Soreness down under...

If you have an episiotomy during delivery (when your perineum is cut to allow baby through) or if your perineum tears and needs to be stitched, you may find it uncomfortable to sit, walk, urinate or have bowel movements for at least a week after giving birth. Even if you don’t have stitches, your perineum may sting and be bruised or swollen as a result of pushing the baby out.

What you can do: if you have an episiotomy, your incision should take about 10 days to heal. Discomfort from a stitched perineal tear can take up to six weeks to abate, especially if it is a jagged tear. What can you do to ease the discomfort? “Take sitz baths – sit in 10cm of warm water – for a couple of minutes several times a day,” says Dr Sharon Phelan. Don’t soak for more than a few minutes at a time or you’ll risk introducing infection. And don’t use soap or bubble bath, as both can be irritating.

It’s also helpful to use a squirt bottle to rinse your bottom with warm water after you urinate. Also consider ice packs and, if sitting is very painful, use an inflatable “donut” or horseshoe-shaped nursing pillow to take pressure off your bottom. Some women also say that soaking cotton balls in witch hazel and placing them on the perineum for a few minutes helps ease discomfort.

Caesarean section

Recovering from a C-section presents its own challenges. “You are much more fatigued than women who deliver vaginally because you are recuperating from major surgery,” says Dr Sharon Phelan. “It can be several days before you feel you are out of the fog.” Factors such as blood loss, the type of anaesthesia you have and how long you are in labour prior to surgery if you undergo an emergency Caesar all play a role in how you may feel afterwards.

Here’s what you can do to help yourself feel better

Start walking:
as soon as your doctor gives you the OK, get up and start moving. This is usually within 24 hours of giving birth. Walking helps prevent blood clots, reduces the risks of pneumonia, reduces pain from wind (which can be quite uncomfortable after a Caesar) and minimises the side-effects of pain medication.

Watch for signs of infection and call your doctor immediately:
signs of infection include fever; foul-smelling discharge; elevated pulse; increasing abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding; redness and heat around the incision; and painful or difficult urination.

Conserve your energy:
do whatever it takes to get the rest and help you need – rely on your partner, call in friends and family, or hire a doula or nanny. You deserve it.

Constipation and haemorrhoids

Constipation can become a problem in later pregnancy and is particularly common following a C-section because the trauma of the surgery slows the intestinal contractions that move waste through the system. Some post-operative pain medications don’t help, either. Even if you deliver vaginally, it’s not unusual to go three or four days without a bowel movement.

What you can do: drink a minimum of eight glasses of fluids daily, more if you are breastfeeding. Also, load up on raw fruits and vegetables and other high-fibre foods, such as prunes and prune juice. If this doesn’t help, ask your doctor to recommend a mild laxative such as milk of magnesia or a fibre additive. Don’t use stronger laxatives or suppositories without your doctor’s approval.

Haemorrhoids, piles or swollen blood vessels around the rectum are common during pregnancy and may appear before or following labour, usually as a result of constipation or prolonged pushing during labour. In severe cases, they may need to be surgically removed.

What you can do: sitz baths and ice packs should provide some relief. Also, ask your doctor about using a non-prescription product, such as Anusol, which does work. Alternatively, try placing cotton balls soaked in witch hazel on your rectum for a few minutes.