Vagina 4 months after birth

[charlie13032017]

Had a fairly ok labour, was really quick resulting in episiotomy and forceps delivery (vontouse failed)

I've been hoping my vagina was going to go back to fairly normal.. but it's been 4 months and I've been doing pelvic floor exercises but...
When I look at my vagina, there's literally no hole, there's like a wall or muscle or skin or something that's in the way. Has anyone else had this after childbirth?
Don't know whether to book an appointment or not
Sex fairly hurts a bit at first but once into it after a few minutes it's completely fine.
I'm dreading if I get a period about putting a tampon in

Please help me out it's driving me mad, I'm hoping it's normal

I've had two kids with an 18m age gap (youngest is 8 weeks) and mine definitely doesn't look the same . Had stitches with the first one so of course that affects things.
It was so lovely and neat before! From speaking to other mum's I think it's common to mourn your pre-baby vagina.

You might have a mild prolapse, but if you have no other symptoms then pelvic floor exercises will be the way to improve things which you're already doing. But it might just be that a baby came out of there 4 months ago and things are still going back to normal there! Are you breastfeeding? It keeps your muscles relaxed I think so when you eventually stop that might help.

Two possibilities, the second more likely than the first...

It could be that whoever stitched you afterwards was a bit keen, cinched things in really tightly and there's now a skin bridge making the vaginal opening quite tight. If it needed it this could be operated on, but better to just do some firm massaging down there and use plenty of lubricant for sex.

But it more sounds like you might have developed some prolapse, either of the front wall or the back wall of the vagina. This is where the bladder or bowel bulge down (or up) because the delivery damaged the tough tissue previously holding them back. This can happen as a result of any delivery but more often with forceps. What you're (possibly) feeling is the ridged vaginal wall covering the bulge (probably from the back wall).

It isn't dangerous, and pelvic floor exercises will help, but as figtreetwig has said I'm afraid it's not going to go back to pre-baby state. Later in life it can be surgically corrected if you wish, although not a good idea if you might ever have further children. Ask to see someone if, despite pelvic floor exercises, you feel the bulge is coming out of your vagina or it's stopping you wee/poo.

figtreewig yeah, I definitely knew it wasn't going to look the same hahaha but I at least thought I'd have some sort of hole to look inside (if that makes sense) & yes, I breastfeed. Wasn't sure whether that would have anything to do with it either

DoctorMonty I was hoping it wasn't going to be a prolapse, but might go get checked. There's definitely no bulge hanging out, it's as if you stick the tiniest bit of the tip of your finger in there and like there's something in the way, if you know what I mean. Bit hard to explain. I still have pain in my tailbone which I'm putting down the the delivery instruments and I've been mainly constipated for a while to for 4 months (some days are better than others)

Sounds exactly the same as me which is a cystocele (prolapsed bladder). Forceps delivery. I also have a rectocele, joy of joys. Mine are both inside though i.e. not hanging out. Boak.

I've seen a gynaecologist and they're reluctant to do anything until I'm older, even though we are done having kids. The repair job involves meshing, which I have heard so many horror stories about I have decided I wouldn't opt for it and would rather live with what I have than take the risk.

Ways to manage for me are lots of fibre, pelvic floor exercises and weightloss, which all helped, but still have issues 2 years on. Sorry to be the bearer of not great news, assuming yours is the same/similar to mine.

Go see the doctor and ask for a referral to a gynaecologist if you can.

Good luck

Sounds like a cystocele and/or rectocele. Very common with forceps births.

I had surgery for a rectocele repair and it was a great success. They didn't use mesh either. Just popped everything back where it should be and sewed it all in place.

Pelvic floor exs can help but sometimes the forceps tear the muscle aaay from the bone and damage the ligaments to the point where exercises aren't going to do anything.

Depending on how bad it is for you, surgery might be your only route. But it's success rate is higher once you're done having kids because you don't have to carry the weight of another pregnancy on your repaired foof.

For me, it really impacted my quality of life in the end and wasn't something I wanted to just put up with or learn to live with.

Have a Google and see if you recognise the symptoms.

If you had a tear you might be able to get a referral to a physio too. Ask your gp.

Mine is unrecognisable to both me and DH It has been a big learning curve to make things work.
I had high risk pregnancies and I joked that my consultant stitched me up last time to prevent DH ever getting me pregnant again

I'd definitely get checked. I tore with my first and had stitches. I went for my 6 week check and mentioned to the Dr that I didn't think something was quite right. He had a look and sent me straight to the hospital. I had surgery that day to cut me again and restitch. Put it this way, I'd never have had any more children as there was no entry or exit! I was pretty much stitched completely up!
It's still a right state, my husband has said in the past that if I was ever in a serious accident and couldn't be identified, he'd only have to have a quick look at my fanjo to be able to positively identify me

Hi Charlie, I'm sorry you had a difficult birth.
Ask your GP to refer you to a pelvic floor clinic (or woman's health physio). There, you'll have access to a physio but surgeons too (urogynaecologists).
Pelvic floor exercises 5/6 times a day until you see someone.
You should avoid constipation. Ask the GP for some laxatives you can take daily (Laxido?).
The physio will assess your pelvic floor. She can teach you how to massage scars (if that is what is causing a tight entrance to the vagina) and generally guide you through rehabilitation.
Coccyx pain will get better with time but it may take a while. I'd invest in a coccyx cushion (not a ring cushion which can hinder blood flow to the area) at home to minimise pain and a regime of paracetamol 4 times a day (check with GP). No cocodamol or other opiate based drugs as constipation is a side effect.
The pelvic floor muscles take a while to strength (you should have felt an improvement around 12 weeks?). There should be another improvement after another 3 months and also after you finish breastfeeding (when relaxin leaves your body).
Finally try to get as much support as you can so you can rest. You've had a rough ride and people need to help you.
Hope this is useful.

Chiming in just to say I'm sorry you're going through this. It does sound like a prolapse (at least, I have a prolapse and that's what mine is like!). Definitely go to the doctor and request a referral to both a women's health physio and a urogynacologist. As Sunshine said, sometimes the forceps can actually tear your pelvic floor off your pubic bone. That's what has happened to me but I managed to do it to myself without the use of instruments 😪 If that's the case then you'll need a really good physio who knows how to handle and rehab that sort of injury.

If you use some KY jelly or similar and lubricate yourself you should be able to get your fingers past the obstruction if it's a prolapse. If it's front wall it's bladder and back wall bowel. I have just had both repaired and bladder hitched up but I am much older.

You should see a specialist women's Physio. Where we live you can be referred after childbirth on NHS and it can really help.

Some great advice on here. Just to clarify: prolapse repair does not require the use of mesh. As you note there is a big issue around complications with vaginal mesh. Slow dissolving stitches are used to hold the prolapse back.

Thank you for all the great advice!! Sorry I haven't been on and replied to all of your comments had s very hectic few days! I've got a doctors appointment Wednesday and hoping to find out what actually going on. I'm only 20, so wouldn't really be considered for surgery, which I'm kind of glad, because when I had my episiotomy, my stitches came open and it took a good month or 2 to sort it out and I was agony. I'm hoping I'll be referred to some sort of phisio. But yet again I'm also hoping it's nothing! It's just really annoying and I'm hoping my constipation has nothing to do with it too haha

I think I had a small prolapse after childbirth but with time and exercise mine recovered which I hope yours will, especially if you can see a pelvic physiotherapist.

Mine came back post menopause which is apparently due to the loss of hormones.

I also wanted to avoid mesh so had a sacropinous fixation. My bladder is now affixed to a ligament.

Good luck OP and do seek help if it doesn't resolve.

My DH likes to tell me mines looks the same but it's like someone "rearranged" the furniture inside 😏. Hope you get it sorted ❤️

I know this is an older thread but I’m interested to know how you are doing now OP? I’m in the same situation as you were when you stared this post and panicking a bit. Has it improved, were you diagnosed with a prolapse in the end?