive to say to her 6 week check ladies.

sorry to be giving you such disappointing news, but the plus point is it will get better.

I think it must vary. I was back riding my horse after 2 weeks and had no issues at all. Listen to your body and take it steady.

I don’t remember exactly how long, but I do remember the rest of my antenatal group jollying off to baby cinema when I could barely walk. I think I saw a decent improvement after about three weeks. It healed completely and I had another baby and all fine now, please be assured. I just think hospitals are really remiss at not explaining it needs time to heal. I had no idea how painful it would be, I had no infection (even went to GP to get them checked in first week postnatal as so painful!) but still couldn’t walk or sit without pain for a week or two. I have every sympathy OP. It will get better x

I was a single parent with no support so had to just get on with it. (Carrying heavy washing etc) this led to my stitches opening and 3 years on I still feel a twitch now and then especially around my period.

I am healed but it's very uneven/scarred due to the opening stitches. So I'd advise resting as much as you can and not rushing anything. I'd say it was close to a year before I didn't have pain at all.

I remember mine getting incredibly sore and tight after day 10 for about a week and not being able to sit down then it was ok just normal sore which wore off. It was just the healing process doing its thing. I did lots of washing with salty water.

Thanks for all these replies - interesting and reassuring to see such a variation in experiences! I'm only 2 weeks in so it sounds like I need to just keep resting and give it time. Will see what the midwife says when she comes out on Friday and just keep an eye on things generally. It's definitely frustrating when other people seem to be back to normal so quickly but I need to learn not to compare myself to others - social media has a lot to answer for here too! Trying to be patient and have faith that it will heal in time 🤞

It took me a good 8 weeks to feel close to normal. I had all the same anxieties and worries as you. The best advice I can give is to rest, rest, rest whenever you can! I tried to rush around and get bits done while baby was asleep, but this slowed my recovery as I ended up breaking my stitches. Feed yourself hearty wholesome meals, relax when you can, don’t stress about getting out and about yet. Take one day at a time! I’m 3 months postpartum and physically feel like I can do things again.
Don’t compare yourself to others too xx

I didn’t have forceps so mine was not as severe as yours - but the second week was definitely more uncomfortable than the first. By quite a lot. What I’m saying is, I think to get better it has to get worse first. It’s just the healing process - it’s doing it’s thing, but the more it gets going the more uncomfortable it is.

Around 8 weeks for me too. I remember scouring threads on here looking for hope as I found it impossible to believe I'd ever feel normal again and I was so distressed. 6 months on I feel totally fine and it's all a distant memory, but definitely don't overdo it in those early days with long walks etc. I think I had too high expectations of what I could handle and that made it more upsetting than if I just met my body's needs. I promise it gets better!

No practical advice to help. But just posting to say I hope you feel more comfortable soon. Must be wretched feeling so sore.

@Oiwiththepoodlesalreadygg how are you getting on? You're slightly ahead of me

I had forceps and episiotomy on 20th July
I posted about how sore and awful I've felt !

17 days in and it's better then it was but still sore to sit and it aces

I'm sure it's healing nicely - I've looked and midwife have checked but feels like lots of internal bruising

I've been feeling quite miserable about it and me too wondering when I'll feel like myself

It's hard looking after a newborn feeling so sore ! X didn't realise the healing time for a forceps until now x

@strawberrysummer19 I'm nearly 5 weeks postpartum now and feeling much better. I think around the 4 week mark was the turning point - I stopped needing painkillers and found I could walk and sit more comfortably. I'm still being careful, dabbing gently after the toilet etc as it's still tender to touch but I got out for a 30 minute walk today which would have seemed impossible a couple of weeks ago! I think it got worse just before it got better and then I suddenly realised I hadn't had any ibuprofen and felt okay and it just kept improving from there. I imagine it'll be a few more weeks to be totally healed (and as for sex I don't know when I'll feel ready for that again 😳!) but day to day it's so much better. Fingers crossed things improve soon for you too xx

@Oiwiththepoodlesalreadygg oh that's good to hear, I guess it's only been 2.5 weeks for me
Still feel pretty sore and miserable!
So having to tell me myself it will get better !
X

@strawberrysummer19 yes, hang in there! At 2.5 weeks I still felt awful and it was really getting me down but it's amazing the difference another two weeks makes!

I had a 3rd degree tear from a forceps delivery. I don't really recall it being too bad other than I was scared to poo for a week in case I ripped the stitches, other than that - all was good. I had a nurse come visit me every few days to check but yeah, I carried on as normal.

You're still very very early days. Take it easy. It's not the same but I had an elective caesarean but struggled so much with mobility and pain. I remember comparing myself to others wondering how they seemed so pain free. I was so jealous of those who'd had a vaginal birth & seemed so well and mobile. I tried to change a bedsheet two weeks post delivery and physically couldn't do it. I just sat & cried. I guess no way is an 'easy' way, some people just recover quicker and their pain is different 🤷‍♀️

It improved quite suddenly, maybe between 3-4 weeks then got better from there

You say you're taking painkillers- are you taking ibuprofen? This was best for me.

Hope you recover soon & congratulations!

Sorry/ just saw you'd updated!!

Glad you're feeling better.

This thread would have been very useful to refer to on various threads that I have seen where a pregnant woman is being pressurised to agree to go to weddings etc within a week of giving birth.