Vagina after labour?!? Help!

[crispysausagerolls]

4 weeks postpartum and it feels much looser - I’m very upset about it (I tore in several places after pushing out a 4kg baby and had several sets of stitches).

Will it get tighter over time? If yes, how long will it take?! Or is this it now forever? 😭😭😭

I've had 4 and I can't even remember feeling tight now. Seems another world away.

Do your pelvic floors.
I know vaginas stretch and can go back but I had stitches and have never been the same :(

It’ll get tight(er) but won’t be the same as it was before. You’re only 4 weeks, don’t stress about it.

Nottheduchessofcambridge

When will it start to feel better, even if not as it was?

It’ll be fine! Pelvic floor exercises and you’ll be fine. You’re only 4 weeks post partum. Keep doing the pelvic floors, honestly it’ll be fine. And if it’s not then get a referral to a Physio who will help make sure you’re doing the exercises properly and give you more help if you need it.

I would strongly recommend asking (insisting) your GP to refer you to a specialist women's health physio at your 6w check.

They can assess whether any long term damage is present and advise you on appropriate action. Wish I had known this after my first birth.

In the meantime, download the NHS app "Squeezy" and get doing your pelvic floor exercises.

I would definitely ask for a referral to a pelvic floor physio as I think this should just be standard for all post natal women. My physio explained that vaginas don't go back as tight as they were but you will notice improvement with the right exercises :)

I've only had one kid and one vaginal delivery but it feels pretty ok now. I did 16 sessions of pelvic floor Physio.

Ok thanks everyone I will start doing kegels and be patient

Do pelvic floor exercises! Will make a huge difference

I'm 16 weeks post-delivery after a third degree tear and all feels pretty good now.

Its early days op. I’ve not noticed a difference in mine after one birth. Had 2nd degree tear. Did Plenty of pelvic floor and keep very fit in general which probably helps. But it takes time to gain back to normal. Not sure how it’ll fare after my upcoming second birth though...

@crispysausagerolls my DS was 4.1kg and I had a third degree tear and was stitched up in surgery. I also felt a bit looser down there but 10 months on and it's all totally fine. You should have a follow up tear appointment so do raise any concerns with them or your GP and they can refer you. And yes do your pelvic floors!

Mine is a bit different to how it was before, wouldn't describe it as looser tho, just different. And sex is much better than before. Hope #2 doesn't change that!

This is all very reassuring, thank you - I was really quite upset earlier and now feel better!

It will tighten up, don't worry. You are probably worrying more than necessary - in a few months you won't be thinking about it. We are designed for our vaginas to expand but they do contract. Keep up your pelvic floor exercises, soon be back to normal. Not that you aren't 'normal' now, just takes a bit of time.

I had to be cut and had lots of stitches! It took 12 weeks for it to actually stop being a bit uncomfortable now I'm at 15 weeks and it's starting to feel back to normal. Don't panic it takes time!

Nope, never the same. Now all open and loose. I hate it. Had 8months of women's health physio too which has done wonders for my pelvic floor, but your vagina and your pelvic exam ARE different.

Yes things will probably always be ‘different’.

But do your pfe and you should be able to trampoline to your hearts content.

What everybody else is saying with pelvic floors. I probably felt back to normalish at about 12-16weeks pp. Now 20months on and I can't tell the difference, sure its in My head and the dh is too nice to tell the truth...

I’ve had 2 and had a second degree tear with my first. Honestly mine feels fine now, pretty much back to normal. I was slightly obsessive about my pelvic floor exercises after I had them both though!
4 weeks pp is still very early. Don’t hesitate to see someone if the problem persists long term though.

Don’t hesitate to see someone if the problem persists long term though.

^This. You probably will feel a lot better in a few months, but insist on seeing a pelvic physio if not. Wish I had asked for a referral sooner, as I have longer term damage.

4 weeks is quite early on in terms of tearing and recovery , I had a 9lb6 baby and was stitched front to back (nice) and it took ages for me to feel back to normal , the whole magic 6 week marker is a complete lie as well , please don't be as naive as I was and think at 6 weeks exactly you will be fully recovered more like 6 months for severe tears.

You will get there but don't hesitate to be examined if you really feel there's a problem there better to be safe than sorry

Congratulations btw

Vagina 4 1/2 months postpartum

Just need some advice please-gave birth nearly 5 months ago and had a difficult time delivering baby; I tore and was cut and it took an hour to stitch me up. Healing has not been great, took 14 weeks to start to heal after I had antibiotic cream to heal stitches and saw 2 physios and a gynaecologist. I had another hole down there (at 14 weeks) and gynaecologist used silver nitrate to fuse together. I thought this had worked but I started to do light exercise and now I am bleeding down there again after opening my bowels. I have also plucked up the courage to look down there and my vagina does not look anything like it used to. One of my flaps seems to have completely disappeared and the hole where the baby comes out is massive too. I expected it to be a bit bigger but honestly it’s now 10 times bigger. It’s completely ruined down there. My baby only weighed 7lbs 2oz so it’s not like I even had a massive baby. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I’d really appreciate some advice please! I don’t know what to do about it x