Definitely TMI Thread - Post-Baby First Look Down Below

[PhieEl06]

I had my DD 5 weeks ago, this morning I took my first look down below in a mirror & well I'm horrified at what I saw.
When I gave birth the midwife told me I had a 1st degree tear which didn't need stitches on my perineum & 4 grazes on my inner labia (2 either side).
Around two weeks post-birth the left side grazes were still agony whenever I went to the toilet for a wee & looked slightly swollen from up above, I just thought they may be infected so I mentioned it to my midwife & she said to just make sure I kept the area clean & dry & it would right itself. Well I thought it did, it stopped hurting as much anyway. Today in the shower I looked down to that region & noticed the left side still looked a little red & swollen, so afterwards I sat spread-legged in front of the mirror & was horrified at what I saw. I understand that your body changes during pregnancy & childbirth especially down there but erm well my left side of my inner labia is now in two parts as if it tore as well, this explains it still being sore two weeks after but I don't get why it wasn't picked up & now well it's healed in two parts & I'm so embarrassed of it.
I guess the point of my post is; is it possible for it to have been missed because I was so swollen when the midwife checked me over about an hour after birth? Is there anything I can do or have done about it? I know it's only cosmetic but I now feel horrified by my own body!

Oh I didnt want to leave you unanswered. Tbh you are a braver woman than I. 4 and a half years later I am yet to brave a mirror. I had a LOT of tearing... some things I think are best not to know.

This really is a minor cosmetic thing and I very much doubt anyone other than you would notice.

I had third degree tears I looked once 18 month later and I've never looked again!

It's really early days still, give yourself time to heal properly. No one will notice or care and as long as it doesn't hurt still once everything is healed properly, does it really matter?

I suggest you go and see your GP and say what you put on your message. They can take a look for you and give you a sense of what is just healing, or if something needs sorting out.

I went at 4 months after I felt like something had torn again and it was wonderfully reassuring, and also the GP picked up a mild infection and gave me some cream to sort it out early.

FWIW, I had a fairly major episiotomy and impressive bruising and it probably was about 6 months before I was fully comfortable again, and a bit longer (a year?) for everything to look moreorless right - of course there is still a scar, but it has faded loads now, and I have no discomfort at all.

I don't think it's worth suffering and worrying about down there just because it is down there...and if there is damage, it can get put right. I would imagine getting it checked out sooner rather than later is a good idea.

Best wishes
x

Oh, poor you. Please get it checked out - they should be able to fix it.

I haven't dared look at my 3rd degree tear after 20 months. And I had an operation last year to 'widen' me as they'd sewn me too tightly Still hurts like fuck and lots of lumpy bits I refuse to let DH have a look

I'm hoping, with the passage of time, things will soften out. Fingers crossed for you, too OP

I was cut sideways with DS so had a split in one labia where the stitches fell out too early. At first one side of the split was so swollen it looked like a small testicle

it is now a barely noticeable 'chink' at the bottom of one labia and I seem to be the only one that can notice it. Go see your GP but I'm sure it's fine

Definitely go to the doctor.

Just because it's a childbirth injury it doesn't mean you should have to go around with a labia in 2 parts!

Congrats on your new baby, OP