What is it like?

So I have heard though the grape vine that it is worse after giving birth than actually giving birth. I am pregnant with my first so I have no idea what to expect. What about the recovery makes it so much worse? Is it more painful the days following birth rather than giving birth? What is it that the nurses do to help you?

*Watching*

Contractions are the worst. I had pretty bad cramping while in the hospital after my second so they gave me ib profin every 4 hours and a nice warm blanket.

The nurses always told me they are there to help me stay comfy and to tell them what I need. Mine were all super nice.

I also had the epi both times so I think that makes it a little different after birth. With my first It was a little sore walking for a few days. Nothing conpared to the contractions though.

stay active now and it wont be that bad. Trust me when i had my second child i had been so active through out the pregnancy that i was up walking around when she was 3 days old!  People thought i was crazy for it. Its all up to you in how bad it can be.

After the adrenaline (and drugs if that's your choice) wears off, all you're left with is memorable pain if there is any. For me with my first, healing from a bad tear was excruciating for two weeks after my delivery. With my second, I felt great and was up and about in a matter of hours and bored to tears waiting to get discharged.

I remember being in discomfort after delivery...but nothing compared to how I felt before. So bring on labor!!! I am ready!!!

DO you mean the "afterbirth"...or just after the birth? You'll deliver the placenta after the baby- and some women think that those contractions are worse than with the baby. Mine wasn't bad though at all.

If you just mean general discomfort after the birth- I don't think it's THAT bad- just that there are alot of things you don't get told. You'll be VERY sore down there- not just your vagina- but your bottom too. Your muscles will all be tired and achy from pushing- I literally felt like someone shoved a pole up my bottom for days- had to sit on a pillow.

Let the nurses know when you're uncomfortable- they'll give suggestions to relieve it. Some places use ice packs, sitz baths, meds etc... Just speak up.

I think it's worse if you have drugs. I'm having mine at a birth center (so no drugs), they said most moms are on their feet after about 4-6 hours and are ready to go home!

It was every time I BF that I would get contraction that were jsut as painful as those during delivery. That an I had an episiotomy which hurt when I sat for too long or had a BM. Otherwise I thought that labor was worse.

I thought the healing was worse than the birth. I had an epi that made me not feel a darn thing while pushing her out, and for most of the stitches (I felt the last few)
Moving with the stitchesis what hurt me. I could feel them pull when I sat. And be careful if you sneeze. That brought tears to my eyes. That was the worst.
That was all the pain I really had. I was walking down to the snack machine 5 hours after I had her and was only taking tylenol when I needed. None of it was as bad as I had feared.

Quoting *~PreggerJaz~*:“ It was every time I BF that I would get contraction that were jsut as painful as those during delivery. ... [snip!] ... delivery. That an I had an episiotomy which hurt when I sat for too long or had a BM. Otherwise I thought that labor was worse.”

How long do you bleed for after th eb irth? They told us to pack two bags of maternity pads. Thas a lot of blood. Is that how much for real?

Quoting KayDay:“ How long do you bleed for after th eb irth? They told us to pack two bags of maternity pads. Thas a lot of blood. Is that how much for real?”

I went hrough 3 1/2 bags of pads and bled for about 5 weeks. The first week or two, yeah it's that bad. Then it slows down and it's not bad at all.

Quoting SarSal:“ So I have heard though the grape vine that it is worse after giving birth than actually giving birth. ... [snip!] ... so much worse? Is it more painful the days following birth rather than giving birth? What is it that the nurses do to help you?”

It depends on how your delivery goes. If you tear or get cut that'll take awhile to heal and will be sore. I thankfully never tore except for some skid marks (tiny tears that don't get stitches) that would sting when you pee. With my first baby my whole bottom was bruised from pushing it was sore to sit for at least a couple of weeks. With my second I couldn't believe the difference, I had no bruising and wasn't hardly sore at all. I felt almost 100% as we were leaving the hospital.

Quoting SarSal:“ So I have heard though the grape vine that it is worse after giving birth than actually giving birth. ... [snip!] ... so much worse? Is it more painful the days following birth rather than giving birth? What is it that the nurses do to help you?”

Having had 4 babies, I'd have to say that you heard wrong, lol. Labor and delivery is much worse than the recovery. Think about it...many women scream during labor but you don't hear about anyone screaming during recovery