Biking and an episiotomy

[Trekhawk]

What she said.
The words "biking" and "episiotomy" should not be used in the same sentence!

Hope you heal fast! If it were me I would wait at least 6 weeks for the tissue to heal completely, and then I'd take it real s-l-o-w....

Im with Lisa take it real slow. I have three kids and can list one episiotomy, one tear and one emergency c section to the list. I wasnt biking at that stage so I cannot tell you how long before you will be back on the bike. I did however get a great tip from one of the nurses and it was to dry the area after showers with my hairdryer. It really helped.

Sending wishes for a speedy healing process.

[xeney]

(WHY DID I READ THIS THREAD? I saw the title, knew I should not read it, and read it anyway. No woman who is eight months pregnant needs to be thinking about bicycle saddles and episiotomies at the same time.)

[mimitabby]

I agree with the 6 weeks!
that's a lot of stitches!
you've had a major tear. PLEASE don't be in such a hurry.

[Trekhawk]

(WHY DID I READ THIS THREAD? I saw the title, knew I should not read it, and read it anyway. No woman who is eight months pregnant needs to be thinking about bicycle saddles and episiotomies at the same time.)

Dont worry I know plenty of women who have given birth and required not a single stitch. I just wasn't one of them unfortunately.

[mimitabby]

yeah, right. i had one stitch for boy #1 and none for boy #2 who had an enormous head.

Like I said, this is exceptional. I hope you heal quickly, but particularly after your first born, there are some incredible inner bruising (felt like bone bruises to me)

[singletrackmind]

Wow, I never thought I'd say "YAY emergency c-section" but there you have it.

Take it easy already, you've kept up on everything so yeah, you might lose a little but it should come back quickly. Heck, being so sleep deprived you're hallucinating will affect you more than anything else anyway.

Welcome to the world of compromise and lots of giving. As I learned to say during the early parts, there'll be time for bike rides later, this is more important.

[Grog]

I have no personal experience on any of those matters, but I can imagine you're itching to go back on the bike. If a regular bike is not an option (and I would also err on the side of a 6-week period, but I'm neither a doctor not a survivor), maybe a recumbent-style bike would allow you to get the bike-muscles moving without messing up the healing tissues? Can recumbent-owners chime in?

[mimitabby]

Wow, I never thought I'd say "YAY emergency c-section" but there you have it.

Take it easy already, you've kept up on everything so yeah, you might lose a little but it should come back quickly. Heck, being so sleep deprived you're hallucinating will affect you more than anything else anyway.

Welcome to the world of compromise and lots of giving. As I learned to say during the early parts, there'll be time for bike rides later, this is more important.

um were you able to ride 2 weeks after your c-section?!?!

[singletrackmind]

Able to or wanted to??? I don't remember saying anything about riding again after 2 weeks? I guess that's when you were back on the bike? Wow, that must have been nice.

Staples were out and I was well-enough healed by then. I didn't take the pain pills they gave me. It wasn't great, but it wasn't all that bad either. I don't think I got back on the bike until a month after if that? I didn't get much support at the time, it was very difficult to get out on my own. Our first several months were all about the baby and where I could sneak a nap in. We did a lot of walking/hiking together until he could hold up a helmet, then we were off and riding.

Anyway, whatever I said wrong, I'm sorry. Best wishes tricanada, for a quick and easy as possible heal.

[maillotpois]

Dont worry I know plenty of women who have given birth and required not a single stitch. I just wasn't one of them unfortunately.

I had no stitches - only STAPLES!!

(C-section. You'd think I'd have good good birthing hips, but no. It's deceptively small in there give how shapeley it is on the outside...)

[Crankin]

I had emergency c-sec. with #1 preemie who didn't make it. I was back exercising after 4 weeks, with the staples. After son #1, I had a somewhat major episiotomy (don't remember how many stitches) and he was a forceps baby, too. I was back at the gym doing aerobics and weights after 3 weeks. With son #2, I was walking after 2 weeks and back to the gym after 6 weeks. As others have said, exercise was my "me" time. I considered myself very lucky to have a doctor who let me have vaginal deliveries after a c section and pretty much told me to do whatever I felt comfortable with as far as the exercise, since this was 25 years ago!