6 weeks postpartum - How did you feel after forceps and episiotomy?

[Emily29]

Hi ladies, 6 weeks pp, had forceps/episiotomy delivery and I'm still really not feeling myself. Just wondering how long it took others to recover from this? I checked my episiotomy scar earlier today and it doesn't look right inside my vagina almost like a bubble? Sorry tmi. Also worried I might have some sort of prolapse as my vagina still feels heavy when walking. Just to top it all off I've been struggling with mastitis and blocked ducts for the last 4 weeks. Sorry if it seems like I'm moaning, feeling very alone at this point and like I'm never going to feel myself again. Thanks in advance x

Hi OP,
Just to give you a positive story, I healed really quickly. It was very sore for the first two weeks but I also had really bad mastitis (another story...) which I think must have delayed my healing because once I began to recover from mastitis I found that my episiotomy stopped hurting after a few weeks.
By six weeks it wasn't painful at all, but I did get a bit tired 'down there' when I went for a walk, if that makes sense. Just felt a bit achey.
By three months I never gave it a second thought and still don't. Scar has completely healed, can still see a silvery line if I look very closely. I was dreading an episiotomy but it was actually ok.

Did the feeling get better on it's own? That's how I feel when I'm walking
Yes, that feeling of your insides falling out went away in time - not sure how long, but I was definitely up and about properly after 8-10 weeks.

You mentioned pain in your urethra too - I had stinging for ages because the entrance had been torn... That healed fairly quickly too.

Everything just ached for ages for me and felt swollen and weird. Looking back I wish I’d rested more but I felt a lot of pressure to be out and about with baby in a sling making the most of dh’s leave etc. Won’t make that mistake next time! Hope you start to feel better soon and definitely get things checked out if you’re not sure it’s right.

As with others it took me about 6 months. Not fully the same down there but I can manage with it. I found when I stopped breastfeeding I noticed an improvement. Download the squeezy app, I used it religiously 5/6 times a day, did physio and also got a tens-type machine which was great. Best of luck op. It's not easy (I had an elective cs with no 2)

On the RTA analogy, that's exactly how one consultant described it to me! The shock to your body is immense. I had an easier recovery with my elcs 😢

I gave birth 6 weeks ago to my first child had an assisted birth. I'm still experiencing heavy bleeding, I'm too scared to look at my episiotomy scar. I can also feel the bubble. Ive just been taking it easy. Were living with DH parents until our house is ready for Christmas. Mentally I've been exhausted living with them.

Absolutely normal to not feel completely healed at 6 weeks in my opinion! I had a 3rd degree tear and although I physically healed quickly with no complications, I didn't feel "normal" down there for at least 7 or 8 months. Also had a bit of pain with sex for almost a year. All back to normal now though. Your body has been through a lot and recovery does take time.

No harm asking your gp to take a look at your stitches though, just for your peace of mind!

10 years and 6 gynaes in and still not sorted.

Does anyone know what is actually cut apart from skin in an episiotomy ? Is it tissue & muscle ?

Depends which direction thymes make the cut. UK tends to be diagonal into muscle. Mine was cut downwards between the muscles (part of the reason it’s still not fixed is because the muscles then went into spasm and stopped the scar from knitting together).

Just to give an update, the GP said I don't have a prolapse which I'm pleased about but still surprised it can feel this heavy/like my vagina is falling out without one!
The bubble area on the stitches/scarring is apparently just how it's healing and how it was cut/sutured back together.. this should go down as time goes on.
She recommended Epsom salt baths to help the healing so I've ordered some of that!
Numbness is caused by nerve damage from the episiotomy but eventually that should resolve/improve itself!
I'm still considering seeing a women's physio to help with the recovery.
The GP said I need to give it another 6 weeks really and see how I'm feeling then, but from reading all your responses it seems like most people are feeling more of themselves again after 6 months.

Thanks again for everyone's responses x

Hi @Emily29 I was just wondering how you are feeling now? I am 6 weeks pp and could have written your post.
I feel like I can't stand for too long and can't walk the dog which is really getting to me.
It is reassuring to know it's relatively normal it is just hard not knowing when it will feel better. Did you find anything helped speed up recovery? Thanks

6 weeks pp was when I started to realise the extent of the damage done. The swelling had subsided and the stitches healed but the pain, incontinence, nerve damage were just getting started. It took 18 months before I was anywhere near back to 'ok', 'normal' took 4 years!

@Dilemmmmma how did you get back to feeling normal again? Was it just a matter of time for everything to fully heal?

@AnxiousFTM no, it became apparent that things weren't going to get better on their own so I had 18 months of support from a women's health physio. It was hard work and really embarrassing but worth every single penny. She changed my life.

If OP comes back... if it still feels heavy push your GP to refer you for Women’s physio and possibly a urogynaecologist appointment.

I had Episiotomy and forceps delivery too and just wanted to add that I kept healing and improving at the two year mark. There was a big leap in my healing my when I stopped breastfeeding at 1 year post partum. Good luck op.

I saw a women’s physio via nhs and it was she I pushed to get me to a UG consultant.

I then went private, women’s physio, UG consultant for check ups, and a lot of Pilates... I’m fine now, child is 5!

Congratulations! - and don’t despair, healing continues for a very long time xxx

I had forceps and episiotomy and I remember being out and about as normal around my 6 week GP check feeling absolutely fine. I don't think I had any lingering soreness or anything by that point.

Counting myself extremely lucky after reading this thread, I didn't realise people suffered for months with it!

@FlapJackered feeling soo much better than what I was when I posted this!! Can still feel heavy when I'm walking but no where near as bad, I'm booked in to see a women's physio soon. I started to feel an improvement around 10-12 weeks postpartum, I made sure I was doing pelvic floor exercises 3 x daily and also going out on walks seemed to help too I think it helped strengthen everything up.
Hang in there mama, it's so hard to begin with. You've got this! X

@Emily29 thanks so much for replying, that is really reassuring! I might try and find a women's physio too. I will try and get out for some short walks, the HV thought I might have overdone it early which may have made it worse so it is difficult to know how much exercise to do.
That's great you're feeling better! Thanks again. X

@Emily29

Hello! I just wanted to ask how are you feeling now? Especially regarding the urethra? I too feel the same and 9 weeks postpartum even though I’ve told my GP about it.

[quote girlmumoftwo]@Emily29

Hello! I just wanted to ask how are you feeling now? Especially regarding the urethra? I too feel the same and 9 weeks postpartum even though I’ve told my GP about it.[/quote]
I'm sorry I didn't reply to this sooner - I've just come back on here and seen your message! Hope you're feeling better now?

Can I ask OP how long it took for you to be able to sit comfortably? Ordered a donut cushion because I can’t even sit in the car and I’m 5 weeks pp wondering how on earth I’ll sit in the GPS chair at my check. Feel so low like it’ll never get better

I'm a few days into recovery of a episiotomy and third degree tear. Any tips or company on this journey are very much appreciated!!

@MrsTrue

Hire a valley cushion, don't lift anything heavier than your baby, sit and bounce on a yoga ball rather than walk around if your baby needs movement to settle... and expect things to take time to feel anything close to normal.

Thank you - that cushion looks amazing. Ive also been recommended to use Epsom salts by my midwife, and a little bit of witch hazel spray to help with bruising (bit not too much as I don't want to encourage stitches to disappear to quickly).

I've got high hopes the pillow helps with comfort levels! 💋

@Ihaveoflate Sorry, did not intent to have the kiss there! 😅