Episiotomy and the look of vagina

[Theyarealltaken]

I had my baby 3 weeks ago. It was a ventouse delivery with episiotomy and manual removal of placenta as it didn’t come out naturally. Obviously had to have stitches after episiotomy. After a week and a bit I was brave enough to look at it with a help of a mirror and swelling (and hematoma which I had) has gone down nicely. The problem is that it does not look like my vagina anymore 😳 there is a part attached to the another part but it wasn’t before (no idea how to explain it) but it just makes it look a bit strange. At first I couldn’t feel any pain but now I have pulling sensation. Do you think it’s because my vagina is still healing or it may be how it’s being stitched?
I’m quite upset that I’ve changed downstairs forever and my fanny will never look like it did before 🥺

3 weeks in you shouldn't have looked!!
Concentrate on the amazing job it did and give it - and you - a chance to recover!
Congratulations!

Been there.

It's been 8 years now so I have no memory of how my old looked.

The only advice my mum gave me after giving birth was "whatever you do do not get a mirror and look" she had a similar birth to you and she looked and she says the image has never left her...I took her advice!

I also had an episiotomy and I remember it feeling awful for weeks and it was months before I let my partner near me but after all the swelling went down and it was fully healed it was fine.

I also made the mistake of looking not long after! It did heal fine though and feels like it did before now.

Never ever look would be my advice! I did about 4 weeks after a forceps delivery and 3rd degree tear and haven’t looked since (2 more babies and 9 years on) I did get a doctor to have a poke around once as there were weird lumps and bumps but they’re all normal and scar tissue/normal tissue that’s moved. It all works fine apart from having crap bladder control 🤷🏼‍♀️ Definitely don’t worry about the aesthetics of it!

I was the exact same. My episiotomy was infected too. 🤢 Try and just accept it, be patient, it takes time to recover. I was very impatient and tried jogging too soon after and it didn’t help! I did find Aloe Vera Gel and witch hazel pads (buy them already soaked or do your own) really helped.

Mine looks normal now, and has done since about 6 months. The scar was browner for a while but can’t barely see it now. (I always find aloe Vera gel helps with scars and stretch marks, swear by it)

As the other poster said, congratulations 🥳 your body has done an amazing thing!