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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

scar tissue after tearing - feeling worried

13 replies

newmummy222 · 21/12/2013 13:04

I am 7 weeks post delivery and had a third degree tear. I have had my appointment with the consultant and physio, both of who took quick look at it and said it had healed fine ( physio got my to cough a bit but that was about it).

Was just thinking about becoming intimate with my husband again but I have realised that along the scar line (underneath) it feels lumpy like there is a cord under the skin and a little bit tender. Is this normal/common? Will it ever go down?

I do have a tendency towards keloid scars and worried that that's what it is and it wont go away. I have made another appointment with the physio for after Christmas but in the meantime can anyone set my mind at ease? I am now to scared to have sex. Will I ever have painless sex again?

Also I was wondering about ultrasound to reduce scar tissue. Do they offer than on the NHS. There seems to be so little info online about it and even then it is only american sites.

OP posts:

AFergie · 21/12/2013 13:41

Hello ! Congratulations on your baby !!

I had that after my son. It felt like a lump and was harder than the rest. I got really worried and went to see the doc who said it was scar tissue.
It didnt really bother me so I managed to ignore it and now with time it has gone away.

Good luck xxx

Shellywelly1973 · 21/12/2013 14:16

Hi op.

I had a third degree tear after dc1.

It was many years ago & there was no follow up care. What your describing is very familiar and remember 7 weeks is a relatively short amount of healing time.

If you do nothing the scar tissue will improve but you could massage the area to help the scar tissue settle down. Also millions of pelvic floor exercises...

I promise you, you will have painless sex! Plenty of lubricant, glass of wine & doing what you feel comfortable with.

Best of luck.

alteredimages · 21/12/2013 14:24

I had an episiotomy with DD and also felt the scar was swollen and not right for ages. I went to three different doctors to ask about it, and they all said it had healed perfectly which left me as ir was very uncomfortable, I could still feel it was swollen and sex was agony. I felt mutilated and that I would never be the same again.

After about four or five months it was suddenly fine again. I think specifically with sex I was very dry and my anxiety made it worse. Lube is definitely your friend!

jumperooo · 21/12/2013 14:28

Borderline 4th deg tear here, felt scar tissue until about 12 months post partum

FlossieTreadlight · 21/12/2013 14:50

3rd degree tear here as well. I felt scar tissue as you describe for months afterwards but it did reduce. Sex the first time was a worry but ok (I waited much longer to DtD as I was so stressed about it hurting) and after that first time, completely fine. Look after your pelvic floor, share concerns with women's health physio (mine was great) and if you're concerned about scar tissue in a few months or if you feel too tight (tmi sorry) even with lube/wine etc see your doc to raise your worries. I found tearing like that affected me deeply (pardon the pun) but all is well now ...

Americanhoney · 21/12/2013 19:16

I had third degree tear. It was painful to have sex but I thought it was also nerves but after 6 months of "nerves" I decided to see a private gynaecologist who confirmed that I had scar tissue and that the tear hadn't healed as well. She did a quick operation (10 mins) under local anaesthetic to tidy it up and all was back to normal after a month.

crabwoman · 21/12/2013 20:13

Yes, and sex was uncomfortable for first few months. I had an episiotomy at the perineum and although they did a fab job stitching me up (you'd never know it was there) it just didn't feel right, but we got there in the end. By six months all I noticed was a dull ache in that area after sex.
I found this discomfort cleared up completely after I stopped breastfeeding at 14months, and got my normal cycle back (things were a bit dry down there for a while - sorry if tmi!). Lube will be your best friend, but do badger the doctor to get it properly checked.

Original poster

newmummy222 · 22/12/2013 13:00

Thanks for advice guys. Will see what physio says in the new year, been trying to massage which makes it more tender but I suppose will help in long run. If I can pluck up courage I might try and have sex before physio appointment so I know what I am working with!!!

OP posts:

Bodicea · 22/12/2013 13:01

Just out of interest American honey was that in the uk. Did you see a private physio as couldn't get on nhs? I have medical insurance but not sure I it would cover pregnancy related issues.

Bodicea · 22/12/2013 13:02

Woops have name away. Was trying to be a bit more anonymous doh!!

FlossieTreadlight · 22/12/2013 13:57

Just to add newmummy - remember you're only 7 weeks PP following a significant tear... xx

Americanhoney · 22/12/2013 14:09

Hi Bodicea, I went to my NHS dr first and she gave me some nitrogen/aluminium (I think) which I used but found it wasn't working (it was supposed to burn off the extra scar tissue or something). It did not work so I saw the gynaecologist privately. Our medical insurance didn't cover pregnancy or post pregnancy related matters.

Original poster

newmummy222 · 22/12/2013 14:17

Your right Flossie, need to give myself a it more time before I get over exited

OP posts:

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