Hole in scar - TMI alert

[SleeplessInTheBattle]

Had 3rd degree tear 5 months ago, and wound was declared to have healed well. This morning I've discovered a hole in my perineum, about 1/3 inch back from my vagina.

I was absolutely terrified of tearing at the birth and was in shock afterwards. Seeing this has made me cry . Has anyone else experienced this, and what happened?

I know I need to seek medical advice, I suppose I'm looking for reassurance from people who may have needed to have their scar retreated.

so sorry sleepless. no real words of wisdom - i'm battling with infected 2nd degree tears and adhesions myself and am not yet out the other side! but, yes, gp asap and get referred to a gynae asap. any sign of infection? in the meantime, salt water baths can't hurt to keep things clean. and cover it with fresh maternity towel/tissues when you do a poo. as upsetting as it is, check with a mirror each day so you can keep track of what's going on. quite understand why you cried - it's truly crap. big hugs xx

Thanks for your kindness cardamom. It's completely healed, and there's no infection, but it's either healed with a hole in it, or it's reopened in that one spot.
So upset, I still feel traumatised by the level of damage I sustained, and the thought that it's not over has really upset me.

There's a ragged bits thread here which is really helpful.

I had a third degree tear and was absolutely distraught when I had a feel a few weeks later.

Have a read of the thread - it goes way back, but some great stories on there. Also I'd go back to your GP and ask to be seen by a consultant.

I have a bit like that, had an episiotomy which split a lot more than intended and also ruptured previous scaring, took months to heal.

Anyway a bit where it didn't heal well and got infected although healed now it has left a quite deep indent.

Don't panic, go to gp if u worried.

Thanks Iggly and Louii. Yes, I kept declining offers of a mirror in the hospital, but did have a feel during my first shower and was totally appalled!

Am seeing gynae consultant soon about something else so will get it checked out. Did either of you have to be re-cut/stitched?

No I didn't. I asked to be as they'd sewn up the entrance too tightly but was baggy inside, sorry if TMI. Dr suggested leaving it for a few months to stretch. I've not had a recent feel so don't know what it's like now - I really don't like my bits now.

I had a 3a tear six months ago. To cut a very long story short I decided to be restitched and had the op 14weeks ago. Honestly the best decision I made. Get referred to a gynae specialising in childbirth injury. I'm in London and will sing my consultants praises for years to come if you'd like her details

How big is it? I have one about the size of a match stick head, nurse told me it's fine

Hi there,
Thanks everyone for answering. I'm not in London first1, but thanks for the offer of the details.

sunndy, it's about the same size as your's, maybe a little bigger (depending whether they're cook's matches or normal ). That's interesting that the nurse was happy with it. I would worry about it tearing through to my vagina, as there's only about 1/3 inch of perineum between the hole and my vagina.

I understand how you feel Iggly, I wouldn't have described my bits as an oil painting before but now they make me feel sick and upset.

I think she said it was ok because it had healed, the skin is made up of loads of layers and skin around the edge of the hole has healed fine if that makes sense? Although to be honest I would rather it wasn't there it's just one more thing isn't it?!

I think I got the hole because the internal stitches took longer to dissolve and they got in the way of healing externally and also my stitches did come apart (mw kindly told me there was nothing that could be done about it and that I should just keep my legs closed, although it will never look or feel the same again yeah thanks for that!)

Let me know what the gynae says as I would be interested to know

Yes, a MW in hospital told me to keep my legs closed too. (Although surely if we'd done that to start with we wouldn't be in this mess?). I assumed she just meant at the very beginning, I'm hoping I didn't actually pull my wound apart (vomit), as I sat cross legged a lot after my DC was born.

Yes, the edge of the hole has healed for me too, it's left kind of a tunnel through the perineum. Much as I'm horrified about being cut and restitched I couldn't leave it like it is now. When I can finally have pain free sex I'd worry about tearing through, it's kind of like a perforation, IYSWIM.

good grief! you lot are freaking me out...
I have just signed up to post reply as I sustained a 4th degree tear just four weeks ago. Funnily the books don't talk about them and childbirth stories rarely mention them.
I have had a quick peek but it was so quick I didn't see the full picture. Must bring myself to try again.
All this talk of recutting/restitching is bringing tears to my eyes. One mw said the surgeon had done a "lovely job" but now I fear for the future.

first DON'T LOOK!

I had to be stitched up after DS1, we split my stitches having sex to soon after . I was so embarrassed I didn't go to the Dr for weeks about it, big mistake!

Dr tried silver nitrate (very painful), antibiotics, and waiting to see if it would heal. Eventually I had to be referred as I was in constant pain. I had a laser Fentons procedure under GA, to restitch and clean up the scar tissue that had not healed correctly after so long. Absolutely would definitely recommend this!!! Even after DS2 it all looks fine down there which I was really shocked about.

My op was done five months after DS1 was born.

Iggly if you don't look, how do you know what to describe to the Dr??

I would say you must look! And keep looking to see if anything is healing or worse getting infected (redness and swelling).

Act quickly Sleepless, don't sit on it and hope for the best . Good luck!

I had a good feel every day. I don't mean don't look ever - just give it a bit of time as I was told it looks worse at first.

Oh yes I see Iggly, sorry I thought you were advocating never looking at post DC fanjo .

I'm glad I didn't look to closely at pre DC fanjo - don't know what I'm missing then

Bloody hell Rioja, hats off to you for getting down to it so soon! It's five months on and sex is too painful to enjoy.

Firstforthought, sorry this is making you worried. A fourth degree tear must be horrific.

Anyone know what percentage of women get 3rd or 4th degree tears? My MW told me "most women" don't tear at all, but I've wondered since whether she said that because she knew I was really frightened of it happening.

My tear wasn't too bad, it was the episiotomy which went to less than a cm away fro my bum! Then I tore sideways an inch and a half, that healed lovely.

Of everyone I know they all tore with their first baby, apart from my sister who had two stitches after a teeny episiotomy

I've no idea on the chances. Two of my friends tore like I did others got away with grazes

I think I tore because I had a long second stage and DS had his elbow by his face. Ouch doesn't cover it!

So because this thread had gone slightly tangental I'm sort of hyjacking...my episiotomy became a 3rd tear as dd came out arm up, like Iggly. So the reason its 3rd degree is it tore into the muscle of my, erm, bumhole (so there was the possibility of fecal incontinence etc)

I looked and was HORRIFIED as the stitches had come undone. Anyway - its mostly healed (took 2 1/2 months) and there is a small bit of redness but it's OK. I am the sort of person who has to know/look - but I don't know whether it actually helped that I was looking.

I ended up seeing a tissue viability nurse - she was very helpful as she looks at wounds all day long

The thing I don't get is that my tear goes sideways and actually doesn't look like it went anywhere near my bum. So how does that work?

it went sideways as they cut your skin in a j shape to try and get the tear to go away to the side and avoid your anal muscle, but the arm coming out tore your muscle to a third degree but the outer skin was already gone with that episiotomy so didnt run down to the anus, without that arm you probably would have just had an epis.

Sleepless, I actually took it in my stride and felt numb down there at the time was more worried about DS who had shoulder dystocia and came out arm up. He was grunting (probably from fast labour) and had to be rushed to SCBU. When they examined me initially under LA they said it was 3rd degree but later in theatre (had spinal) discovered it was 4th degree. I just wanted to hold my boy He was finally brought to me 6 hours after the birth. For days the events of that day all seemed to keep unfolding in my mind.

forgot to add, hope you heal fully. You must seek medical advice and I hope it something easily solved Sleepless.