After pains with second child (birth)

[Jenn Lynn]

My Sister has me freaking out about after pains (I don't know what the clinical term is). She says hers were SO much worse with her second baby than with her first. I really don't remember them with DD. Maybe I blocked it out. Or maybe all I remember is the hemorrhoid pain.

So give it to me, the good, bad, and painful. I need to prepare myself because my Midwife already said I am likely to get hemorrhoids again. At least she told me to stay in bed for the first 24 hours and limited movements for the 2-3 days after that. I don't think I will feel like moving around much!

 

[tiff211]

Just wait until you get to your forth! Yes, I hear the afterpains (the uterus contracting back to normal size) CAN BE more painful with each pregnancy due to muscles not being as strong the next time around. Hemmorroids are the worse, aren't they?!

 

[Beth76]

I don't remember after pains with either baby. Now, with the first I had a tough recovery. My stomach was sore for a few days, but the worst was the recovery from the episiotomy. That took almost 4 weeks to heal.

With the second, I was already feeling better in the hospital. My stomach was sore, but everything else was fine. I even took the baby out for a walk the day I got home from the hospital.

I think if you didn't have them the first time, you may not have them again. I wouldn't worry. It'll be a completely different experience.

 

[snoopy]

Second pregnancy and delivery were much easier for me. And I can't recall ever having after pains with either...I'm not even sure what that is?

I'm sure your sister means well, but I hate when people give their birth horror stories right when you are about to give birth!! I had a girlfriend do that to me with my first pregnancy, I knew to stay far away from her the second time around....guess you can't very well do that with your sister.

Getting close now Jenn! Wishing you the best!

 

[floridafam]

I had my 3rd child 10 weeks ago and the after pains were AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The nurses did say they get worse with each child. They alternated Tylenol and Motrin and did give me something stronger when those weren't working. I could barely walk. My birthing process was virtually pain free so I wasn't expecting a lot of pain afterward. They also became very intense while I was trying to nurse.

Sorry I don't have good news for you. The nursing staff will do all they can to help you feel better.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

...I'm not even sure what that is?

The after pains are a few days post partim, when you are going merrily along, and WHAM....you are hit with pain that feels like you are having contractions again. I guess technically they are contractions, since it is the uterus shrinking back to normal size.

I don't rememeber them being unbearably painful. I do remember my "breathing" helped me through those as well.

 

[HayGan]

Yep, the pains with the second were much worse than with the first. Oooooh especially while nusring!

Oh well, the pains only last for a few days but think of the fun you'll have for the rest of your life with the new little one!!!

 

[EthansMom]

I noticed the afterpains worse with no. 2, but also delivered at a different hospital where I had to ASK for meds each time whereas the first hospital gave me a bag full of Tylenol, Motrin, etc...

I also got hemorrhoids worse (bigger, anyway) with no. 2, but they didn't hurt as bad as when I got them with no. 1. I think they were more interior with no. 1 and more exterior with no. 2, if you know what I mean. Hemorrhoids are the worst!

 

[DWhittles]

My second C-Section recovery was AWFUL for the time I was in the hospital. It was so bad I thought my head was going to fall off. I don't remember them being so bad with PJ but I'll tell ya I'm scared to have anymore!!!

 

[always quiet]

Oh my goodness!! I had totally forgotten about those things!! (I guess it's true about Mother Nature giving you 'labor amnesia' ). Now that the thought is back in my mind, I remember the pain EXTREMELY well! In fact, after my 3rd delivery, who was stillborn, I was given pain pills to use back home so that I wouldn't have to experience any "unnecessary discomfort" (helped with the physical pain but not the emotional ).

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Oh my goodness!! I had totally forgotten about those things!! (I guess it's true about Mother Nature giving you 'labor amnesia' ). Now that the thought is back in my mind, I remember the pain EXTREMELY well! In fact, after my 3rd delivery, who was stillborn, I was given pain pills to use back home so that I wouldn't have to experience any "unnecessary discomfort" (helped with the physical pain but not the emotional ).

Your post reminded me of my m/c. I m/c naturally at home, but after it was done (the tissue part) I still had contractions/after pains for a few days. They were pretty painful and I remember having to go lay down and breathe through them. Forgot about that.

 

[Kermit]

My after pains were less intense after my second. However, I broke my tailbone during his birth, so that probably diverted my attention away from the contractions. Also, my first was premature and a very medical delivery, so the doctor gave me the standard bag of pitocin after the birth. My second birth was free from interventions (well, except one bag of IV fluids during the second stage because I was hot and exhausted after 15 hours of labor), and I convinced the doctor to not give me the pitocin that's routine at the hospital where I've had my babies. I'm convinced that the pitocin given in 3rd stage makes after pains worse, but you won't have to worry about that with your birth.

I've talked to many moms about after pains. Of the ones who have a lot of kids, most say that the 3rd was the worse.

 

[PaulaSue]

Honestly for me it wasn't a bad as the first time. Third time either.

The first time was really bad for me, she came out backwards and her placenta broke when he tugged it out so he had to go in with his hand and scoop the rest out. Then I got stitched up.

 

[s&k'smom]

Yup had those, they only lasted one day and it was when I would nurse, in the hospital, it felt like a contraction and only lasted a few moments. Not a big deal, yeah it hurt, but they don't last long.

 

[froglady]

I don't remember having these with either baby. I DO remember the hemorrhoids with the first, however! The second was a C-section, so that wasn't a problem. I felt worse for the first 24 hours after the C-section, but recovered more quickly than with the first.

 

[Annette_VA]

Yep, the pains with the second were much worse than with the first. Oooooh especially while nusring!
...

That's what I was going to say. I had them really bad when nursing. And, also while nursing the first few days, I got SO drowsy! I almost felt loopy.

 

[llij]

I had forgotten all about them. Eek! The afterpains with the first was not a problem, but the afterpains with the second were terrible. Oy! Ouch! They were worse than the labor! I can't wait to see what they will be like when I deliver #3!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

The thing that hurt the most was the ob yanking out the placenta. OUCH!!! That hurt worse than any other part of childbirth. However, the afterpains felt like mild menstrual cramps and nothing more.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

After Olivia, I remember it feeling just like bad menstrual cramps. No worse that I can remember than any of my previous ones.

 

[suzannen]

Gee, I honestly don't remember after pains with either of my kids. Could I have completely blocked it out? Just keep saying the mantra "healthy baby, healthy baby" and don't fret about the rest.