TMI info qus about after birth pain, lochia, placentas

So these were the qus that were troubling me 3am last night. I have had 2 vag births, and will be having a c-section this time. Just looking for some personal experiences!

1. Is a mono/di or mono/mono placenta bigger than a singleton placenta? If so, does this mean more loss after (more intense, or longer)
2. Do you feel more after birth pain after a twin pregnancy? I know after birth pains get worse each time, and they were bad enough after no. 2, let alone if it's a double whammy from twins!
3. What about di/dis? Do they get more pain/loss because of the 2 placenta? (that would be hard to judge unless you have experience both di/di and mono/di I guess!)
4. Does a c-section result in more or less after birth pain or loss compared than a vaginal birth?
5. Where does the amniotic fluid go during a c-section birth? And BTW, do you know how/what amniotic fluid is? I was so grossed out when I found out!
6. Does expressing cause your uterus to contract the same as breastfeeding, or is it less intense? My babies will be born to early to try breastfeeding straight up.

Sorry if I have grossed out all the first time moms. After birth pains and lochia is not something I knew anything about before I gave birth, and I never expected it to be as painful/gross as it was. Not that it is even that bad, I was just woefully unprepared!

 

1. Not sure, never saw any of my placentas!(I wish I would have though!)
2. If you are speaking of the pains right after delivery, the spinal took care of those!
3. Not sure.
4. If you are asking about a c-section recovery vs. vaginal recovery, for me there was absolutely no comparison. My vaginal births(3 of them) were a cake-walk compared to the c-section. I was in much more pain with the section. As far as the bleeding, I think I bled less with the section.
5. All over the floor! Well some of it does, I think they try to suction most of it up. Amniotic fluid is baby pee!
6. I think it works the same way because one of the ways to stimulate labor(start contractions) is to hook up a breast pump.

 

I had an ER c/s after a 24-hr trial of labor with DS1.

Induced VBAC with DS2.

Scheduled c/s with the girls.

I did not notice any difference in lochia, etc. My placentas with the girls were fused, but because it was a c/s, I was completely unaware of them. I was much younger after my first c/s, but the trial of labor made it a harder recovery than the other two. I had an episiotomy (my boys had enormous heads, 15 inches) with the VBAC, and that was probably the most annoying thing to recover from for all three.

I had the least pain with the scheduled c/s. The worst part was that my spine is slightly crooked and it took about 5 tries to get the spinal inserted. That was quite painful. However, I recover easily and well from surgeries. I took only motrin after the duramorph wore off. I am allergic to oral narcotics, so I don't take anything stronger. For me having my wisdom teeth surgically removed was a much worse recovery than the c/s. I was nursing DD1 within 45 mins of my c/s. DS1 was temporarily in the NICU for wet lungs, so I didn't get to nurse him right away (he was like Godzilla in there at 9.5 lbs). However, that was also in 1991. Things have progressed since then.

 

I haven't had a c/s, but afterbirth pains seem a little worse each time. I think they bothered me most after baby #2, though, because I wasn't prepared for it to hurt that much more than the previous time. I haven't had another baby (yet) after twins, so don't know if it was worse because it was twins, or just worse from being my 4th birth. I didn't see the placentas, but they were fused and DH said they filled a big pan. He compared it to a huge roast in a 9x13 baking pan. My girls are fraternal (di/di, right?).

 

Let's see....Not sure on the mo/mo, mo/di thing. I know that I was told my 2 placentas were "huge". I didn't have more pain after them than I did with my singleton. But, I did bleed probably 1-2 weeks longer than I did with my singleton. Yes, I did experience pains with expressing/pumping like I did with nursing. Not sure on the c-sec. questions b/c I had mine vaginally as was my singleton. Good luck! I know how those 3 am thoughts can drive your crazy.

 

This was my first pregnancy so I'm not sure how that factors in, but...

My mono/di placenta was HUGE!!! Like bigger than my 2 babies combined. Of course my girls were pretty small at 31 weeks, but anyway I was amazed by the size of the thing. I did not have a lot of heavy blood after, but it's continued at minimal levels for a few weeks now.

I had basically no pain after the first week or so, and even after the first two days it was mild. By day 3 I was ready to go home. I am not sure if it was due to pre-term delivery but it really wasn't too bad. Just difficult to stand up straight!

As far as uterine contractions after birth, I started pumping within 24 hours and I definitely felt contracting and cramping. No baby needed! I have been diligently pumping every 3 hours since then (!!!) though I skip the middle of the night. My belly now three weeks out is fairly close to pre-pregnancy size, though it still has some extra "jelly" to it. I rented a hospital-grade pump (Medela Symphony) and I also use the pump at the NICU. It's been a pain but it's great to know that my girls are getting my breast milk, even if it's through a tube. I definitely recommend trying to pump if you are able!

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am getting more interested in the mechanics of childbirth with each pregnancy -totally fascinating! Does anyone else feel compelled to explain all about how twins are made to anyone who shows the remotest interest? I gave a lecture to the nurses who were doing my CTG this week - if they had had a pen and paper handy I would have drawn diagrams!
After the birth of my 2nd child, the midwife showed me over the placenta and told me what does what. It was cool! I will definitely be asking for a look at this one. It has caused so much trouble! Plus one peri says its one, the other says it's two fused.
Full marks to Becky5! I never knew it was baby pee til this pregnancy, and I read EVERY pregnancy book!
Just to clarify, when I was talking about after birth pain, I'm talking about the pain caused by your uterus contracting back down - like reverse contractions. But all bits of info are useful.