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Chronic pain management tips
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Pain after episiotomy
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I gave birth vaginally to a beautiful baby girl Emily on 11/9/11. I had the perfect birth, exactly what I wanted and was able to go through labor and delivery without any pain medications. I apparently started pushing a little too early and tore my cervix and the doctor had to do an episiotomy and I was told that I had third degree tearing. The first five days or so were just excruciating. I could not sit and barely stand up and don't even ask me how I went to the bathroom. After about five days, the immediate pain subsided, but still today I get some throbbing pain down below. I had a check up with the doctor yesterday and she said that the stitches are almost dissolved and I'm healing well.
If anyone had tearing or an episiotomy, how long did it take you to heal? I know that you are supposed to be "all put together" after six weeks. Although I'm only two weeks post partum, I worry about how it will be the first time DH and I start having sex again. I feel now that it will never happen because of the pain I'm having. I had a c-section with my twins 18 months ago and I can definitely say that that recovery was much easier after the c-section than after the vaginal birth. Still I don't regret my VBAC. Despite the pain, I would do it all over again a million times. Posted on 11/24/11, 08:58 pm |
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I had an episiotomy, but they didn't say how bad it was, and I didn't tear my cervix. Sorry it was so rough. The first few days were pretty bad. I'd say after two weeks though I was still having some throbbing pain. I don't remember exactly when it stopped, but at about 4.5 weeks my fiance and I had sex. I have a...healthy sex drive, and I couldn't wait the six weeks the doctor suggested. At first it was really painful, and we had to go extremely extremely slow, but eventually it started feeling better. It did hurt at least a little bit the whole time that first time. But each time we had sex after that it would hurt for the first few minutes and have to go slow, but then it was back to normal sex. It's only been 7 weeks at this point, and it only hurts the first minute or so, then it feels normal. As long as you wait until you feel comfortable, take things slow and you should be ok. If it's too painful, just stop.
Hope it works out for you! 
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I did not have an episiotomy but I did tear my cervix an ended up with five stitches. I was in pain for at least 4 weeks. Soaking in the bathtub nightly really helped to relax it though so the stitches didn't pull so much so you might want to try that. They can also give you spray on pain relievers so you don't feel it so bad. Sex was definately at least 8 weeks because the stitches didn't disolve and fall out until about six weeks and I was still a little sensitive there for a while after. Cervical tears are the worst, I have heard anyway, so it takes longer than that 6 week period to be ok. Plus when we did start having sex at 8 weeks we really had to take it slow since I was still a little tender. It takes time, and don't rush it, because it'll be okay. Honestly it takes months to feel normal again. But you really should try the soaking in a bath thing, you can even use baking soda if thats ok with your skin. My OB/GYN told me that it helps the healing process go as quickly as possible by taking warm baths because it is helping to keep everything clean!
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I had some pretty bad tearing and the recovery was horrible! My stitches came loose a few days after I came home from the hospital and the tear opened up again. They couldn't re-stitch it because there is a high risk of infection if they re-stiched. So basically I took tons of Sitz baths and dealt with pain while walking, sitting, everything for a few weeks. My husband was a huge help during that time. I think the pain was gone after about 7-8 weeks. My baby is 13 weeks now and we still haven't had sex yet because we're nervous about it, but we will try soon!
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I did not have an episiotomy but I tore and had to have 3 stitches. I was sore up to two weeks later and bleed for the full 6 weeks but I managed getting around okay. Right at 6 weeks I had sex again and it was amazing! It did not hurt at all. Guess I was lucky :)
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I think the pain is very different depending upon where you tear. I know people that have torn in the exact same place as an episiotomy, although they didn't have one. They didn't have many issues with pain and it healed quickly. Mine was a cervical tear and part of my labia was torn with it. That made for a longer more painful recovery.
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I tore, but no one told me how bad or how many stitches. I know it took a while to heal, though. Probably a good eight weeks before it wasn't really bothering me anymore. Even at eight months, though, it's still tender and every once in a while, I'll get a throbbing sensation. I haven't had sex, yet, I just can't even imagine it right now. Things still don't feel "normal" downstairs. I'm amazed by women that can jump right back into it at six weeks.
I had a labial tear, though, so maybe that's why it's taking me so long. Best of luck to you. Just keep doing sitz baths.
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Thank you for your comments. I do feel better than I did a week ago. I guess I was just surprised that it's taking so much longer to feel "okay" after a vaginal birth compared to the c-section.
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I'm with you, I recovered from my C-section faster than my vaginal deliveries. I tore very badly with my first one and had a lot of stitches. Don't remember how many. We waited about 7 weeks or something. My midwife encouraged me to drink the first time we had sex. She was joking...probably. I remember using lots of lubrication and both of us were scared to death. It hurt, but I have vulvadynia so sex always hurts. Hard to say what was the episiotomy and what wasn't. You really need to make sure you're in the mood and prepared and as relaxed as you can be. That will help a lot.
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All I can say is Salt water rinses initially to everyone as painful as they are down there and lotus oil, lotus oil, lotus oil after that.
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