Phoenix Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Bump Article: Crotch Care 101
Did anyone else read this article? I'm definitely a little scared and grossed out now.
@Mommies - Was your experience similar to what they described?
Re: Bump Article: Crotch Care 101
yep. i couldn't sit comfortably for at least 2 weeks. actually, it was pretty much excrushiating for a week or so to sit down/sit up/move at all. i had a 2nd degree internal tear. sex is still uncomfortable for me. i bled for 6 weeks off and on. in the beginning it was like, niagra falls. don't wear anything you care about, lol.
everyone has different experiences. but you definitely need to get more used to this stuff if you're planning on having kids, lol. every post it seems like you're about to vomit thinking about things like this haha. yes, it's gross. but it's well worth it
and this isn't stuff you're worried about while you're in labor anyway. it's not a big deal once baby is here
hahahaha - yes. It's true. Obviously, everyone's experience is completely different, and it may be way, way worse for some than others. The stealing stuff (ok, fine, asking for lots of extra stuff) is seriously the best tip ever. The mesh panties are your best friends for like at least a week! SO never thought I'd say that, but it was true! I swore I would NEVER wear those things, but seriously, you just don't care after all you go through having a baby. The peri bottle was the second best thing. DEFINITELY bring one (or 3) of those home! I kept one upstairs and one downstairs.
And all of this scared the crap out of me too, but honestly by the time I got to that point, none of this phased me too much. And I'm a super modest person, and this kind of stuff freaks me out, but just once you've been through labor and all of that, it just felt like (to me) this part wasn't as bad. It wasn't fun, don't get me wrong, but I handled it a lot easier than I expected to. Like by the time I got home, I had been through far worse, so it felt like not as big of a deal? I don't know how to explain it other than that.
My issues weren't too terrible though. (TMI coming) - some tearing, but nothing too crazy. I could sit down just fine. I know some girls who had it worse than me though.
you asked, so nothing is TMI anymore.
I had a vaginal birth, Lucy girl was 8lbs4oz. I had a very minor tear (inside) more like a scrape. It didn't need any fixing up.
Since I labored in water that loosed up my perineum which allowed it to stretch more, so I highly recommend that if you are able to.
After I gave birth (since I was at home), my midwife walked me to the bathroom when I was ready and I showered.
Yup, you need crazy heavy flow pads at the very beginning until everything slows down. I had undies that I didn't care that they got bloody (p.s. Hydrogen peroxide in the washer gets blood out just FYI)
I WAS sore down there for a few days, sitting hurt a little bit, it felt like a bruise on my lady bits.
I never got (well felt) the "uterine contractions" when breastfeeding. But obviously it was happening.
I didn't have any pee leakage like they talked about (But I was nutso about doing my kegels, I was the check-in person on 2nd and 3rd tri).
I also didn't have an issue with my first post partum poop. I was prepared because my m/w warned me it might be difficult and it would trigger my mind back to pushing because it would feel the same. Luckily mine was on day 2 and it was not hard.
I used a peri bottle with a herbal tea that my MW makes (they made it on the stove while I was recovering in bed) It had lots of healing/antibacterial stuff in it. So instead of wiping when you pee you just squirt that on there and you are good to go. I used this for probably 3-4 weeks because it felt better.
I found that those hospital sized pads feel like crud after a day, so I got some regular pads (thin but absorbant ones) and used those, they were way better and won't aggravate your lady bits so much.
As far as sexy time afterwards, we waited til 6 weeks like you are supposed to. We used lube for prolly a week after that then everything seemed to be fine (and I EBF).
All in all it wasn't really that bad, it really just felt like bruising and having your period. People make it sound way worse than it is.
So don't be afraid, if you have questions just ask!
those mesh undies were so hot!!! hahahaha. really comfortable though. kind of like boy shorts, lol. that numbing spray kind of helped me. but i was in SO much pain it didn't make much of a dent. a lot of people i have talked to loved that stuff though
Oh, they didn't mention the blood clots! They are very normal, and yet another thing no one tells you about (at least I wasn't aware of it)...freaked me the hell out. I am talking golf ball sized ones, but all completely normal.
Ooooh - the numbing spray! I forgot about that! That stuff is wonderful! I highly recommend getting as much of it as they will give you. I was talking about the bottle you fill with water and squirt to clean yourself after you use the restroom. I LOVED that.
yep, big ole blood clots. That was a little creepy.
yeah i liked that bottle too. the warm water definitely helped. OH, and i also did a lot of baths where i'd fill it up with a few inches of water, as hot as i could handle and sat in it for 15 mins or so. that helped a lot.
:::wondering if Tay is regretting asking about this:::
;-)
hahaha, well in my opinion it's better to be prepared! i did as much reading/research as i could so i knew what to expect
I was in the bathroom with the nurse outside the door (trying to pee for the second time so they could take my IV out and I could finally get the shower I had been begging for) and I let out a "HOLY FvCK!" LOL I was seriously freaked out, and the fact that the gigantic clots didnt phase the nurse one bit was so odd to me. lol
haha I was wondering the same thing!
@Christina, do you think having such a great exercise routine helped with the delivery?
@Shannon, eh I have a weak stomach, and the idea of my skin tearing really scares me. I know that my gross tolerance will significantly increase after babies, and that its all worth it in the end.
Can't wait to meet my baby boy!
Lolz, nope, just lots of screen hopping today!
Can't wait to meet my baby boy!
honestly, don't worry about it because it will seriously be the last thing on your mind! there's so much going on. you will be great
Lol, thank you Shannon. I am so thankful to have you ladies to talk to about this stuff. I have SOOO much to learn.
Can't wait to meet my baby boy!
I gotta tell you, I felt the same way, but after being numbed up and hearing them cut me, it didn't phase me...in fact I even asked the doctor if that was indeed what I was hearing
Trust me, at that point you won't care. Sorry for the TMI...
I very much do think that exercising helped. Stretching as well, you want your body to be able to get in the best position (which helps baby get in the best position).
You won't even feel your skin tearing if it does (unless they do an episiotomy when you aren't crowning) your body is super smart and if it tears it will be when baby's head is coming out and therefore less blood flow to your perineum therefore no pain.
Tay - truly I am the same way. I had a mommy friend who was trying to help me by preparing me with stories of her experiences, and I was crying from being so scared.
I don't know how to explain it other than you just deal with each thing one moment at a time, and you just get through it. For me, personally, while the recovery wasn't very fun, I think I built up in my head how awful it was going to be, and by that point, I was just rolling with everything. It totally wasn't fun, but it just felt like by that point, the worst was over? At least for me.
And seriously, those first few weeks are such a blur now. I think nature designs it that way so that you forget all about it before you have your next kids... ;-)
Click Me
seriously, little scammer that mother nature is! i think about my experience and something new pops into my head i remember, and i'm like whyyyyyyy am i so excited to do this again? hahaha
yeah i know. unfortunately it's not like throwing a hotdog down a hallway
bwahahahah it took me a few times to get it. but that is seriously funny!
Would you mind going into more detail? My mom had all three of us via c-section, and I am afraid I may have to too.
Can't wait to meet my baby boy!
Can't wait to meet my baby boy!
yea, and no one will snark your rear-end like on the national boards
Yes...for this I am eternally grateful
Can't wait to meet my baby boy!
just be sure to come here with your questions. Don't EVER ask them on a national board. Some people have to be a big bump butthead to people that have real questions.