What happens after?

[Kittique]

Apologies if this is in the wrong section but i read a lot of birth stories and they understandably stop once the baby is born, but i want to find out more about what happens afterwards? For example do you continue to have contractions? if so, for how long? How bad are they? What happens when you are stitched up? Do they inject you/how bad is it/how long does it take?(do they dissolve!??) do they take blood tests from you after? How long do you bleed for? Can you pee properly? Lol, these are all questions that come into my mind that i don't see people talk about so much. I'd like to know

Thank you

 

[TinyWriggler]

Im going to keep an eye on this thread as they are all questions I have had pop into my head but there never seems to be the right person/time to ask that sort of stuff!

 

[we can't wait]

Ok, I am going to try to answer all of your questions!

Do you continue to have contractions? If so, for how long? How bad are they?
After my DD was born, I was given a small amount of pitocin in my IV. This, and breastfeeding, helps the uterus contract. First, this helps to expell the placenta. After that, it just helps in aiding the uterus to return back to normal size-- from the size of a watermelon, back to about a fist. So, yes, you do continue to have 'contractions' but they feel more like cramps. They aren't bad at all, at least mine weren't. You're so busy holding your new bundle that you hardly even notice them, tbh.

What happens when you are stitched up? Do they inject you? How bad is it? How long does it take? Do they dissolve?
You may not have to be stitched up. I didn't have any tears, so I didn't require any stitches. So, I can't be of too much help with this particular line of questioning. From my understanding though, if you need to be stitched up, your legs would already be in the stirups from delivery (if you deliver in a bed). While the baby sits on your chest your doctor will evaluate if you need stitches. If you didn't have an epidural, they give you a local anesthetic... which would be no more than a shot. It shouldn't be too bad, as you will numbed. As long as you don't have any major tears, they should be able to stitch you up quickly. And, yes! They should dissolve!

Do they take blood tests from you after?
I don't think they took any blood from me afterwards. Theymay have drawn a tube... I don't remember. But, I didn't have any complications... So I don't know what they'd have drawn blood for.

How long do you bleed for?
I bled heavy for about two-three days. After that, it gradually went to just spotting. I stopped bleeding all together after 2 weeks. I was told that walking and moving around helped the gunk come out faster-- gravity, I guess. haha. Also, like I said before, if you BF it will cause light cramps, which will help push out any of the lingering tissue and blood.

Can you pee properly?
I didn't really have any problems peeing. I leaned forward when peeing, so the urine never touched that area. The hospital also provided a sqeeze bottle, which I found really helpful. If you fill it up with really warm water, and then spray your ladybits from front to back a few times it's really soothing. If your hospital doesn't provide one, you should definitely bring your own. It's the same type of bottle that you might see at a hair salon, or the ketchup/mustard type squeeze bottles.

I think I covered everything... If you have more questions, feel free to post! I'll do my best to answer them for you.

 

[kmumtobe]

https://www.babyandbump.com/birth-s...ucing-charlie-labour-birth-hospital-stay.html

My birth story covers everything after too if that's any help, it feels forever ago I'd forget to answer your questions now x

 

[emzky90]

You get very mild craps as your uterus contracts back down.

If you have a bad tear or have to have an episiotomy then you may require stitches. (In the UK you don't have to have your legs in stirrups for the delivery necessarily think thats only when you have an epi. If you have to bit stitched then they inject local anaesthetic round the are to numb and u can have gas and air, I had the gas and air but didnt need to use it as didnt feel the stitching at all but they did have to put my legs in stirrups so she could get a good look at the situation lol.


You will bleed after the delivery as you've just had a baby and the placenta comes away and leaves a "wound" so to speak.

You will still be able to pee as normal. If you have an epi then you may have to have a cathater but not sure about this as I didnt have one.

It stings but if you drink plenty of water then it should be better.

 

[Sooz]

For example do you continue to have contractions? if so, for how long? How bad are they?

You'll have them until you pass the placenta but I found them barely noticeable. My third stage was only 10 minutes and I didn't have the injection either. You then have what they call 'after pains' for a few days, most noticeable when you are feeding LO (if you're BF). This is your uterus contracting down. They feel like period pains and you can take paracetamol for them.

What happens when you are stitched up? Do they inject you/how bad is it/how long does it take?(do they dissolve!??)

This completely depends on how bad you tear or what kind of episotomy you have. I had a 3rd degree perinneal tear which had to be examined by a consultant, as it extended into my back passage. They decided it warranted surgery so I had to go to theatre and have a spinal block. By the time I got to the ward after it was 3.5 hours since I had given birth. The stitches do dissolve but can take months if you are unlucky like me!

do they take blood tests from you after?

Not from me.

How long do you bleed for?

I bled for 6 weeks on and off.

Can you pee properly?

I was too swollen and needed a catheter for 48 hours, they put it in when i was in surgery.

 

[a_c]

I had an epidural and an episiotomy and forceps delivery in theatre. When Poppy was born I got stitched up and then went to recovery for about an hour. It was midnight and my catheter stayed in until about 10am the next day. They then give you a few hours to pee and if you don't you have to go back on a catheter. I bled (much more lightly than I anticpated) for around 5 weeks. As the uterus contracts over the first few weeks I did get a few weird pains but nothing major or consistent.

 

[sparklyjubbly]

Great questions hun and ones i wish i'd asked when i had my first born. Here is my take on it.

Do you continue to have contractions? if so, for how long? How bad are they?
Like everyone has said, you have cramp type feelings which is everthing contracting to get back to normal size. I felt this most when BF'ing LO whilst at hospital and for a day or two after but it wasn't too bad, like period cramps and it's totally workable. I've heard the intensity of the afterpains increases depending on how many kiddies you've had but seeing as this is only my second, i can't vouch for that.

What happens when you are stitched up? Do they inject you/how bad is it/how long does it take?(do they dissolve!??).
I had a 2nd degree tear as my delivery was so quick (8 mins of pushing!) internally and externally. I didn't feel it happen or pain afterwards until they started to stitch me up. I had gas and air for the stitching as they tried to numb me with injections directly into the area torn BUT i don't respond well to local anaesthetics like that (they don't work at the dentist either!) so it didn't work properly. It stung a heck of a lot but was over very quickly even with a big rip like mine - i'd forgotten all about it by the time they'd finished! Mine dissolved and i healed perfectly.

Do they take blood tests from you after?
I don't remember any bloods being taken, just an injection to help me pass the placenta.

How long do you bleed for?
I bled a lot, for a long time. Probably about 6 weeks in total of heavy bleeding with clots. This is the thing i wish i had known about. I've always had horrendously heavy and painful periods anyway but i just wasn't expecting to bleed as much as i did after having my son. Maybe it's because it was such a quick labour? I don't know, but after delivering him i had to wear 3 or so maxipads and change every half an hour and i was still leaking blood on the floor whenever i got up or moved. Also, the clots are a bit shocking if you don't realise they can happen. I was regularly passing clots the size of golf balls and tangerines which seemed huge. I was advised as long as it doesn't hurt and they aren't bigger than an orange then not to worry - but i had to keep an eye on this. There was hardly any pain with this heavy bleedding and clots, don't get me wrong, it was just a shock as i didn't think i could lose that much blood and still be ok... but i was! Never felt faint, never needed any help, it just looked and felt like so much.

Can you pee properly?
It stung a heck of a lot but tricks like leaning forward and the squeezy bottle of tepid water (boiled and cooled works really well plus a few days down the line you could add some salt to it to act as a natural infection fighter!) really helps take away the sting and helps you heal up. I was more worried about the poo side of things as it felt like my stitches were going to burst the first time, but i think hospitals nowadays give you a stool softener to help with this if you've had a big tear. I didn't have anything like that and still managed it without bursting anything.

 

[Kittique]

Thank you so much everyone! It's the kind of questions you don't really want to ask people as it's perhaps a bit TMI or just not the usual things you ask. Of course, they aren't the most important things as getting the baby out healthy and all going well but then again I think its great to know exactly what to expect with your body.


You've all been a fab help thank you! xxx

 

[cabbagebaby]

Apologies if this is in the wrong section but i read a lot of birth stories and they understandably stop once the baby is born, but i want to find out more about what happens afterwards? For example do you continue to have contractions? if so, for how long? How bad are they? What happens when you are stitched up? Do they inject you/how bad is it/how long does it take?(do they dissolve!??) do they take blood tests from you after? How long do you bleed for? Can you pee properly? Lol, these are all questions that come into my mind that i don't see people talk about so much. I'd like to know

Thank you

once babies born you dont have contraction maybe a few stomach cramps from you uterus shrinking ii'd say they felt like period pains and last a few days , i had stiches and they give you a injection to numb the pain you wont feel a thing it depends how bad the tear or episiotomy is i had to have a episiotomy and it took about a hour and a half yes they do dissolve will take about 6 weeks you may get a blood test after if you are anemic and lots alot off blood if you are you will have iron tablets you can bleed for up to 6 weeks i think it is , yes you can pee properly if you have stitches it may hurt abit hope i helped