If you had a bad tear from labor

[calico]

How long did it (or the area) bother you? I am 4 weeks out and it is still tender and kind of irritated - is that normal? 

[Deleted]

Yes. I had a third degree both times. The first time I had more scar tissue and pain; this time around it was not a big deal but definitely still tender a month out. I did get referred for physio this time - you can work at scar tissue to break it up, but it hurts like a biotch.

[redpenmama]

I had a second-degree tear both times. I didn't feel totally normal until about 6 weeks pp with DD. With DS, it healed much more quickly and I felt normal 3-4 weeks later. It was way worse the first time around even though it was the same tear.

[lilybug]

2nd degree tear, was still tender at my 6 week pp appt. I'd say within a few weeks after that I didn't notice it anymore.

[indylady]

I had third-degree tearing and it took 8-10 weeks to get back to normal. It gets better!

[noodleskooze]

Normal. I didn't feel better until 10 weeks, although I think that's not normal. I think average is probably 6-8 weeks.

[dcn]

3rd degree tear, it was a good 6 weeks before I felt normal. I would get achy if I stood or walked for too long for a few weeks after that even.

[Yankees21]

Normal, unfortunately I was sore for about 12 weeks.

[Brie]

I don't know the degree but I tore and had an episiotomy. It was 8 weeks before it felt normal. Until then I'd still get soreness after exercise or just being on my feet too much.

[heygrey]

it was 8-10 weeks until I could sit, stand, and walk without discomfort. but, uh, in 6 months out and cried yesterday when we tried to have sex. tmi?

[kaycee]

3rd degree tear. It hurt a lot and I thought I was being a pansy. I went to my 6 week check up and she told me that I had retorn it and offered to restitch it. It took about 12 weeks to not feel the pain anymore.

[rugbywife]

I started to tear in the wrong direction.

Edit...hit enter early!

So, was tearing wrong, had an episiotomy, stage 2 but literally millimetres from stage 3. No incision pain that I can remember but hella sore in general down there so could have been 6 weeks of discomfort.

Edit again. I knew stage 2 sounded wrong. I meant 2nd degree

[chickadee77]

About 5 weeks. I was fine by my 6-week appt.

We haven't tried eex, yet, though. Eek.

[turtlegirl]

About 6-8 weeks. Had a tear and stitches with DS1.

[Deleted]

2nd degree tear with DD1 hurt for 7ish weeks.

[lilac05]

Normal, unfortunately. It was a LONG time before I even let my H THINK about getting close to me.

The good news is that it does eventually get better and gets better faster with #2.

[bowies]

I'm glad you asked. I'm 7 weeks out and wondering when I'll feel up to sex again. I had a second degree tear and while I've felt mostly better for a couple weeks now, it can still feel sore. The area looks normal but the feeling hasn't caught up yet.

[Deleted]

2nd degree - never had any pain or discomfort after leaving the hospital. I was really lucky in that regard.

[gibbinator]

I had 4 stitches from my episiotomy + tear. I didn't find it painful if I sat still in a certain position, and I could walk carefully no problem. I had to be very careful though.
By 5 weeks out it didn't bother me much he anymore but the skin in that area was still tight and tender. By 7 weeks out I felt 100%

[docholly]

I had a third degree tear with my first and second degree with my youngest. With both, it took 6-8 weeks to feel normal.

[jenn248]

I had a second degree tear and it was about 6-8 weeks before I felt more or less normal. That being said, if I did a lot of walking or physical activity, I would get sore, and I remember that happening as late as 12+ weeks.

[hocus2]

Mine bothered me until 6 weeks. I was told that sex would help improve it (really). By 8 weeks it was fine.

[mrsGreeko]

I had a third degree tear with my first that didn't bother me much after about a week. I had a second degree tear with my third that had a little raw section they couldn't stitch for some reason and it bothered me for about 3 months. Sometimes it's less about the severity of the tear than it is about how it was repaired.

[Alyssa]

I don't know what degree it was but it went up and down and that's enough right there.  It took a few weeks to feel back to normal, I used a donut pillow for awhile because it hurt to sit.  Sex didn't feel good until about 6 months pp.

[carolinagirl831]

Hmmm this thread makes a rcs sound much better than a vbac

[tigress]

I had a 4th degree tear. I think I took pain meds off and on as needed until probably 8 weeks out. It took a while.

[spk926]

I had a fourth degree and it was a couple months for sure. Definitely didn't feel normal at 4 weeks I know that.

Sent from my SM-G900P using proboards

[turtletop90]

Yeah I vote normal too. I had second degree and it was sore for many weeks. I used the boppy pillow more for sitting on than for nursing! lol

[greencrayon]

2nd degree tear... It started feeling better around 8 weeks. I'm 7 months out and still tender. I swear I can still feel the zig zag stitch where I got sewed up.

[h]

I had a 3rd degree tear with DS1. The recovery sucked. I was in a lot of pain for the first week or so (taking pain meds, etc.), then sore for 2-3 months. Sex was almost unbearable for a good 8-9 months.

I had 2nd degree tears along the old scar tissue with DS2 and DS3. Those tears healed MUCH faster and easier. I was sore enough to need pain meds for a few days, then a little sore for maybe 3-4 weeks, then fine. Sex was totally fine by 6 weeks.