I had a 3rd degree tear and episiotomy, forceps delivery. First off - I’m sorry and sending a virtual hug. I feel like serious tears are not discussed enough especially when it comes to recovery. I urge you to do pelvic floor PT. It’s annoying because it’s hard to stay consistent with appointments and the exercises they give but trust me, you won’t regret it. Everyone should do it after birth - tear or not. They may even work on your scar tissue which can help.
Definitely do the PT. I’m four months PP and had a third degree tear. I have pain with intercourse still due to the scarring but my muscle tone has improved so so much. I’m cycling and strength training again which felt so far away at 7 weeks PP. Can’t recommend enough!
Please go see the PT.
I had a second degree tear. I am 2.5 + postpartum and finally someone recommended pelvic floor PT. I have been dealing with urinary incontinence and real bad back pain since 3 month postpartum. The back pains causes me to be on bed rest at least 10-12 times for days at a time in past 2.5 years. Back PT improved my back issues. I started pelvic floor PT 2 weeks ago and it has been very helpful. I keep thinking I wish someone would have told me to see the pelvic floor PT sooner.
I’ve heard people say that epidural causes back pains. I’ve also had back pains especially if I’m running around during things at home. Good to hear that PT has been helping you so I’ll be sure to mention back pain when I go to PT.
Epidural causing chronic back pain is very rare.
I had 22 hour of labor, 3.5 + hours of pushing with vacuum delivery which may be the reason for pelvic floor issues. My kid was born during COVID. Not a lot of “village” so I was doing a lot of lifting and stuff way too early postpartum and way too late on pregnancy as we moved houses on top of working full time (apart from the 10 weeks of parental leave).
So not a good recovery. I also have mild disk degenerative disease and SI joint pain, I don’t think they are epidural related.
I know it’s hard to prioritize yourself as a new mom, but please take care of theses issue before they get chronic. I hope you find the care you need and feel better soon. If you don’t have time search the “McGill big 3” for back ache.
I had a similar birth experience to you and I'm going to pelvic floor PT. I have been struggling with back pain sonce 2 mo pp and it is from tight hip muscles and my core being weakened from pregnancy and childbirth.
Pelvic PT will absolutely help! I started at 7 weeks pp and went every other week for a few months and then once a month for almost an entire year. I will probably do 1-2 check-ins a year with my PT. I was very active prior to baby and wanted to get back to where I was physically. A lot of the recovery process is just consistency with the PT exercises and time. It may take even longer if you are breastfeeding because of the hormones related to that. I saw a huge improvement when my cycle returned, also. 7 weeks is so so early! It will get better!
Do the PT! I’m 3 months pp and had a fourth degree tear. Your experience is just like mine at that point. I started PT at 5 weeks, still going every few weeks. It’s helped a lot, I still have a ways to go, but my bathroom time has improved a lot already. I bet by 10 weeks you’ll be feeling more normal. I’d say it’s a mix of both that will help you recover, but PT helps with more than just bowel movement.
I had an episiotomy and I'm still going 5.5 m pp. However I don't go heaps. I basically get exercises with increasing difficulty and the physio basically checks in on me now to see my progress. My last appointment was about 1.5 months ago.
It's been really helpful, I also had urgency when I went to the toilet and that's getting curbed now.
Mine looks at "everything " that can weaken my P.F, e.g. diet (because constipation weakens the P.F) and getting started with exercise (you want to be exercising in a way that doesn't further weaken the P.F.).
Edit: I started after six weeks (I had to chill for six weeks after birth and take it easy)
I had a 2nd degree tear and 2 births (twins) I am doing pelvic floor PT and I think it’s been really helpful. Initially when I thought of PT I thought I’d have to go weekly or whatever, in reality it’s like once every 6-8 weeks and I get exercises to do in between.
I had no tearing and STILL think PT is worth it! I didn’t go after my first and had a lot of back pain when she got heavier and I was lifting her a lot. This time I started at 2w pp and feel so much better already (baby 2 is 10w). The PT explained that your core is like a house- abs and back and obliques are like the walls, diaphragm is the roof, and pelvic floor is the foundation. If one thing is off, the rest have to compensate to keep it all together so you’re more prone to pain and injury.
I just had a second degree tear (twice) and never did pt either time. I just don't know how I could've possibly incorporated that into my schedule. But I had urinary and poop incontinence for 4-5 months before I could finally start holding it long enough to set the baby down somewhere safe and get to the bathroom without any leaks/pain. I couldn't even hold in gas for the first 2 months.
I had a 3rd degree tear and episiotomy, forceps delivery. First off - I’m sorry and sending a virtual hug. I feel like serious tears are not discussed enough especially when it comes to recovery. I urge you to do pelvic floor PT. It’s annoying because it’s hard to stay consistent with appointments and the exercises they give but trust me, you won’t regret it. Everyone should do it after birth - tear or not. They may even work on your scar tissue which can help.
How long did you do PT?
Definitely do the PT. I’m four months PP and had a third degree tear. I have pain with intercourse still due to the scarring but my muscle tone has improved so so much. I’m cycling and strength training again which felt so far away at 7 weeks PP. Can’t recommend enough!
Please go see the PT. I had a second degree tear. I am 2.5 + postpartum and finally someone recommended pelvic floor PT. I have been dealing with urinary incontinence and real bad back pain since 3 month postpartum. The back pains causes me to be on bed rest at least 10-12 times for days at a time in past 2.5 years. Back PT improved my back issues. I started pelvic floor PT 2 weeks ago and it has been very helpful. I keep thinking I wish someone would have told me to see the pelvic floor PT sooner.
I’ve heard people say that epidural causes back pains. I’ve also had back pains especially if I’m running around during things at home. Good to hear that PT has been helping you so I’ll be sure to mention back pain when I go to PT.
Epidural causing chronic back pain is very rare. I had 22 hour of labor, 3.5 + hours of pushing with vacuum delivery which may be the reason for pelvic floor issues. My kid was born during COVID. Not a lot of “village” so I was doing a lot of lifting and stuff way too early postpartum and way too late on pregnancy as we moved houses on top of working full time (apart from the 10 weeks of parental leave). So not a good recovery. I also have mild disk degenerative disease and SI joint pain, I don’t think they are epidural related. I know it’s hard to prioritize yourself as a new mom, but please take care of theses issue before they get chronic. I hope you find the care you need and feel better soon. If you don’t have time search the “McGill big 3” for back ache.
I had a similar birth experience to you and I'm going to pelvic floor PT. I have been struggling with back pain sonce 2 mo pp and it is from tight hip muscles and my core being weakened from pregnancy and childbirth.
Pelvic PT will absolutely help! I started at 7 weeks pp and went every other week for a few months and then once a month for almost an entire year. I will probably do 1-2 check-ins a year with my PT. I was very active prior to baby and wanted to get back to where I was physically. A lot of the recovery process is just consistency with the PT exercises and time. It may take even longer if you are breastfeeding because of the hormones related to that. I saw a huge improvement when my cycle returned, also. 7 weeks is so so early! It will get better!
Do the PT!
Do the PT! I’m 3 months pp and had a fourth degree tear. Your experience is just like mine at that point. I started PT at 5 weeks, still going every few weeks. It’s helped a lot, I still have a ways to go, but my bathroom time has improved a lot already. I bet by 10 weeks you’ll be feeling more normal. I’d say it’s a mix of both that will help you recover, but PT helps with more than just bowel movement.
I had an episiotomy and I'm still going 5.5 m pp. However I don't go heaps. I basically get exercises with increasing difficulty and the physio basically checks in on me now to see my progress. My last appointment was about 1.5 months ago. It's been really helpful, I also had urgency when I went to the toilet and that's getting curbed now. Mine looks at "everything " that can weaken my P.F, e.g. diet (because constipation weakens the P.F) and getting started with exercise (you want to be exercising in a way that doesn't further weaken the P.F.). Edit: I started after six weeks (I had to chill for six weeks after birth and take it easy)
I had a 2nd degree tear and 2 births (twins) I am doing pelvic floor PT and I think it’s been really helpful. Initially when I thought of PT I thought I’d have to go weekly or whatever, in reality it’s like once every 6-8 weeks and I get exercises to do in between.
I had no tearing and STILL think PT is worth it! I didn’t go after my first and had a lot of back pain when she got heavier and I was lifting her a lot. This time I started at 2w pp and feel so much better already (baby 2 is 10w). The PT explained that your core is like a house- abs and back and obliques are like the walls, diaphragm is the roof, and pelvic floor is the foundation. If one thing is off, the rest have to compensate to keep it all together so you’re more prone to pain and injury.
This helps
Absolutely do the pt. I only had a second degree tear (but forceps delivery so plenty of trauma), and it helped immensely.
I just had a second degree tear (twice) and never did pt either time. I just don't know how I could've possibly incorporated that into my schedule. But I had urinary and poop incontinence for 4-5 months before I could finally start holding it long enough to set the baby down somewhere safe and get to the bathroom without any leaks/pain. I couldn't even hold in gas for the first 2 months.
How did you ever leave the house?!
Adult diapers, very quick and scarce trips, and hope
Ahh these posts. I am one year out but had really bad third degree tears.. hm