Third degree tear

[hairytaleofnewyork]

Please tell me it gets better.

I am five days in and have suffered loose stools - and a little anal incontinence which seems to have got better.

I have also seemingly lost control of my bladder - there are some times when I just can't stop myself weeing and often it's first wee of the morning.

I suppose I want some re assurance
That this will improve?

I'm doing pelvic floor exercises but back ones are far easier to do - I seem to have almost no muscle control at the front.

:(

It will improve. Seven months on and I honestly feel like nothing ever happened down there. For most it is back to normal quite quickly, I understand.
It took longer for me as granulated scar tissue developed , but I realized things werent right and went back at four weeks. They cleaned off the tissue but i was left with an open wound a the stitches has failed, something i thought couldnt happen! I then had fortnightly check ups until it wAs completely healed at around 16 weeks. but it began feeling better a lot quicker than that.
I found it really upsetting and was convinced I would never be back to normal. I had absolutely no control over flatulence and it really hurt to go to the bathroom, even though I took laxatives. I felt like I had delivered the baby out the wrong hole!
Now, it's 100% like it was before. Go back to the doctor if it doesn't seem like it is waking correctly.

Healing not walking!

it will get better

i remember just having to stand up made me wet myself, i couldn't even 'feel' like i needed a wee

It will definitely get better. Keep the pelvic floor excercises going, even if you can't feel them at the front yet, they will get stronger.

Thanks everyone.

How long tip the soreness starts to get better?

I'm breastfeeding so I can't take anything very strong.

I had a 4th degree tear and it does get better.

The soreness will take a few weeks but you can get gel packs (boots or mothercare) which you can freeze then put on your bits for a while which I was told was very good but my other half never managed to find any when I sent him to the shop.

You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen together and this should help (that's all I had).

Super soft loo roll - dont use the cheap stuff.

Make sure you mention to your health visitor about the incontenance and possibly see your GP in the next couple of weeks as they can check everything has been stitched up properly (and will tell you to do your pelvic floor excercises).

I'm a couple of weeks further on from you and it does get better. Salt bath after every bowel movement (I had "gross" medical term albeit an accurate description piles too so cleaning myself was tricky) helps with the cleanliness/drying out of that area. Use a clean pad pressed against the stitches when you do have a bowel movement to stop you feeling as though everything is going fall out. Take Ibuprofen and Arnica for the pain/bruising. My mild incontinence did lessen after about a week.

I have got infected and on my second round of antibiotics (no more breast feeding for the time being) and I think it was down to being a prat and walking to dogs too much too soon. Chaffing/sweating in that area is not recommended so take it easy and stay off your feet/bottom if you can.

Took about 10 days before I thought yep I'm on the mend.

Forgot to add try using a hair dryer to dry your bits after a bath/shower. :)

Thanks again.

I am on ibuprofen and paracetamol ad well as a course of anti biotics.

I've used ice packs they have helped a bit.

I just want to be mobile and continent! :)

It gets better. Have an un mumsnet hug.
I'm 16yrs almost exactly down the line from you - the cause of my tear was 16 a week ago.

Can't say it's " like nothing happened" but I'm 1 normal delivery further on and and 16 yrs. can say I'm both mobile and continent though