TMI question - reassurance following 2nd degree tear

[Leah1802]

Hi everyone! I'm seeking some reassurance following 2nd degree tear that required stitches. Gave birth 6 weeks ago. Pain from stitches down there gone completely. Going toilet ok, no problems with leakage.

Had some problems with uncontrolable wind from front!

Made mistake of having a look with mirror down below! All seems to be gaping open. Wondering if this was normal? Also wondering how a tampon will every stay in?!

Any advice greatly appreciated!
xxx

Also terrified of having sex incase everything opens up even more!

How long will it take to heal/ close, if ever?!

Did you look before? Has it changed in the last few weeks?

I had a tear, not stitched, not a pretty sight but it all works fine. Check if it is just the outside that is open.

Its just the outside labia bits that are open, sorry for the tmi. Definitely doesnt look like before, but didn't think it would all be gaping!

Sounds to me like your stitches may have come open, was it checked afterwards by MW? I think that's probably it for you, at 6 weeks it should be healed so sex will be fine but it won't go back together without surgery. Get yourself checked by GP if concerned.

Do you mean the wound is gaping open, or just that your labia now sit further apart?

The labia are apart. MW never checked it as I never had any problems with it so she said it would all be healed. I

Do you mean that it looks like the entrance to the vagina is wide open?

I had a second degree tear that went all the way up internally, my DS is nearly 14 weeks. I was too scared to look by DH said when we had sex for the first time at 9 weeks my fanny was gaping open, almost circular. I was and

By 12 weeks he said it had dramatically improved, the opening looked much more closed. Tightness during sex had dramatically improved by then too. It continues to gradually improve. Not sure when it will be back to normal. I haven't been game to try inserting a tampon but I think it would stay in now... Will try when I get my next period!

Don't worry it will get better, but do your pelvic floor exercises!! Get your GP to do an internal check and ask if he/she thinks you should see a gynae.

Sorry to say, but this is what happened to me after my 2nd. All healed together nicely inside but gaping a lot on the outside. It is mainly cosmetic though and didn't affect its function/sex/tampon use at all. Like you I didn't look when the stitches were done and only checked later, so think it likely they just didn't stitch the outside, like they had with my 1st.

Hey, I had a 3rd dredgers tear, torn labia, cervix ans vagina walls and thought I would never be the same again! Granted I'm 6 months post partum but everything is as close to how it was before as it can be. I made the mistake of looking in the early days and was horrified but all is well now. Have you been referred to specialist physio and have you had a follow up in the perineal clinic? X

Thanks everyone. Visited the GP. Said labia not together but it's just cosmetic. Everything else healing fine. Next time won't be so curious as to look with a mirror! x