Healing after birth

[Tea Lady]

I know that this has been covered to some extent in another thread, but I'm wondering if anyone can let me know how long it took them to recover from 3rd degree tearing (or other tearing). My baby is 16 weeks old now and I think I have more pain now than I did a month ago (not that it's all that bad, but lets just say "marital relations" (don't you love that euphemism!) are not all they once were due to the pain, and I'm starting to feel like it will never get any better - makes it hard to have child #2!). Obviously I will see a Dr if necessary, but I would appreciate it if other people could share what happened to them so that I know if it's "normal" or not .

Also, I still have sciatic pain on one side - gets much worse after exercise - and I'd love to know if anyone has any hints on how to help this improve. I'd love to lose some kgs, but it doesn't help my motivation to be in pain after exercising.

Thanks everyone.

L

[redMaple]

hi

i had second degree tearing and it took me longer than normal, i believe, to get back to 'normal'. i went on a course of anti biotics about a week after bubs was born.. four months later i was still feeling discomfort. i wasn't in a lot of pain it was more like and uncomfortable pressure. at one of the visits my doc said it still looked 'really raw'. she took a swab for testing, and i had a perineal ultrasound to look for either pocket of fluid or anything left there :eek: ..luckly nothing was found. i went back on another course of antibiotics and a couple of days later i felt no more pain or discomfort.

i guess i hesitated in going back to the doc sooner because (being my first time) i really didnt know how long it would naturally take to heal, or whether there was something else wrong, plus my bleeding didnt completely stop until about 12wks.
thinking about it now i was also tired alot and my energy picked up after as well, again i didn't know what was 'normal' because it was my first bub plus your bound to be more tired giving 3 / 4hr feeds

if you feel somethings wrong, dont doubt yourself just go back to the doc. i wish i'd been more persistant

oh yeah and our 'marital relations' were painful still at 6mths, actually i dont think we even tried til then! but at about 8/9 mth we were back in the swing and i fell preg with no.2 at 11 ;) so dont dont worry it'll happen - maybe sooner than you think!

[Tea Lady]

Thanks Purity,

It's nice to hear that things will improve (mind you, I dont' feel like I have much to complain about after I did a net search and read some of the horror stories other people have). Hope all goes well with the next bub!

L

[mummy hopeful]

hi
your sciatic pain is caused from muscles in your lower back and buttocks squeezing pressure on you sciatic nerve, try standing with your back up against a wall, with a tennis ball in between your buttocks and the wall. (One side at a time) Move your bottom around the tennis ball until you feel exactly where the pain is and use the tennis ball to massage it. This will free up the muscles around the nerve and hopefully help the pain.
:)

[moggs]

Hiya,

I had quite bad tearing after my extended episiotomy and then had an infection so when the stiches disolved, it was still open. It was a miserable old time since i wanted to show of my baby but the pain wouldn't allow me to walk.

My husband had to clean me aswell because i couldn't see the area. I was having two salt baths a day at one point and two courses of antibiotics. It took about 4-5 months for it to heal completely and i can't remember when sex then was permitted.

I now have a bit of scarring 'there' and i think you should go to your doctors anyway.

moggs xx