The healing continues and the lochia has probably lessened in volume. If you’re still in pain or need pain relief medication still, it could be worth mentioning to your midwife. You should not be in pain unnecessarily. You may also have reached a point where things are feeling easier, and the pain or limitations you experienced before may have lifted.
Parenting varies from family to family and there are no rules that work for everyone. No one knows before a baby is born what it will be like, or if they’ll be able to deal with the new situation they find themselves in. You don’t need to know in advance. You’ll find your way and you will do fine. You will also meet a lot of people who want to tell you how to do things. Accept the advice but only follow what suits your situation and the advice you feel is right for you. You are the best mother to your baby. Trust your instincts, but you may need support if you feel overwhelmed by worry.
For women who had a vaginal delivery
If you had a major vaginal tear, called a 3rd- or 4th-degree vaginal tear, or a complicated 2nd-degree vaginal tear, it is important that you are carefully monitored—involving everything from regular checkups, exercise programs or, in some cases, surgery. This will be done at the clinic where you gave birth, or occasionally in a special clinic called a pelvic floor clinic. You are entitled to this. Speak with your midwife at the clinic you visited during your pregnancy to learn more about what routines apply where you live.
For women who had a Cesarean delivery
Healing after a Cesarean delivery can take time, and it’s not uncommon to feel diffuse, numbness around the scar. Almost as if it were anesthetized.
This is because nerves were divided during surgery, so you may lose feeling in the area for a while. Nerves that were divided grow out with time and eventually, it will feel like normal again. Some even experience pain around the scar area because of this.
At the beginning, the nerves are new and sometimes send the “wrong” signals, so that a light touch can be perceived as painful. This is probably normal and how long it takes to heal varies. You can help the process with massage or careful stroking to “acclimatize” the skin and nerves.
It varies how long it takes for nerves to heal, but you should have the same feeling that you had before within one year after surgery.
Source:
- Janson, P.O. & Landgren, B. (red.) (2010). Gynekologi. (1. uppl.) Lund: Studentlitteratur.
- Kaplan, A. (red.) (2009). Lärobok för barnmorskor. (3., omarb. uppl.) Lund: Studentlitteratur.
- Myles, M.F., Marshall, J.E. & Raynor, M.D. (red.) (2014). Myles textbook for midwives. (16th edition). Edinburgh: Elsevier.
- Savage S. J. (2020). A Fourth Trimetser Action Plan for Wellness. The Journal of Perinatal Education. Apr 1;29(2):103-112. DOI: 10.1891/J-PE-D-18-00034