Questions about after birth recovery for the S(+)TM

[hmr11913]

Way to plan and be prepared!! So I will tell you that I had NOTHING when I delivered - not even a hospital bag packed.... so, I basically utilized everything at the hospital and it went fine. (Although this time I will be packing a bag lol)

So shortly after I delivered I was able to take a shower (which felt amazeballs).... one of the nurses came in when I was done showering and helped me with all of the necessities. All hospitals I'm sure do things differently, but they gave me mesh underwear and she had put a big ice pack pad pad in them - they had a cooling numbing spray that she sprayed along my vaginal area and that was it. The cooling pads really helped - I think I used that along with the numbing spray for the first day. I'm not sure if you can buy them anywhere, but like you said I know you can get recipes to make them... I'll probably just use the free ones again from the hospital. I had what was like a heavy period for maybe the first 2 days or so, so I was using the huge pads there, however after that my husband went and got me some regular over night with wings pads and those were much more comfortable along with regular underwear. I don't think that you'd need depends, but I guess it all depends on how much you're bleeding. (HA!)

Also, while healing for the first week or so they recommended that I use a squirt bottle with warm water to wash myself after urinating (which they also gave me) and then just pad yourself dry with toilet paper. I also had a few stitches, so I'm not sure if that played into effect with the squirt bottle or not.

[kaydee0402]

One of my friends made the padsicles and wound up tossing them because she said they caused more discomfort than they did help.

They give you mesh underwear in the hospital and some to take home. The bleeding by the time I got home wasn't terrible, so I mostly just used extra long maxi pads. But use whatever you're most comfortable with! With all of my hormones going haywire, I was extra sweaty everywhere (including down there...things no one tells you about what to expect postpartum!) so the pads were more comfortable than the mesh underwear.

Earth Mama Angel Baby makes a cooling spray that is organic and supposedly fantastic. I bought a bottle and never used it because I wound up with a c-section. So much for planning ahead, lol.

[hmr11913]

crimpgirl, I think everyones bleeding is different - I did bleed for a few weeks after, like @kc295905, but after the first few days it was just basically like a period for me and then slowwwwlly tapered off.

My hospital was really generous with giving the mesh undies, cooling pads, numbing spray, etc... I'm assuming we pay for it anyway with our bill lol, so take advantage! My first BM wasn't too bad, so don't let all the horror stories fool you.... I just had felt like I had to go for a LONG time before I actually could, although I don't recall it being painful.

What I didn't expect was the bad cramping/contractions AFTER having the baby while nursing.... and I've heard it gets worse with each baby. Oh joy!

[tbonequeen13]

My hospital didn't have cooling or soothing spray, they offered a sitz bath but I declined. The mesh underwear they had was my favorite- it was comfortable and super absorbent. I bled heavily for a week or so, but my periods are always heavy so it wasn't much of a surprise. Once the mesh undies and giant pads the hospital gave me ran out, I just used the longest pads I could find at the store. I didn't do the padsicles or anything either...to be honest, I don't remember being in a remarkable amount of pain or discomfort down there- I had a small 2nd degree tear that required 1 stitch and I remember feeling tender down there for a bit, but it wasn't bad. The hospital did give me a squirt bottle to help cleanse down there until it was comfortable to wipe.

As far as the first BM, it wasn't as scary as I feared. The nurse said to take a piece of toilet paper and gently apply a small bit of pressure to the vaginal and peritoneum regions and that should help the area not feel under too much strain....TMI perhaps, but it was a tip I hadn't read anywhere else.

[requiressnacks]

This thread terrifies me.

[mrsp121308]

I've never done the padsicles, I actually only have ever felt the ice pack was necessary while still in the hospital. Once home, you are probably 1-2 full days from when baby was actually born and you'd be surprised how much difference that time makes.

The thought of wearing a giant diaper full of blood makes me nauseous. I'll take granny panties and a nighttime pad. Most of the heaviest bleeding happened at the hospital (at least in my experiences) so that large of a pad seems unnecessary. You want to change them frequently anyways because it'll become uncomfortable anyways, so I don't think depends are really needed.

I would add that the tucks/witch hazel pads laid on your pad does have a nice cooling effect and does help quite nicely with the itching and healing stitches. Also, plan to take a stool softener of some sort because the first postpartum poop is scary. You are sore and trying to push anything down there is just not fun, so save yourself some pain/fear and buy some colace.

The hospital sent us home with a squirt bottle to use. You'll want to use that along with dabbing toilet paper for awhile, it's actually really nice.

[mrsp121308]

hmr11913, the cramping while nursing was so much worse with DD2, I'm not excited for how it will go with baby 3.

[lastnamewithheld]

Aug 30, 2016 10:29:24 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

This thread terrifies me.

right? I just had an "OH SHIT. He has to get out of me eventually!" moment.

also, thanks to the BTDT moms for the pointers! You all rock.

[requiressnacks]

Aug 30, 2016 10:45:31 GMT -5 lastnamewithheld said:

Aug 30, 2016 10:29:24 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

This thread terrifies me. 

right? I just had an "OH SHIT. He has to get out of me eventually!" moment.

also, thanks to the BTDT moms for the pointers! You all rock.

Yeah - I haven't focused on the end game yet. Guess we are all getting closer!

and +1 for the BTDT moms for being so open & honest. Very helpful.

[mrsp121308]

I'll add, the worst pain for me was the first week of breastfeeding. My nipples were sore (buy some good lanolin). Then the engorgement when my milk came in was shocking to me as a FTM. Like your boobs literally feel hard and huge like boulders. HARD. I've heard that frozen cabbage leaves are supposed to help but I've found the best is to stand in a warm shower and just hand express some milk to get a little relief. But just go into it aware that your boobs will be sore.

[hmr11913]

mrsp121308, oh yeah - the witch hazel pads! I also had those... I think they had lined them on the pad also... just for the first few days or so. (I think they were smaller and circular, so you use a few each time)

Glad to hear that the cramping is worse the 2nd time around...... haha.

I never really got the engorgement, however I was pumping a lot (I think every 2 hours for 30 min) because G was a preemie they had only wanted me to nurse her for 15 min then use a syringe to feed her the breastmilk (which DH did) so that she wasn't burning too many calories. ALSO - a local BF group that I'm in suggests NEVER to use frozen cabbage leaves on your breasts unless you are trying to dry up your milk. So you may want to check with a lactation consultant prior to using them if you're having issues.

I actually had to use a nipple shield (which they also give you) because G could not properly latch and had a tongue tie(which was revised)... I'm hoping that this time around I won't have to as that thing was sort of a pain in the ass.

[ImAPepper]

Not related to down there but if you're planning on nursing medela makes these cooling gel pads you can use for up to a day and they were a life saver in the first few days!

[kaydee0402]

@kc295905, were they aloe wipes? I seem to remember something about aloe wipes.

[fikafairy67]

For those of you anticipating (or wind up needing) a c-section, don't be a hero with the drugs. Take them when they tell you, and don't forget a dose. Getting on top of the pain is much harder than staying in front of it.

A boppy can be challenging to use for nursing right away - I just used a regular pillow instead and it was much easier on the incision site. Same goes for using the pillow when you have to cough, sneeze, laugh, etc.

Walk around ASAP, and don't allow visitors until the catheter comes out (if you get one, I don't know if it's standard).

The long maxi pads help to cover the incision and keep it dry as well.

[kaydee0402]

ImAPepper, I'll have to look into them. I had suppressed the memory of cracked nipples from the last go around

[kaydee0402]

Aug 30, 2016 13:22:36 GMT -5 fikafairy67 said:

For those of you anticipating (or wind up needing) a c-section, don't be a hero with the drugs. Take them when they tell you, and don't forget a dose. Getting on top of the pain is much harder than staying in front of it.

A boppy can be challenging to use for nursing right away - I just used a regular pillow instead and it was much easier on the incision site. Same goes for using the pillow when you have to cough, sneeze, laugh, etc.

Walk around ASAP, and don't allow visitors until the catheter comes out (if you get one, I don't know if it's standard).

The long maxi pads help to cover the incision and keep it dry as well.

ALL OF THIS.  I tried to avoid taking the percocet at first (I didn't want to risk transferring it to my baby in my breast milk).  Such a bad idea.  

[kaydee0402]

I'd like to sing the praises of colace. My best friend in helping me poop after delivery. You can buy it OTC and I recommend you start taking it close to your due date so it can start working. Thanks to staying on top of that, my first postpartum poop was NBD.

[kaydee0402]

Aug 30, 2016 10:50:47 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

Aug 30, 2016 10:45:31 GMT -5 lastnamewithheld said:

right? I just had an "OH SHIT. He has to get out of me eventually!" moment.

also, thanks to the BTDT moms for the pointers! You all rock.

Yeah - I haven't focused on the end game yet. Guess we are all getting closer!

and +1 for the BTDT moms for being so open & honest. Very helpful.

Just trying to return the favor  If it hadn't been for the BTDT moms in my previous BMB, I would have walked into this blindly.  

[kaydee0402]

Aug 30, 2016 11:56:41 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

requiressnacks even though recovery can suck, you've got labor and delivery out of the way, and a sweet squishy newborn (s) to snuggle and stare at. And plus also it will be Christmas time!


Also also also....you can drink! and take real drugs.

I'm requesting that bottle of champagne (Brut) is snuck into my room.    

[lola]

kaydee0402 @kc295905 I'm totally on board for the champagne in the hospital bag. It's probably what I miss the most.

[requiressnacks]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who is excited for alcohol!


And Christmas!

[Deleted]

DH and I don't drink so I told him that instead of champagne I just want a big sandwich with all the deli meats I haven't had in 9 months. Or a nice meat plate will suffice as well. I miss deli meat a lot.

[Winnifred]

So this is a really helpful but terrifying thread. I haven't thought too much about any of this stuff but I guess I probably should.... Also I really want donuts and maybe a small glass of wine to celebrate!!

[lola]

Winnifred Why didn't I think of donuts!? Champagne and donuts, obviously.

[Lucy]

There isn't really anything I can add that hasn't been said. I'm planning a repeat c/s, so I have nothing to offer for the normal birth ladies either

I do want to say though, that the peri bottles are fabulous for bathing babies once you get home. Like tiny gentle showers. Snag an extra if you can!

[emilie]

Thank you so much for this thread you guys! Now I am just going to try to uncross my legs

[mrswillie]

Like fikafairy67 I had a c/s, so can help with advice on that.

I think I had a catheter in the first day that came out the next am. Since I wasn't allowed out of bed yet, they sent a tech in to wash off down there for me. At that point, you're not concerned about who sees or touches what.

Bleeding for me was also the heaviest in the hospital. I wore the giant pads there and mesh undies there, but went home with regular pads and my own comfy undies. I hate wearing any pads. Yuck! The baby didn't come out through my vag, but the warm water rinse still felt wonderful!

Definitely made sure you take the pain meds when due, both in the hospital and at home, otherwise you'll be in SO MUCH pain!

Get up and walk around when allowed as much as possible. They had me pushing my baby doing laps around the floor. I'd stop at the kitchen to load up on snacks and drinks.

I brought a pillow for the car ride home to put between the incision and seat belt. You'll also need it for a bit for coughs, sneezes, etc.

They started me on colace right after the surgery and I took it every.single.day. It still too a WEEK to have my first bowel movement.... ok, can't even call it movement because it wasn't doing much moving! It was AWFUL for me! Not sure if it's worse after a c-section because of stomach muscles. Sweating, holding on. Like took an hour! The worst! I need to find something else to take this time.

[mrswillie]

All right champagne ladies.... are YOU drinking this or is it for your SO's? My BTDT mama's.... how long before you had a drink after delivery?

I always joked about bringing wine to the room, but I definitely felt like puking even thinking about it. The nurses said we could have drinks in a cooler in the room. I think it was about 2 weeks later before I had my first beverage.

[WineNChocolate]

Late**if someone else said it sorry**

I made the Popsicles..like 48 of them..they were heaven. I will make them again..I stole crap load if the big diaper underwear and cooling pads from the hospital. Ask your nurse for them..they will usually hook you up. My nurse did.

That foamy cleanser for your hoohaa ask for extra and get two of the spray bottles to rinse you off. They are like spray bottles with like a neck on them to help rinse.

PJs! I liked dress instead of pants..but that was just personal preference.

Underwear by bigger size than you actually need so your stuff can breath and heal.

Umm if living room is downstairs make sure to make a bathroom downstairs prepared so you don't have to go up and down for a couple days it can be uncomfortable. Have like a care kit if you will in both bathrooms..

[mrswillie]

Aug 31, 2016 8:20:14 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

I also took home extra newborn diapers, gauze pads for circumcision care, lanolin, and whatever else I could find. You're paying for it anyways!

Heck yeah. Take home everything not locked down. Hahaha! If FF, keep shoving the little nursettes in a bag. They have me some when I left too.