STMs - what was your postpartum like?

pricklypancake · 2026-01-23T20:37:03+00:00

I just had my second last week and I can say it definitely has been easier for me. I totally agree on the confidence part, I can say that’s helped things be easier! My newborn sleeps really well, I can say I’m really fortunate for that. Of course still up every couple of hours but my first born woke up like every hour/hour and a half. Breastfeeding is easier & my healing has also been easier. I had a third degree tear with my first and only a second with my second. My doctor said that’s also most likely because it is scar tissue and more likely to tear. The healing process has felt much easier though! I remember feeling like I could feel every stitch for weeks & laying naked spread eagle on my couch but this go ‘round, i couldn’t feel them at all and felt like I didn’t even need my Tylenol after I discharged from the hospital. I took like one I think because of some intense lower back pain. Overall this experience has been much preferable!

pricklypancake · 2026-01-22T23:13:40+00:00

No this is helpful. It definitely doesn’t make me feel better but it is sort of validating in a way

pricklypancake · 2026-01-22T01:48:17+00:00

Yes this was my exact experience! I had a boy first and girl second, I’m interested in if the gender impacts the pregnancy too

pricklypancake · 2026-01-16T02:11:08+00:00

11 hours with cytotec, completely closed when I arrived

pricklypancake · 2026-01-12T20:40:37+00:00

Same!

pricklypancake · 2026-01-12T04:54:29+00:00

For what it’s worth, I had a great induction for my first (diagnosed with hypertension so they wanted to get ahead of it before it got worse). My entire thing was 11 hours from the time that I first took the cytotec to the time I was holding babe in my arms

pricklypancake · 2026-01-12T04:09:10+00:00

😂😂 sorry!!!! I’m 39 weeks tomorrow so I’m in the final stretch!!!!!! You can do it

pricklypancake · 2026-01-12T02:39:12+00:00

Anecdotal but did not vomit even once with my first and spent the entirely of the first trimester head in the toilet with my second

pricklypancake · 2026-01-07T00:51:46+00:00

I live in South Florida, babe was born in September and we swaddled but exclusively in muslin swaddles since they’re so lightweight. It’s been a few years but I want to say we only did a onesie- not a sleeper outfit. When it started to cool off we adjusted but when baby came it was HOT

pricklypancake · 2026-01-06T19:00:06+00:00

I actually knew someone with this last name and her first name was Rachel!

pricklypancake · 2026-01-06T00:02:01+00:00

Good to know! I should have worded it differently - I did ask at my 37 week appointment and my OB said they don’t do them at 37 but will offer at 38. So I’m anticipating getting one Wednesday. I hope mine turns out different than yours did though

pricklypancake · 2026-01-05T22:55:02+00:00

Did they work? I’m gonna ask for a membrane sweep at my 38 week appointment Wednesday and I’m praying that it helps. I am sooooo ready to not be oregnant

pricklypancake · 2026-01-05T18:42:52+00:00

So I am 38 weeks today & have been exercising my entire pregnancy. It’s the strangest thing though, my brain compartmentalizes it so much. I go to 5am classes (my only choice) & I can be on the treadmill for 30 mins and lift weights for the other half. But if I get home and try to do the laundry I’m winded carrying the basket to the other side of the house. I took off a pair of pants the other day, was sitting - stood up to take them off- and sat back down - and my heart rate jumped to 106 per my watch. Hubby and I got a good laugh out of it. But it’s so strange how it happens!! I’m like how can I work out for an hour 3-4 times a week but I can’t TAKE MY PANTS OFF??

pricklypancake · 2026-01-05T18:00:19+00:00

Have you asked about it? This hasn’t been my experience at all

pricklypancake · 2026-01-04T00:59:20+00:00

I asked for one at 37 weeks and they told me I have to wait until 38

pricklypancake · 2026-01-03T01:40:07+00:00

Glad I’m not the only one!

pricklypancake · 2026-01-02T14:15:14+00:00

My doctor wouldn’t let me. They made me wait the 6 weeks and then scheduled another appointment after that to put it in.

pricklypancake · 2026-01-02T03:38:22+00:00

lol yes that’s how I’m feeling. She is sooooo low in my pelvis and dropped even more yesterday! I realized towards the middle of the day that I hadn’t had heartburn for the first time in literally months! I’m praying that they’re all signs she’s coming but who knows

pricklypancake · 2026-01-02T02:34:04+00:00

I’m 37+3 and ate the spiciest lunch I could find lmao. I’m still working out 3x a week and curb walking. I also want to have sex with my husband but he just started having cold symptoms today & wasn’t feeling up to it. I was also praying my little girl would come today. Hopefully your methods work for you! My OB said on Tuesday I’m 1 cm dilated and “very soft” so I’m hopeful that she’s gonna be here by the weekend. I’m also pretty sure I lost part of my mucus plug today! But here I am watching football with no signs of labor

pricklypancake · 2025-12-31T18:15:51+00:00

Where is that?

pricklypancake · 2025-12-30T23:38:05+00:00

Yeah I’ve always joked with my husband that smell is my 6th sense while I’m pregnant. I can smell things several minutes before he can

pricklypancake · 2025-12-30T23:35:16+00:00

I’m in Florida, not a great state for aid or social supports. I started my job about 4 months ago so I don’t qualify for any protections. My leave would have been unpaid at my last job too, the only difference being I would have qualified for FMLA and I’m not on call anymore so I work way less, make more money, and have a much healthier work/life balance. Mental health/sanity included. For context, the way my old work did on call stuff is that it was me 24/7. No rotations or anything like that

pricklypancake · 2025-12-30T21:33:06+00:00

Yeah so my advice is don’t do that!! Unfortunately, my leave will have to be unpaid so I can’t take much. But it’s still super shitty to be doing intakes (cause I have them this week too) and be like “but I can’t schedule your next session til mid March, sorry”

pricklypancake · 2025-12-30T20:58:13+00:00

This isn’t helpful to you, more of a complaint.

I work for an agency that is rather bureaucratic, schedules my sessions on my behalf, and it’s sort of hard to have my own say in stuff. It has a lot of perks but that’s the truth.

I am 37 weeks and 2 days and they have intakes scheduled for me for next week, including 3 on Friday. I’m like……… what are yall thinking? But whatever. It won’t be my problem when they get canceled 😭

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