Damage from a vaginal labour

[Lilonetwo]

I really don't want this thread to scare anyone but I would like some honest and balanced answers from people with experience of a 'natural' vaginal birth. Because I feel like damage after birth isn't very often discussed. (People often think, oh straightforward birth, no lasting complications, woman goes back to normal life. Which I'm aware probably isn't always the case?)


What damage (long or short term) did a vaginal birth do to you?

After both straightforward birth or a difficult birth

If you had a straightforward vaginal birth or a traumatic birth, did you have any problems; short term after birth, long term, with having sex, tears, incontinence, prolapse recovery time etc.


(I don't want to make this a VBAC Vs ELECC debate but for context this is the reason for my question.)

[Carajackanory]

Vbac
Straightforward natural birth. 3rd degree tear with 18odd stitches. No pain... even when peeing afterwards. Normal relations returned at 9weeks. Was a bit tight the first few times but now back to normal. No long term damage...dh says it feels the same. I agree. No incontinence or prolapse.
I feel I was lucky...dc was 8lb8 and a 2 hour labour. Out in 2 pushes.

[Lilonetwo]

Cara gosh what a contrast for you. It sounds like the 18 stitches () didn't faze you too much

[Steeley113]

2 vaginal births, large babies, 2 2nd degree tears. Easy recovery, no complications. I might dribble a bit on a trampoline if I’m not careful but I put that down to being lazy with kegals. About to have number 3 and not even worried.

[Vanannabananna]

Ds induces labour. He was 10lb 1 back to back and head unflexed. Episiotomy and forceps. God knows how many stitches. Day 5 stitches cane undone, infection, breakdown of wound. 5 rounds of antibiotics, step b, referral to gynaecologist for op to fix damage. Luckily healed after 6 months so avoided op. Contributed to mild pnd and massive bonding issues with my beautiful son but no damage luckily long term.

I’m 34 weeks with dd and seeing consultant on Tuesday to request elcs. I will fight for it if I have to. No way I am doing all that shit again, even if it’s just a possibility.

[gizmosslave]

I was induced. 4 days labour, forceps. Episiotomy and 2nd degree tear. Sex 6 week later. Some positions hurt sometimes.

[Sweetpotatoaddict]

VBAC- 2nd degree tear no continence issues etc. Recovery quick

Body still wrecked after emc with dc1, stomache overhang marked and some like abdomen. Still numb area on stomache also.

[scaredofthecity]

I had a very fast labour and 2nd degree tear. I had temporary complete incontinence but that got better after a few months. Sex was a bit sore in the beginning but I was more worried about wetting myself.
No lasting issues, can jump on a trampoline no problem!
Planning another VB in a couple of months, honestly I'm worried about temporary incontinence again as it was dibilitating, but I think the chances are slim. No way would I want a section, for me the risks are too high.
I'm sure that even with a tear and stitches my recovery was far easier than it would have been from a section.

[Lilonetwo]

I have heard fast labours tend to end with tears.

[Carajackanory]

I felt like I was walking on air even eurgh the 18 stitches. Honestly compared to the recovery from a section it was a dream. And I had a fairly easy section recovery.

[n0ne]

2 very fast, straightforward labours, babies out in 2 pushes first time, 4 the second time. Amazingly, no tears (due to being water births?). But definite stress incontinence, worse after the second birth. And I'm not sure if I have some sort of minor prolapse after birth 2 - things don't feel the same down there and tbh I'm too embarrassed to go to the GP about it. I know that's ridiculous.

[ShackUp]

2 labours.

DS1: 3rd degree tear (he turned at the last minute), lots of stitches with a spinal. It's never been quite the same down there since! He was only 6lb7oz.

DS2: quick Labour (3 pushes max), small tear, couple of stitches with local anaesthetic.

The 3rd degree tear wasn't terrible but I think I have a skin flap down there. I get piles quite often, too

[Frillyhorseyknickers]

VBac. Induced at 39weeks due to GD, 7lbs8, labial tear. He’s 23 weeks now and I’m still having issues with recurring infections and inflamed vagina. Sex isn’t painful but isn’t as easy as it was pre baby. I feel like I’m halfway along a journey back to “normality” by which point I’ll probably get knocked up again (so how bad can it have been, really?)

[TheNecroscope]

Three easy, fast straightforward births here, no interventions or tears. Still ended up with prolapses and stress incontinence. Didn't go to the GP for years but finally bit the bullet when I reached perimenopause and have just had surgery to sort it all out. Wish I'd done it years ago, the recovery is hard as you have to be so careful not to lift anything but it's pretty painless. Sneezing without having to cross your legs and without a hint of a leak is amazing!

[Mummyh2016]

One straight forward birth, did take 4 hours of pushing to get DD out though. I did suffer a second degree tear which personally I think is because towards the end I was that tired I was pushing when I wasn’t even having contractions - I think it could’ve been prevented. Midwife said I had one continuous stitch, I don’t really know what that means. It was an internal stitch as when I asked for it to be looked at on my day 3 midwife visit she couldn’t see it. No issues with sex or incontinence or anything.

[Lilonetwo]

thenecroscope so an easy labour does not necessarily mean no future complications. I did wonder that

[Tubbyinthehottub]

Induced, water birth, 6lbs 8oz baby, no stitches, no problems afterwards.

[Squashpocket]

Vaginal delivery, long-ish pushing stage (1h40m), 2nd degree tear and lots of stitches. No pain from stitches, but felt like they were straining and might burst when going to the toilet. Vagina felt like it was inside out for at least 2 months post birth and it was 6 months before I could use tampons or go jogging.

Doesn't look quite the same down there, if anything there's a bit less skin and flappy bits, kind of like getting a designer vagina lol. Sex took about 3 months to be ok and 6 months to be normal. Absolutely fine now. Slight bit of incontinence when coughing with a full bladder now I'm pregnant again, but it's normally completely fine.

[Lilonetwo]

Thank you for all your input. It's interesting to hear

[spydie]

Induced with back to back baby, ended up with forceps delivery in theatre with staff on standby for emcs. Episiotomy and who knows how many stitches. Struggled with recovery for weeks, ended up with PND, sex hurt until 10 ish months post delivery and had no sensation internally for about 18 months. Lost all sensation and urge to pee, think I probably have some kind of nerve damage. Oh and a torn hip cartilage from feet in stirrups (although I had an underlying bone spur in the joint which predisposed it to happening under extreme rotation of the joint), pain still after 2 years and a year of physio... I'm 17 weeks with no.2 and requesting an elcs this time round.

[Saz1995]

Fast labour, only one small tear which needed 3 stitches and was fully healed within 2 weeks. I was very lucky

[NoParticularPattern]

Induced (pessary only) 6 hour labour, 8 mins pushing. DD was 8lb 15oz. 2nd degree tear which has healed absolutely fine with no pain or incontinence, only 3 weeks on so no sex yet but I can say it isn’t the most horrendous thought on the planet so I’d definitely give it a go!

[CollyWombles]

4dc.

1st Labour: she was born with her hand beside her head and scratched me on her way out. No need for stitches, stingy when using the loo for a few days. Sex after 4 days, bit tender.

2nd Labour: Epidural. No problems, no tears or stitches. Sex after a week.

3rd Labour: Epidural. No problems, tears or stitches. Sex after two weeks.

4th Labour: Half hour Labour, no problems, tears or stitches. Can't remember when I next had sex.

I was incredibly lucky with all four of mine, the main thing I remember is after my second, I had excruciating after pain when breastfeeding. I didn't develop any infections, no forceps, episiotomies etc.

[scaredofthecity]

Sex after 4 days that's impressive!

[nuttynutjob]

Colly, it could have been uterine involution.

[MySockIsWetAgain]

You are absolutely right that it isn't discussed enough - in the public, in the medical literature, in the world. It's a "women'd problem" so they just have to "deal with it". I find the idea that "some amount of incontinence is to be expected in old age" horrifying.

But to answer your question: long and slightly complicated vaginal birth, episiotomy, loads of stitches. Healed wonderfully, a but uncomfortable for a while but not bad. The bruising hurt much more than the stiches. Can't see the scar now. Avoided sex for quite a while as I was just too tired; when resumed all well. I was obsessed with pelvic floor exercises; I have no idea if that helped or if I was just lucky.