Urethral and vaginal pain starting 4 weeks after vaginal birth

[Chuf]

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what was the outcome. I am in an absolute state with it at the moment.

5weeks ago I had a vaginal birth, pretty quick labour and had 2nd degree tear and two labial tears. The tears healed and stopped hurting, and I have felt intermittent vaginal bulging since about week1-2 but was not too worried as this is normal and I think I also have been leaking urine too. However 1 week ago I started getting a urethral pain and frequency of passing urine. This has worsened over the week with pain now constant and spreads to vagina/pelvis sometimes. I feel like I want to pee the whole time it is so uncomfortable. For last 5 days have been on cefalexin for presumed uti but as not improving went to gp and they did a urine sample which came back negative for infection. I was told this was normal and do pelvic floor exercises (which I haven't been good at all as had so much trouble bf I had to focus completely on that).

I am now on strong codeine and parcetamol and still not helping, just feelin the side effects. I am seeing a private urogynaecologist next week as I can't take this anymore. 2 GPS have examined and can't see anything wrong apart from normal 'sagging' I can't sleep with pain/uncomfortable feeling and barely eat now. I have given up breastfeeding now as can't cope with that too. Barely been near my baby the last few days...

I will wait until I see specialist but I wanted to see if anyone else had a similar experience and what was outcome. I am presuming this is either due to prolapse or trauma during birth. Need some hope that this will improve.

Hope you can help xx

Also does anyone know why I would be fine for 4 weeks and then these symptoms kick in?

Hi... sorry I won't be of much help but wanted to give you a bump as you sound really down.

After my second baby I had pains in my urethra. I went to see the doctor about it ( I was about 4/5 weeks post birth) and they said nothing was wrong with urethra or bladder, it was most likely an infection in my stitches.
I could feel like something was stuck in it sometimes, like a little plastic straw? It would sometimes throb, sometimes just be uncomfortable, it was so weird. It hurt when I stood up from sitting position. It wasn't in my vagina it def felt in the pee area. It lasted a while, maybe 2/3 months?
I completely forgot about it until I read your post, its completely gone now. I also had a2nd degree tear.

You seem in so much more pain than I was in so going private is a good idea.
In regards to the breastfeeding, if it didn't feel right dont worry about it, you did right stopping, whatever suits you.

Dont let PND slip in, make sure you get lots of support, or asks for some help with your HV.

Best of luck x x

Thanks for the reply littlefrenchmummy sorry for slow reply I am new to mumsnet. Good to hear it improved for u with time. I have been to a specialist who says this is vestibulitis, nerve pain due to stretching of vagina, he thinks it should improve with time as everything normalizes post birth. I am not convinced though and finding it hard at the moment. I have been started on amitriptyline which is so far not helping, and now on stronger opiates too. I am conscious of pnd as at this rate it's likely to happen. The health visitor coming round nxt week. Hoping once pain control a bit better I will be able to feel better about it all x

You poor love, just what you don't need after giving birth! I wonder if your GP could refer you to see a women's health physio? I had a third degree tear and in my county you get referred automatically. They teach you pelvic floor properly and will not discharge you until leakage issues etc stop. Might help?

I had problems after my tear with the stitches getting infected and it made me feel like I had a UTI, might be worth getting a swab done and checked?

It will get easier, I know it doesn't feel like it at the mo but it will and like littlefrenchmummy said, don't let PND slip in. Keep talking lovely x