I hope everyone doesn't get upset for me asking a few "after pregnancy questions" as this was my first pregnancy and I'm a proud mommy to a little girl that was recently born on 1-8-2008.
Some questions I have are:
* After a C-section birth or any typical birth, many women will have the after birth effects such as bleeding and having to wear lining in their underwear. I hear the recovery time is 2-6 weeks, but I may be mistaken. As for the bleeding, if it goes from heavy and now is very light on bleeding and is a brown color, is this normal? I figured it was normal due to the fact, if it begins to be less and less bleeding, than its not a concern. How long does it take for the bleeding to stop? I heard it takes 6 weeks or something, but its only been a week and I hardly have any bleeding anymore. Is this a concern?
* I hope this doesn't sound too gross, but it relates to the bleeding and I was going to ask if my bottom has a burning and itching sensation and that if I saw bleeding, is this because of the vaginally bleeding possibly transferring to that area on my body?
* As many know I had a C-section - I'm a pretty persevering person and have noticed that I do push myself at times and when I am motivated for something, I will keep going and going until I get the result I want. Anyway, I'm pretty strong and tend to use my muscles a lot, so after a C-section, I was up on my feet the first day moving around. So far, it has been a week from my C-section and I tend to be able to walk without pain and many say, "Oh, shouldn't you be in bed?" I do think I'm healing rather quickly, but then again, I'm not really sure. Where my stitches are or have been located have been itching constantly, is this normal? And does this mean they're just healing? My father always told me if something itches it means its healing. I've been patting it, instead of itching, just because I don't want to cause anything to go wrong with it.
* Any Mother would definitely understand the feeling of being sleep deprived and so far, I'm having trouble relaxing and sleeping and have had a migraine all night. It makes me feel horrible and I've had my man tend to the baby. It makes me feel bad that I cannot get out of bed to help with her. I'm not sure how non-prescription medications work after pregnancy, but I was wondering, will it be safe or okay to take 2 Advil for my migraine? I have changed my mind on breastfeeding and will be formula feeding, just so you know in advance.
I would appreciate any advice on this matter! Thanks again for everyone's time and support! Have a wonderful day!!!
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Comments: 43
1. I had very little blood after the first week.
2. Not sure
3. I got up and was walking around 8 hours after my surgery (as soon as I could feel my legs again). As soon as they let us go home I was doing short walks around the neighborhood. We started at about 4 blocks and increased a block every other day until we got back to our regular 2 mile walk. As long as you aren't in severe pain don't worry about it. Yes, the cut will itch, don't scratch it!
4. I was amazed with the drugs they sent me home with, and I was breastfeeding! Honestly, even if you are breastfedding so little gets to them it doesn't really matter. THe benefits of breastfeeding outway the small amounts of meds they get. So yes, it would be perfectly safe to take 2 advil.
Congratulations and I hope you get to nurse your baby for at least a year. It's good for both of you. :-)
I am not sure about any of these questions but wanted to say you should get a good response since there are alot of mothers on the boards. Good Luck.
2. Hate to tell you this, but you probably have a hemroid. I would have your dr check it out.
3. I didn't have a c-section but my sister in law did and she didn't do anything for weeks afterwards and her dr told her that was the biggest mistake she could ever make. I don't know about your situation so I would ask the dr.
4. 2 advil are perfectly fine. :)
Congrats on having a baby and good luck as a new mommy!!
uhhhmmmmmm................
I think I'm out of my knowledge bracket here....
I know my wife had natural with both our kids and it "2"!!!! months for her to heal...I know, I counted the days on a calendar, waiting "very" patiently...
all the other things you're asking, I really have no idea, sorry......cj
the burning/itching /bleeding may be hemorrhoids
if the stitches are itching that is normal unless there is redness or foul drainage
and 2 Advil should be ok. They used to recommend Tylenol w/breastfeeding but I think it would be ok if you express after you take it, not sure what the half life is on Advil but if you still bfeed and worry about effects then breastfeed right after you take it. It won't be in your milk yet.
If you worry there will be some in the milk later, I think advil takes full effect in what..45min?, then express or pump and dump before the next feeding.
With my second son I was 31 years old and had a C-section with him. My recovery was excellent (I also had the hernia repaired after delivery) This son was 10.3 and I was just careful not to pver do it.
With my last child...my wonderful daughter I was 33 when I had her, again C-Section. I stopped bleeding within a few days however my very horny husband just begged me to have sex within 5 days and well, I started to hemorrage and had to go to the ER. Apparently the ER staff had a great laugh with that story...in any event, I stopped bleeding but did spot for about 4 days with a brownish color blood and the doc said that was normal.
Hope this helps.
1. After any birth, some bleeding is normal and to be expected. Recovery is very individual, and depends on lots of factors. The same with the bleeding. Unless you are oozing huge bright red chunks, you needn't worry about the bleeding.
2. For burning and itching, it may be a hemorrhoid. Using Desitin (with zinc oxide) will help some no matter what the problem is. I've lived with hemmorhoids for decades and they are no biggy. You learn to live with them.
3. Exercise is good after a C-section. If you can bear the discomfort, you are doing the right thing. Like everyone else said, don't overdo it. Your body will tell you.
4. When skin is healing, it itches. The outside incision will itch. The inside incision will itch. It will drive you crazy! But it is temporary and a good sign.
5. Sleep deprivation: that's normal for new mothers and fathers. You're bound to have this problem for at least 3 months depending on the baby. My first one had colic. She cried hours at a time, just as soon as it turned 10:00 PM. Usually cried 3-4 hours and nothing helped. We got VERY tired those first 3 months. When she reached her 3rd mo. birthday, it suddenly stopped. Weird. No such thing happened with my second child. He was very laid back.
Your tension and uncertainties will get transferred to the baby during these times. That's why it's important to have someone else take turns with you with the baby. If all else fails, get a third person to take on the care at night temporarily. When you are more rested and relaxed, Gracee will be too.
6. Breastfeeding. I HIGHLY recommend you reconsider going back to breastfeeding. It's a myth that we don't produce enough milk. Both my babies were 100% breastfed for their first 4 months. If you need encouragement and advice, go to your yellow pages and look up the La Leche League (LLL). They will get your through the little problems that crop up (like pain when latching on, and biting).
The benefits to your baby and to YOU far outnumber the inconvenience. Besides the immunities that come in the first few months of breastmilk, there is a benefit in chemical released in the mother's body during the process of feeding. It has a calming effect on you, which is then passed on to your baby. Breastfeeding benefits are well documented.
7. That said, if you experience headaches, do take some medications. If you are not sure, and you are breastfeeding, the people at the La Leche League will have great information for you. They are much more than consultant for lactation. They are also health food conscious, produce wonderful cookbooks that are Mom friendly, and have meetings for encouragement and play groups for moms with toddlers. Go for it!
The Fables of Aesop
1. I think it's normal and your ok.
2. I'm going with Hemorrhoid on this one. I got them really bad after both of my children but I did a vaginal birth. Ok....if it hurts when you push to poop you probably got one. It hurts really bad actually. You might have a mild cause of one. I would get some Tucks pads and use them. there are other kinds besides that and you can buy them over the counter at Walmart or Target or a pharmacy.
3. I'm not sure about I never had a C-section but I'm sure there is a lot of itching and patting it should be fine. I wouldn't scratch.
4. I think you could probably take some advil. Your not breastfeeding so it should be fine. I would take Tylenol instead though. It seems to be safe with everything.
Hope everything gets better. If you need more help I'm sure everyone here won't mind.
Congratulations on your new little Girl.
2. itching usually mean healing, but if you are concerned ask your doctor...it may be dry and irritated.
3. Same as above
4. Did you have a epi? If you did, did the headaches begin when you had it...if so then you may need to see the doctor for a blood patch...at the very least you need to drink LOTS of water!!!
Good luck hun!
If you are not nursing then I thinkadvil should be just fine!!
Good Lcuk
weeks. I think brown is normal...that is how it is with my periods.
The 2nd thing could possibly be hemmoroids. No one told me that having children can cause these, but they are horrible & so painful. I didn't have the problem with my 2nd, but my 1st I was always in pain & it bleeds. Maybe it's that?
You are doing great with the itching & yes that is TOTALLY normal! I had c-sections too. It could be cause you sweat in that crease too & that could cause it to itch...At times I wondered if I should put deoderant there LOL! But yeah patting is good ;o)
You can take anything if you are not breastfeeding...Advil is just fine. I think it's fine.
All the advice you got is great and right on! Remember you were pregnant for 9 months, so it will take your body at least that long to get completely back to normal! Don't rush it, let nature take it's course. Like someone else said your body knows what it's doing. Don't over do it, sleep when Gracee sleeps and I agree if there is someone else around that can help in addition to Walter let them do it. Is your mother or some other relative nearby? Everything you are going through is normal. Hemmoroids are the pits, try hemmoroid suppositories or towelettes that will help A LOT! Above all take care of yourself Michelle!
The recovery time for a section is 8 weeks really. Make sure to take naps when the baby does.
If you can breastfeed at least some it is so much better for both you and the baby. It helps you get back in shape much faster, too. The baby get some immunoglobins from you in your milk and it is better nutritionally. You can take motrin when breastfeeding, that is what I was prescribed after my sections. As for the migraine, up to 800mg three times a day, thats 4 over the counter, and you can use tylenol with it safely. I had 3 c- sections. I don't know why a person would have a baby the other way, lol.
If you have any other questions, feel free.
I'm so happy for you that you are healing well. You have been given great answers above. If you can try to breastfeed for even 3-6 months, that would be great. It is so good for your baby and for you. I know its hard and I had problems in the beginning but you can get some help at getting her to latch on and all of the other common problems. Call the La Leche League and they will help you - they are so supportive! Either that or the nurses in the hospital will help you or at the doctors office. Somebody will help you if you are having any problems with that. Anyway, Congratulations and love that sweet little girl up!
: )
Have a wonderful day. I will do my best to comment everyone's works in return, but please be patient.
Thanks again,
Michelle
I do remember that I was walking around soon afterwards and my doctor said walking was fine. He told me I couldn't run or do any more strenuous exercise than walking for 6 weeks and I followed those guidelines. But I did walk. And after 3-4 weeks, I even got on the treadmill at my gym and walked with a small incline but I didn't do anything more than that until the 6 weeks had lapsed just to be safe.
I didn't fare well with the little sleep I was getting those first weeks so my husband took a shift. He'd go to be early around 10 and then I'd go to bed after a feeding around 1:00 then when my baby got up around 4, he'd take over with either pumped breast milk or formula and then I'd get to sleep until about 7. I'm telling you getting those 6 hours made such a huge difference and he got around 6 hours, too. And shortly thereafter both of my boys starting sleeping longer and then I was getting 7-8 hours. By 3, 3 1/2 months they were both sleeping around 7 hours and my husband and I were doing so much better when they slept longer.
I didn't opt for using a monitor and put my babies in their own room (I could still hear them through the wall when they wailed) in their crib after about 4 weeks so that I wouldn't hear them fussing and that really helped us to sleep, too. You'll have to find what works for you, but that's how we survived.
Those beginning months are so tiring yet so amazing. Enjoy this time. The time goes by fast even if you hear that a lot and it seems to go slow when you're in the moment. Take lots of video! I didn't take enough - I was tired and living the moment!
Bleeding VERY different every time you have a baby. I bled for 6 weeks when I had my son. I bled for about a week, maybe 10 days when I had my daughter. I'm told that c-sections tend to have less bleeding because the doctors tend to suction out a lot of the blood to make sure all the placenta is removed. But like I said, every pregnancy/delivery/recovery is different.
Congratulations no your little bundle of joy!
Yes, I was sooooo itchy - it lasted for quite awhile and even now once in awhile I will itch where my scar is (my daughter is now 2 1/2)- as for being tired, very common. Let the babys daddy help when he can. You need your rest when you can get it and when someone is there to help.
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