Incontinence :(

[namechange982745]

Name changed..
I'm 12 weeks postpartum and due to a nasty induction and a prehistoric midwife who ignored every preference I made for delivery, I ended up giving Birth on my back in stirrups to a back to back baby.
I had a 2nd degree posterior pouch tear (sutured) and a labial laceration - both diagnosed and treated by the student midwife.

Ive been having issues with both faecal and urinary urgency :( I'm ashamed to say I've had to ditch my knickers after wetting myself a couple of times - simply could not get to the toilet fast enough and then it seems my brain just couldn't hold it anymore. Ive also had some issues with faecal urgency and one or two episodes of minor incontinence if I have loose stool for whatever reason.

I know pelvic floor is going to be shit, and if I was 3 degree tear I'd have automatically seen a colorectal doctor. Nobody talks about this because it's fucking gross and embarrassing (hence the name change), and is causing me a fair amount of stress. Is this normal? Will it get better? Or should I take this to mean my second degree tear was maybe more than that and ask to see someone? Is there any point?

See your GP and get an urgent referral to a gynae - what you're experiencing needs to be checked out . Likely it's temporary . Which hospital did you deliver in ?

Hi namechange,

I'm sorry you're going through this. I also suffered serious injuries and went through a similar experience.
I was faecal incontinent for 5 days after birth (after the initial constipation) and very urgent for a while (at least 1 month from memory).
The sonographer thought I had suffered an undetected tear she classed as 3b. Later on the colorectal surgeon reviewed it to a second degree tear.
There's a good document on the MASIC Foundation website which says "Bowel incontinence occurring or continuing after the first three to four weeks of having a baby is not normal
and needs to be investigated."

You need to see your GP and ask to be referred to a pelvic floor clinic (the referral may take 4/5 weeks).

The full document is called ANAL INCONTINENCE FOLLOWING OBSTETRIC
ANAL SPHINCTER INJURIES AT Birth.
I'm looking after my toddler so can only manage a quick message but look at the doc, there's more info and call your surgery today.

With the right support things should improve. All the best

Hi again! Got more time this evening.

The info you need is SECTION 5 Mechanisms of anal incontinence of the MASIC guide (titled Anal incontinence following anal sphincter injuries at birth).
Scroll down the homepage to find the link
masic.org.uk/

So "is this normal?"
To some extent yes (bruising, stretching, overflow after constipation - it's never talked about/explained)
"Will it get better?"
Yes. A woman's health physiotherapist is the best person to guide you through different treatments. Intensive (5/6 times a day) pelvic floor exercises should be the first port of call (probably for 6 months). They may also offer biofeedback therapy after that.

You should definitely ask to be referred. The physio will really help you.
Like me you may not have a 3rd degree tear but it does not mean you shouldn't ask for help.