To think I can’t use a tampon ever again after childbirth???

[minniemummy0]

I’m 6 months postpartum. I had a second degree tear and obviously had stiches for that.

I’m having my second period and no matter how much I try I can’t seem to get a tampon in right! I always used tampons before and had no problem getting them in. Very,
Very occasionally I would not put it in right and have to put a new one in again. Well it feels like that every time. I can’t seem to get it far up enough and I can actually still feel it.

Am I condemned to horrible towels forever??

Please don’t reccomend those cup things, I really have no interest in using them.

Slightly late but yes, my first couple of periods after DD it was painful and I switched to non applicator. 6 months later it’s ok, I think I have got “used” to the slightly different way they go in now 😂 felt like there was a barrier or scar tissue there or something which seems to have reduced (prolapse maybe?!).

I wasn't saying she should use one... just what works for me. Maybe I should have said no, tampons don't work for me and I don't like pads so I use a *, so not to offend?

Ive got a "mild" posterior prolapse after four hours pushing out an enormous head. Felt horrific to me and really traumatic actually. I hate hate hate pads and it really upset me having to use them.
I never expected any help from the nhs on this and am fortunate to be able to go private, saw an amazing gynae consultant who diagnosed the prolapse then referred me for eye wateringly expensive physio.
So at nearly eight months post partum I managed to use a tampon for about half of my last period and felt like a new human.
But it's sooooo shit and no one talks about this stuff and the nhs don't give a hoot (see previous big thread on birth injuries).
So OP, I would get it checked out, do your pelvic floors and have hope that it can get better but I feel your pain xx

Superdrug tampons are just as good as lillets and cheaper.

I can only use non-applicator now and I didn’t even have vaginal births.

This thread has blown my mind. I have a squishy tangerine inside that makes putting in tampons quite difficult. Doctor said it wasn't a prolapse, just damaged vaginal wall (described as a stretched hair bobble that can't quite bounce back). Could it actually be a prolapse after all?

2.5 years postpartum here Andi haven't even attempted it but I had loads of issues down there after birth which are only just resolved.

I can't use tampons either.
I have a degree of prolapse - not diagnosed by doctors but I know it's there.

I now use a meluna cup and washable towels. They are so so much nicer than horrible plasticky disposable ones.

Thank you so much for all the advice and discussion.

(Sorry for the comment on mooncups. I just really don’t want to use them but I obviously don’t mind people talking about their experiences! A thread isn’t just for the OP of course).

My biggest takeaway from this is I haven’t been doing pelvic floor exercises at all, I didn’t know you were supposed to afterwards, and to be honest I didn’t do them during pregnancy either. So thanks to those who mentioned these, I’m going to start because that can’t be helping.

Does anyone recommend those kegel weights or are they just a gimmick?

Sorry to derail slightly, but can I ask a question...

is it possible to have a prolapse if you haven't had a vaginal birth?

like many pp since giving birth I've not been able to use tampax, but am fine with lilets. however, I have wondered if I have a bit of a prolapse because I can feel a bit of a bulge. no continence issues but I sometimes, when I have a tampon in, I find it hard to wee, like the wee is being blocked from coming out.

for info - DD was an EMCS after a very long labour, 2 hours pushing, failed ventouse (no episiotomy). during the whole labour, I couldn't wee because she was in the wrong position and was blocking my bladder.

DS was a planned section for transverse lie, so no one went anywhere near my bits.

any ideas? thanks.

Gary it's my understanding you can have a prolapse even with a c-section, as the weight/pressure of pregnancy itself can damage the pelvic floor and other core muscles that keep everything in place.

Oh and definitely 2hrs pushing could have resulted in a prolapse even without vaginal delivery. I have a medium-grade cystocele and I think both my first labour (where I had to try hold off pushing for 2hrs) and my second pregnancy (where excess amniotic fluid created heaps of pressure) were contributing factors. I'd get it checked to confirm and to understand how best to keep it from getting worse - info is power (I say this having taken 2.5yrs to work up the guts to get mine checked out!)

I haven’t been able to use them since the birth of my first who is now a teen. Bad tearing yadda yadda. Ended up using pads for years then solved the whole problem with a Mirena - no periods after it was inserted after the initial period of bleeding. Who hoo.

@GinnyWreckin I've just bought mine from Cheeky Wipes - which I had already used for washable baby wipes really happily, so I confess I didn't do a lot of research, I just stuck with what I knew!

I can't use tampons since giving birth, they don't seem to fit well and leak. Cups are brilliant, why are you against them? There are so many different sizes and types. I can't feel mine when it's in, no leaking or irritation. And no smell or stickiness like towels!

nerfballs

thanks for that. interesting you said about excess fluid, I had it with both pregnancies. absolutely enormous comedy bumps, millions of growth scans etc but normal sized babies.

Great thread- I'm on second period and also feel like it's going around a corner now and gets uncomfortable quickly.

To those worrying about a lump/bulge inside esp SmashedMug - no that could just be 'vaginal wall laxity' not a prolapse. I had a third degree tear so was referred for physio on the NHS- my hospital is excellent, I was very lucky. I could feel a bulge and panicked I had a prolapse but it was just looseness of the wall. Can still feel it sometimes so am actually trying to see the physio again, but she said last time it is nothing to worry about. Just do your exercises etc. Agree with everyone else though, no one tells you about these things!

Have you thought of a Mirena coil for contraception? I had one fitted after DC2 and they reduce bleeding dramatically. In fact I had three fitted over the years taking me through to menopause. I had double prolapse as well.

If anyone has a bulge and any symptoms like stress incontinence or constipation, please do get it checked. It can be fixed! The surgery is a long one to recover from but it can help enormously.

Thank you, kiwi! I'll calm down a bit now