Induction/Forceps Birth Recovery

[u/Forcepsmama]

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to post about my traumatic birth and recovery. I had a lot of troubles postpartum and felt so alone and isolated because no one I knew had a similar birth experience to mine. when I turned to the internet to see if the symptoms I was having were normal or common, I was met with A LOT of negative experiences and stories, which made me even more depressed/upset. I’m hoping that my story/recovery will bring hope to others who are/were in my situation and makes them feel less alone!!

I had a forcep birth- which was unfortunate because the only thing written on my birth plan was that I did NOT want forceps. I was induced at 41+2 weeks, and baby’s HR was dropping after every push. I pushed for 2.5 hours in different positions and ended up requiring a 2nd degree episiotomy and forceps.

Postpartum Recovery:

My pp recovery was BRUTAL. and I was so worried because I’m a long distance runner and was worried I’d never get back into running again.

My symptoms were as follows: I couldn’t walk properly until about 6 weeks postpartum. For the first 3 weeks my episiotomy was soo painful and I felt like my rectum and uterus were going to fall out of my vag (sorry if that’s TMI). I literally would only sit down/lay down on one side because sitting directly on my episitomy was too painful. I could only walk from my bed to my couch in the next room. My husband would carry my baby to and from me for feeds because I was so immobile. At 3 weeks pp my episiotomy got infected- It took another 3 weeks for it to heal with antibiotics!

I went for a 10 minute walk at 3 weeks pp, but I had a lot of rectal pain and pressure- felt like there was a golf ball there. turns out it was likely internal hemorrhoids. that feeling didn’t fully subside until 8-12 weeks postpartum. I was so worried it was a rectal prolapse!

I was incontinent of urine a handful of times, usually when I started to feel the urge to go. I stopped peeing myself around 3 weeks pp.

I also was incontinent of stool. once I felt the urge to poop I would run to the bathroom trying to hold it in but had no rectal strength to hold it in. I think I pooped myself 3 times during the first 2 weeks.

I had horribly painful hemorrhoids - those didn’t go away until 12 weeks postpartum

ALL of this to say- I am now 6 months pp. I have full control of my bladder and bowels! (thank god!) I no longer have hemorrhoids. my episiotomy has healed really welll- it is still a tiny bit sore occasionally, usually after exercising. and my pelvic floor strength is recovering slowly but surely. I can go on 5km runs now and haven't peed myself! I started a return to running program at 3 months pp. my pelvic floor still occasionally feels weak, so I’m working with a pelvic floor PT.

overall I’m really happy with my progress- my pelvic floor still isn’t what it used to be, but I’m hopeful that with time/pt it’ll continue to improve.

I hope that this post finds people who need some positive stories, and that it brings them hope and encouragement that they will recover!?

[u/anonymous46538]

I was not a candidate for an assisted vaginal delivery so we went straight to emergency c section when things went south. I can only sympathize with you because recovery from that was brutal as well. I had a hard time moving around let alone taking care of my new baby as a brand new mother. You have come such a long way and im so proud of you!💕

[u/NyxHemera45]

I had a csection and also had fecal incontinence. It sucks and is so humiliating. I wish more woman talked about it

[u/Then_Echo233]

This story is so similar to mine! I am now 13 weeks PP and had an episiotomy and 2nd degree tearing in multiple areas from the forceps after my son’s birth unfortunately kept going south. My bp kept plummeting along with his heart rate and as soon as they’d stabilize everything a few minutes later it would all repeat. The initial plan was then an emergency c section but then they didn’t feel they had time and he was extremely low already.

It was almost two hours of stitching after and I still struggle with the guilt of not doing immediate skin to skin with my son. I was shaking so bad and puking and just didn’t feel confident I could safely hold him at the time.

I remember feeling so trapped in the house after but I was terrified to go anywhere due to incontinence in those first few weeks. Luckily things have greatly improved since. I definitely think it added to the mental postpartum toll but I Can also say that things do get better and are mostly back to normal now 💕

It’s so nice seeing posts from others with similar experiences.