Sore 'bits'.....second birth

[luckysocks]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone has experienced similar?

My first birth was a forceps delivery with some tearing and an episiotomy. Before becoming pg again, I found it really uncomfortable at times when wearing a tampon (which I put down to pelvic floor as it sort of felt like everything was 'dropping') and tenderness at times.

Increasingly since becoming pregnant, it really hurts down there when I go to the toilet, and I'm trying to use it as practice to relax but tbh I'm worrying that if it's that sore going for a wee then I'm going to struggle when there's a baby making it's way out!

Has anybody had a similar problem and know if it's something I should be concerned about?

TIA

Just stumbled across your message and had to reply to say "snap, that's exactly me!" im 22 weeks pregnant and have a fairly constant dragging down below, almost like a tampon isn't inserted properly.
After having dd I visited the physio for months as my pelvic floor seemed to have dropped, though I didn't see much improvement in this time! The physio said that as long as I had no continence issues it should be ok.
However I'm a bit concerned now as I've a long time to go till the birth and if it's as bad at 22 weeks what will it be like at 40......?!
I've an appointment to see my consultant next week to discuss birth options, natural or cs. I think I'll mention in then and see what advice if any I get. I'll repost here with the advice I get.

That would be great, thank you I've just reached the point at 31 weeks when I'm thinking that I need to mention it to the midwife, but it's a few weeks until I see her again and I'm pretty sure it's not a question for the emergency number! It is worrying me a bit at the moment, though.

Hi, I'm 35 weeks into my second pregnancy. I had my DD1 in Feb 2009 after a 2 hour push-fest, which resulted in an episiotomy (14 stitches, DH tells me!) and ventouse delivery.

My perineum took 7 months to feel completely back to normal. I use pads when it's my timd of the month, so couldn't comment on your discomfort with tampons there. However, I have felt pressure since about week 25 in my perineum - particularly first thing on the morning when my bladder is full. When I push to pee, defo feel a bit of dragging. I wonder if it's to do with hormones/softening tissues/old scar line?

Worriedmum Thanks for your reply to my arnica post - will reply to that later!

Best of luck to both of you ladies and your births :) x

Just back from seeing consultant. She said that the dragging and pushing could be pressure on my scar but that it's more likely to be a vaginal prolapse, my pelvic floor maybe has not totally recovered from the last birth and the added pressure of the Pregnancy is making it bulge down ! Ouch!
She said if I still have hassle after the birth and if I'm not planning any more children then i may be eligible for a pelvic floor tightening operation ( funnily enough she said weaker pelvic muscles often run in families and my mum had that op a few years back!)
Until my pregnancy is over there's little they can do but if it gets worse as the pregnancy progresses I can referred back to the consultant and they can fit a vaginal pessary ( looks a bit like a rubber ring!) and that should relieve the pressure until birth.
Worthwhile talking to your midwife about I would think, youve still got a wee while to go.
Sorry it's another epic!

Thanks so much for updating, worriedmum - that's really helpful :)

Funnily enough, I was joking about having some sort of prolapse to DH the other day. Not that it's particularly funny, but you know.....

Did they mention anything about the birth itself? Doing some pelvic squeezing does help a bit at the moment and I'm surviving but I suppose I'm worried about turning myself inside out or something during the birth

The consultant said that I should be able to have a natural vaginal birth as far as she could see from my notes. However it will be noted that I have had a bad tear and could be at risk again and if I look like tearing they would make a cut before the tear actually happens!
As far as the pelvic floor goes then she said I should not make the damage worse with a vaginal birth so no worries there!

hmm they said similar to me, although without any specific reference to prolapse as it hasn't been diagnosed.

Thanks again x

Hi, I had a prolapse after my first DC caused I think by the forceps and ventouse.
Was hideous after too, really swollen and unable to sit down without wincing!
Whole of 2nd pregnancy I had the dragging feeling, but the birth was quick and intervention free and caused no damage.
Did loads of pelvic floors after DC2 to get things up together again (was especially inspired after realising I couldn't skip or trampoline with DD without a bit of leakage!) and am now 34 weeks into DC3 pregnancy with no dragging feeling.

That's really reassuring littlemiss, thanks :)