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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Vagina after childbirth - question

25 replies

mycousinrachel · 02/01/2011 16:46

I'm 4.5 weeks after a fairly easy first birth. A small episiotomy which has healed well.

But a quick look at my vagina (stupid, I know) suggested that my urethra (which I'd always assumed was quite high in my vagina) looked lower and swollen. I don't think anything has 'fallen.'

But has everything dropped lower as a result of childbirth? I've got zilch stress incontinence, pain or issues. I do my pelvics regularly.

Is this normal or is it a prolapse? I've got no idea what it really looked like before

Thanks

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Lulumaam · 02/01/2011 16:47

do you mean your cervix? the urethra is not inside your vagina....

Original poster

mycousinrachel · 02/01/2011 16:51

Oh maybe I do mean my cervix...?

OP posts:

piratecat · 02/01/2011 16:52

you could be seeing hymen tissue that has stretched and is bulging at the entrance? I was pretty shocked by this extra bit, as i had been very neat beforehand.

your urethra isn't 'IN' your vagina? or do you mean you think your uterus has dropped down and you can see your cervix?

also, is it the upper or lower wall of your vagina? could be a slight prolapse.

MoonUnitAlpha · 02/01/2011 16:53

The urethra is a little hole above the vagina.

Everything does look a little bit different after childbirth though in my experience.

blindassasin · 02/01/2011 16:55

It's most likely to be the inside wall. I had this and went to the dcs a few months after the birth and they said carry on with the pelvic exercises then come back in a few months if not better. I went back and they said it was a slight prolapse but no actionn necessary.

It makes sex better...

Lulumaam · 02/01/2011 16:56

the cervix is at the top of the vagina and during birth it opens up and it never quite closes right up again, and that is most likely what you can see, and 4 weeks post birth, everything is certainly still getting back to how it was.
if you are concerned, you could get the GP or practice nurse to have a look

Original poster

mycousinrachel · 02/01/2011 17:03

Okay - this is the only way I can describe it so forgive me for complete inarticulation

When looking into mouth of vagina, have urethra hole above...and then just below at top opening of vagina, as if joined to vagina so not coming from the back or suspended freely is a bulge that goes back...if I put my finger in, it's spongy along the inner top of the vagina...

God, this is not easy to explain. Does it make sense? Maybe it is hymen.

What does the cervix look like if I could see it?

How would I know if it's a prolapse and will that affect sex?

Thanks girls. I've decided not to be embarrassed...

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Original poster

mycousinrachel · 02/01/2011 17:04

I just crossed posted with some of your responses...sorry...thanks

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edwardscissorhands · 02/01/2011 17:41

Is the cervix attached to the top inside wall of the vagina or is it separate? I've got no idea but I'd love someone to shed some light!

HarderToKidnap · 02/01/2011 17:49

Sounds like vaginal wall. It is very very common to have a bit of vaginal wall prolapsing down just after childbirth. You need to be doing your pelvic floor exercises, at least sixty a day in groups of ten (ten every time you feed the baby is a good way of remembering to do them). Once you are good at squeezing and releasing you need to start the "lift" technique (squeeze muscles as if it is a lift going up - pause on the first floor, then up to the second floor and pause, then to the the thid floor and pause, the descending, pausing and holding as you release the muscles). Cervixes look like a circular opening with thick edges, and if you touched it you would feel a very particular sensation - similar to when you had internals during labour or when you have a smear.

If you are really good about your exercises then when you see your GP at six weeks the prolapse will probably have gone. Good luck.

Original poster

mycousinrachel · 02/01/2011 17:57

Thanks HardertoKidnap

Does the wall go back into place? Or is surgery sometimes necessary?

OP posts:

HarderToKidnap · 02/01/2011 18:00

With good exercises plus time for things to settle back, it will almost certainly go back into place. Having said that, vaginal wall prolapse repair is a common and routine operation for older women who have had children years previously but at this stage in your life you can be confident that you just need to do your exercises and wait a bit and it will spring back.

Original poster

mycousinrachel · 02/01/2011 18:04

Thanks again. Will do exercises religiously!

One quick question - BlindAssasin said it improves sex! Is this true? Actually, all I want to know is that sex will be okay and doable...anxious about this

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HarderToKidnap · 02/01/2011 18:08

I don't know if it improves sex - I guess possible because the g-spot is more accessible?!!

Yes sex very doable, your partner probably won;t notice any difference in sensation, you may notice sex feels different (but not necessarily better or worse). Only way is to try, when you feel ready!

BertieBasset · 02/01/2011 18:09

First time I had sex after 3 weeks (foolish) it felt so loose and horrible I was quite traumatised.

I had a smear at 12 weeks post baby and they struggled to find my cervix as everything was so loose.

Even more traumatised.

But everything went back to normal within about 6 months for me I would say, I had a vaginal birth with 2nd degree tear and stitches.

PussinJimmyChoos · 02/01/2011 18:12

Am 7mths pg with DC2...hoping for a VBAC and was at a friend's suggestion that I should have an elective CS because 'once you have a baby, your fanny is never the same again'...

Still, at least she was being honest - which I prefer to the 'oh I was as tight as a duck's arse within 2 mins of birth and left hospital in my size 8 skinny jeans' brigade

piratecat · 02/01/2011 18:42

i am sure there will be much improvement in time.

when i look at the same place you are describing i have spongeyness which is vaginal wall coming down and therefore as my opening is larger you can see more of this wall. it's also part of my hymen, again you can see more of it as i have stretched. If i push it it does go back in but it's spongy and will come down again or you can see it again.

i was traumatised tbh, i have a 2nd degree aswell and many grazes. I have over time learnt to accept the change.

Nothing prepares you for these changes. We are all different tho and some people do seem to go back to more normal, some don't.

give it time. i wish i'd had all this knowledge yrs ago.!!

Original poster

mycousinrachel · 02/01/2011 21:07

With regard to the pelvic floor exercises - which I do a lot - if I now put a finger into my vagina to see if the muscles clench, I can't feel the muscles. But I know they're pretty good. is that normal? Not to be able to feel the finger at this point (4 weeks) after labour...? Will the stretched vagina go back to a more normal size?

OP posts:

Pannacotta · 02/01/2011 21:14

pirate is that something which can be repaired with surgery (ie the stretched hymen)?
I think I have the same thing, also had a second degree tear and stiches, wonder if this is the cause of it...

piratecat · 03/01/2011 09:28

it probably can but i wouldn't think it would be done on the nhs. It is pretty distressing, but my doctor said it's within normal, compared to what she has seen.

For me its very not normal compared to what i was before.

needcoffee1982 · 03/01/2011 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BabyAcho · 02/01/2019 18:08

Can nurses see when your waters hasn't broken yet?

So I gave birth at a local hospital on the 29-10-2018.
I had mid contractions that lasted about 10mins apart on the 28-10-2018,rushed to the hospital and spent the night(2-3 cm dilated). 3am 29-10-2018, nurse came and injected for "pains". 8am contractions came on too strong(8cm/s),but still my water didn't break whatever. Was rushed to the maternity ward, @9am. Baby kept pushing herself and going back to sleep,till the nurses at @13:00 decided to break my waters. So can nurses/docs see when your water has not broken yet?

mortifiedmama · 03/01/2019 10:08

Sounds like a vaginal wall bulge. Unlikely to need surgery, it may or may not go back to normal.

Sex for me has been horrific through to passable since birth. Couldn't describe it as good or enjoyable and in no universe is it better.

Stephisaur · 03/01/2019 11:00

@BabyAcho yes they can tell. Your waters are like s big fluid filled sac.

Some babies are born still in their amniotic sac!

They had to break mine for me during labour as they were bulging and they wanted baby out quicker.

BabyAcho · 03/01/2019 12:29

I wish they couldn't done it sooner. Atleast I would've been with my baby girl today. She was brain damaged(crowned in the birth canal). Was too tired to push her after hours of contractions, nurses didn't want to break ma waters.

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