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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Episiotomy advice ladies who have had them.

24 replies

kitten30 · 01/02/2011 14:45

Hi Ladies

I was wondering for those of you who have had an episiotomy did you feel fully back to normal after nine weeks?

I still feel like things are no where near being normal yet and I also have a real urgency with bowel movements ..in that if I need to go I have to pronto! Did anyone else have this problem and when did it resolve itself or did you need treatment?

I suppose I am asking is this a normal part of things?

In my six week check only the baby was checked over not me so I have no idea if I am okay down there.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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DuelingFanjo · 01/02/2011 14:46

now you mention it, I get that real urgency thing! I will watch this with interest.

ivykaty44 · 01/02/2011 14:48

yes, I was ok down there after 9 weeks. TBH I had sex with my new man at around 4 months and everything was fine in that department.

clouiseg · 01/02/2011 14:58

I had one with my now 12 year old...and from what I remember there was a lot of tightness from pulling stitches, very sore and yes it took a fair while to heal. I don't recall the urgency so it may be worth just asking your health visitor or arranging an appointment to be checked.

I have heard of pelvic/urinary issues after episiotomy but not bowel issues (thats not to say its not the cause). It may be worth ruling out any other underlying causes and at the very least getting someone to put your mind at rest. Imo we go through enough with childbirth so afterwards we need a little reprieve! lol

good luck x

eyebrowqueen · 01/02/2011 16:09

if you have a 3rd degree tear you get a lot of post natal help and urgency is taken v seriously. Sometimes if it isnt classified as 3rd degree you get sort of overlooked.I had an epi which became a 3rd degree and I had urgency because the cut tore into the sphincter muscle. So they need to check if it is healing and so on.

So def go back to your GP and ask for a referral to ensure that there isnt muscle damage (if you are really worried)

Childbirth does sort of mess you up for a while though and you are only 9 weeks. I had urgency til about 4 months and it's got much better and I did have muscle damage (whereas you might not) IYSWIM

good luck and do make sure you get checked too - it's really important though I am sure time will heal all

Metalhead · 01/02/2011 16:15

Things definitely took a lot longer to get back to normal than I expected. If you're worried and you haven't been checked over, go and see your GP. You might have to insist on an exam though - in my experience their favoured approach is brushing you off with 'wait and see if it resolves itself'...

MoonUnitAlpha · 01/02/2011 16:18

I was back to normal pretty quickly, within a couple of weeks really.

If it's still bothering you at 9 weeks I would go back to the doctor.

Original poster

kitten30 · 01/02/2011 16:21

Thanks Ladies,

Eyebrowqueen..how would I know if it was muscle damage..or how would the GP know? Would it only be from an internal or would I know myself?

OP posts:

ZombiePlan · 01/02/2011 16:35

IME I had no pain afterwards and after the stitches had healed I noticed no diff down below (aside from a thin scar, obv). Had sex when bleeding stopped after 6/7 wks and DH claimed he didn't notice any changes either.

In your shoes, I'd go back to the doctor. Best to get checked out - if you need any treatment, better to do it asap.

CuppaTeaJanice · 01/02/2011 16:40

Have you been doing your pelvic floor exercises to build up your muscle strength again?

I had problems for a couple of weeks (iron tablets causing runniness and weak pelvic floor are a bad combination!!) and a kind of 'heavy' feeling for a few more weeks.

Maybe go to the doc for a check up, just to make sure.

Original poster

kitten30 · 01/02/2011 16:55

Yes I have been doing pelvic floors. When I looked at it in the mirror I did notice skin there that wasnt there before so god knows what that is! I havent even tried to have sex yet as I am scared it will hurt or that it will be so baggy I wont feel it! It does feel baggier than before..does that go back to normal? Sorry for being so graphic.

OP posts:

eyebrowqueen · 01/02/2011 17:06

i think from a finger up the bottom and then if nec a scan. I have only had fingers so far!

I have skin there from piles that shrank

Baggy heaviness goes too!

Original poster

kitten30 · 01/02/2011 17:13

The skin I see is in the vagina. I really thought by nine weeks I would be back to normal but I am really worried that I may have torn even with the episiotomy..but surely they would have told me this? Its not in my notes?

OP posts:

Sillyoldme · 01/02/2011 17:18

Tbh it took around 6 months to feel fully comfortable having sex. Felt quite tight and sore for a while although the continence issues cleared up after a month or 2

eyebrowqueen · 01/02/2011 17:20

oh i see not the samE then!

9 weeks is nothing - your bits have had a right hammering

im sure they would have noticed too but def get checked so at least you know for sure

RufousBartleby · 02/02/2011 19:48

Kitten - I had an epis repair and had real problems with urgency, particularly bad for the first five months. I think this can be a side affect as they've probably cut through some muscles. Getting better now, but I am having physio. If it doesn't improve I would definitely head back to your doctor

Metalhead · 02/02/2011 20:25

My bits look different than they did before. And like Sillyoldme, it took me 6 months to have painless sex again. I did not expect it to take that long as everything had healed well, but there you go...

TheSecondComing · 03/02/2011 00:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

adcd · 03/02/2011 17:45

I had an episiotimy for a forceps delivery 15 weeks ago and completely understand your pain! I still feel sore down below (although it is significantly improved) and have had several courses of antibiotics. I had a check up after 8 weeks and my lovely doctor told me it was still early days so i wouldn't worry too much yet.

I too have the urgency thing, only to find that on arriving to the loo, it wasn't that urgent afterall! I still take movicol every night to keep everything soft and easy if you catch my drift.
It is very distressing but things will improve. Good luck!

Original poster

kitten30 · 03/02/2011 22:43

Hi everyone thanks for your responses. I spoke to a nurse today at my GP's whilst taking my son for his jabs. She said that I have probably torn during the labour as it was an instrumental (ventouse). She said to see the doctor tomorrow as urgency at nearly ten weeks is not normal and I may need a 'restructure' under a general. I am now terrified! I dont want to be cut again!

OP posts:

TheSecondComing · 03/02/2011 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

kitten30 · 03/02/2011 23:22

what was the healing like? I was in such a bad way after having him I dont want to go through that again.

OP posts:

TheSecondComing · 03/02/2011 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sparklyrainbow · 04/02/2011 15:55

reassuring to read some of this, I'm 5.5 weeks p partum with similar issues and yes, know this is early, but encouraged by what's been said :)

just wanted to add that I have a follow up gynae appt in April (so about 3.5 mo afterwards) and have been told that the timing is for a reason, they don't expect things to be 'right' before then {hmm}

sparklyrainbow · 04/02/2011 15:55

or even

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