Labia and vagina after childbirth

[HJL2018]

Hey all

So basically I had to have an episiotomy with forceps for my birth and I think the doctor basically cut or cut off my right bottom Labia lip/ the inner lip that covers the vaginal opening. So now my vagina is literally open on one side and nothing to stop leaking of discharge etc as I am gaping. Does anyone have any suggestions or have they been through this at all?

Do you mean the labia minora (inner labia) OP?

It’s possible for these to tear during childbirth and you can suffer both tears and an episiotomy unfortunately.

How long ago did this happen though? You could still have swelling and bruising distorting things. If very recent, give things a chance to settle, sit on ice packs when you can, and perhaps wait till your 6 week check to evaluate things?

It's more likely they've been moved. My vagina and labia look like someone elses now. It's very odd and I don't like it!

Hey, does yours still close the opening to your vagina? There’s a lip on one side and not the other on mine...so my vaginal opening is fairly exposed. it’s now 3 months pp so it’s all healed apart from that!

No. My vagina is a gaping cave now. Fugly. It's been almost 3 years so doubt it's going to get better.

I haven't looked (first baby 7 years ago and had episiotomy) and second and last baby 5 years ago and who was big and whizzed out fast causing a fair amount of damage that was repaired by doctor who looked concerned! I daren't look now you've said this!

I had an episiotomy. The stitches broke and it healed up 'apart'. It kind of looks like there's a piece missing. Maybe that's what happened to you too?

I had an epsiotomy with second degree tear with ds 3 years ago now. I still haven't looked because I'm terrified. It took 6 to 7 months for my scar to heal fully. Where they stitched me it didn't close properly and I developed a mild infection.

Course of antibiotics at 3 months pp. I was then referred to the hospital where they had a look and discovered I had granular tissue forming so the wound was not healing properly or in the right position. They cleaned it up for me and had to do a follow up appt. If it did not heal on its own they were going to need to cut and restitch. Thankfully I healed but it took ages. If you are still experiencing pain, discharge or if there's a funky smell I definitely make an appt with the GP.

Hope all it all goes well.

Hi Op

I entirely relate to you. I still have inner labia either side of my vagina but it’s less that what was there. A bottom portion of either side was no longer there after birth 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

I did have forceps and a episiotomy and a 3rd degree tear. So presume they had to do what they did to fix it up. It looks totally fine. Like any other vagina. But just not the one that I had. Have to admit it was very odd to begin with. Felt odd as well washing etc as it was just ‘different’

Because the bottom section of mine was taken away the bottom bit is slightly more open an therefore can leak a bit more than before. But tbh I’ve gotten used to it. It’s what we’re left with now.

I believe that if you have an episiotomy some women’s parts an inner labia would technically be quite low and in the way. So sometimes in the moment they have to cut through them. Us women are all different down there.

I’m 7 months pp and honestly I’ve gotten used to it. It’s my new normal now. So just give it time to sink in. They can’t do anything now it’s gone.