Pregnancy Support Group

Unfortunatly it is normal. All part of the miracle of giving birth. For the chafing try some aquaphore (sp?). Or some lanolin oil. I use aquaphore its sorta oily but I think its worth it.
Good luck and congratulations on your new baby!

the diaper ointment named "Butt Paste" Really helps too if you can stand the cakiness....

Anoughter thing you can try is they make these pads for the bed they are plue plastic with a softer lining side. I would get a couple of those and put them on the bed when no one is home and go free for a little bit th fresh air would really help. Yes you will need a shower but you wont hurt so much.

As for the freshness the only thing you can really do is change your pads often and keep them as fresh as possible. Maybe its natures way of keeping our husbands away from us for the manditory 6 weeks

Have you tried a sitz bath? I haven't tried one personally but the girls at work have told me they're a huge relief for the irritations after birth.
Also, I have a bit of a sore area right now from going to the bathroom SO much...I've been using Desitin and it seems to help out a lot.

I signed on this morning to post about these pads I found.. and there was already a topic!!! haha..

So I had a coupon to try the new Always Infinity pads.. they are AMAZING! I HATE pads and I'm 2 1/2 weeks post-partum.. well I got a box of these a few days ago and they don't even feel like I'm wearing a pad! They are super thin with this really soft material but they absorb everything and don't leak (and they never feel moist). They cost more then regular pads but so worth it! So ladies.. I highly recommend the Always Infinity pads for after pregnancy! They won't make you feel like you're wearing a diaper to match your baby :)

http://www.always.com/products/cat...

I've been using a sitz bath 2-3 times a day, wiping with tucks pads every time I go to the bathroom, and drinking tons of water.. it seems to be helping!!

The Always Infinity pads are great. There's also an organic one out there, Natracare, which makes maternity-specific pads as well as regular ones for your period. They are super-soft -- my partner used the maternity ones for the first two weeks after our daughter was born, and then the regular period ones for another week or so before switching to the Infinity ones, and she said they felt as good as a pad can feel down there for that length of time! They are a bit expensive but worth it -- you can get them from drugstore.com and also from health food stores.

I agree with the other ladies - make sure you have a softer, more comfortable pad, be sure you're soaking in a bath at least once a day, and I put tucks pads right on top of my pad (soothing and helped tremendously with pain and irritation!). Also be sure you're using that bottle (they likely gave you one at the hospital) every time you go to the bathroom. I always found it helped best if I used it as I was going to the bathroom instead of just to rinse after.

Healing to me was definitely the worst part of birth! I hated having to take care of myself while also figuring out and taking care of a new baby!

As a FTM I have no idea what you ladies are talking about...and to be perfectly frank, I'm not entirely sure I want to know.

I guess I'm going to experience this one way or another and a prepared woman is a...prepared woman, so lay it on me. What the heck happens AFTER childbirth?

!!!HA!HA!HA!...
Well...first of all, hope you don't need an episiotomy-an incision of your "taint", or "chode", or perinium. It's done so you don't tear your skin down there when the baby can't squeeze through.Then the doctor will make a continual stitch on th inside that will eventually disolve. You'll be very sore for several weeks if you get one of those. You'll be given a squirt bottle to rinse the area instead of wiping when you go to the bathroom. I had to get an episiotomy and have been using the bottle. The sanitary pads I got were Equate, I'm cheap, and I think using those pads combined with all the water, I am very raw down there. Like I've given myself diaper rash.
But the other problem I didn't remember is the odor of the discharge. After a couple of weeks its not like blood anymore but slimy discharge-this is a graphic subject, I know-this is gonna be with you for like 6 weeks or so and it is discusting, even after a shower. I think this is the worst part of pregnancy and giving birth. But its worth it. Thank goodness it doesn't last 9 months though.
Now, feel more prepared? lol

Yikes...I knew about the episiotomy but had NO IDEA about the slimy discharge! Hmmm...makes me wonder what else they don't tell you about in the birthing classes!

Thanks...I think. LOL!

I want to thank you for this post! Seiously! I am going in tonight to start my inducing, and I had to buy pads yesterday and had no idea what kind or anything to buy for when I get home...but after reading this post I was a lot more clear and was happy to know what to buy! I splurged and bought the infinity...but if it is going to save my "hiney" and other parts, I am all for it! Thanks again!