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Healing "Down There" After Delivery
Recovering After C-section and Episiotomy
By Katherine Bontrager
"Women who experience vaginal delivery feel differing degrees of pain," Dr. Wilcox says. "Some women may not feel that they need anything, while others may feel that they need potent pain medication. And some women may get relief from using a topical pain-relief spray in the perineal area, especially if she has stitches. Regardless of the source, moms should feel that their pain is being managed, whether that entails taking no pain medication home or an entire arsenal."
So as not to tear the stitches, most women will be encouraged to use a perineal squirt bottle for rinsing after using the bathroom. Sitz baths in warm water, using a donut pillow for sitting and trying to avoid sitting upright as much as possible in the first few days after the delivery can also help, Dr. Wilcox says.
"Once the pain subsides, some women may experience a constant pressure on their perineum (or 'feeling their center of gravity') when standing, which can last for many months after delivery," Dr. Wilcox says. "And many women may have trouble holding their urine. Practicing Kegal exercises is helpful in addressing these problems."
For Haas, the healing process began when her mother stepped in to help. "In the hospital, she asked the nurse to get me witch hazel pads, and I think they provided a cream to help heal the stitching," she says. "I brought both home and contined to use them. My mother also went out and purchased a Sitz bath contraption and a donut pillow to help ease the pain because sitting was so awful. It took another week or two to heal once I was home, but I slowly got back to normal."
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