Problems after episiotomy

[PinkElephant]

Did anyone find they had any problems after forceps delivery. I had an episiotomyaqnd tore also. Not only is my pelvic floor muscle knackered but also I have a really embarassing problem of no sensation when having bowels opened....its just awful . Please tell me this is just temporary and that the sensation will come back when muscles get stronger. I'm desperately doing my pelvic floor exersises and living in hope

I had ventouse + episiotomy and was OK. I wouldn't suffer in silence - speak to GP/midwife and ask for referral for physiotherapy and/or gynae. hopefully time and pfes will make matters much better, but best to line an appointment up just in case you need it.

How long is it since your LO was born? I had a forceps delivery at the last mo (prepped for CS). I had a fourth degree tear and still have the scar now (6 yrs later) right onto my 'normal' bum skin.

For weeks i couldn't cough or spit when cleaning teeth properly. I didn't recover fully for 4 or 5 months. Go to see your GP / HV immediatley - don't put up with it. I needed physio light box to help bruising / swelling.

Women are amazingly built and i'm sure you'll be fine. You have to see a professional though. I had DS2 2 years later no probs and my pelvic floor is fine now. It takes excersice and any help you can get.

Don't dispair! - we are built for this!

I also had forceps and episiotomy, felt like a bust balloon just after i had LO for about six weeks but things feel much better now (she is ten weeks old).

My baby is 4wks old. I went to see the GP after 2wks as I had terrible diarrohea and she just said it was my system upset from labour and it would settle. It has kind of but its the loss of spincter control which is awful. I may just hang on until my 6wks check.

I also had bad problems after a large episiotomy. You're still in the early days though. I don't think that it would hurt to wait until the 6 week check and let some of the bruising and swelling go down. I would highly recommend that if things don't improve that you keep going back though. Most women are fine and all they need is time to let things settle down, but if that doesn't happen, definitely ask for help.

I was very lucky that when I was on the post-natal ward the physio came to me with some sort of ultrasound machine to decrease the swelling - before machine I couldn't sit down, and straight after machine I could - so immediate results. So I don't necessarily think that it's too early for OP to be looking for some physio.

Gags and shudders at 'onto my normal bum skin'.

I am feeling that VBAC thing I planned going away fast.

You poor loves, its one thing having a tummy hang over but is it not worse having, fajno probs that need treatment.

Hi PE,

I really feel for you.

About 18 months ago I too had forceps, epi (but no tear) and found to my horror I had NO sphincter control. I could not sit down properly for weeks and driving was out of the question. I felt like I was the only person in the world this had ever happened to it was truly awful.

My back end has totally healed but I think it took about 3 months give or take to get back a decent amount of sphincter control. The muscles just gradually got stronger.

I think time is the best healer but keep in touch with your GP it might help give keep things in check.

Oh and I still sometimes pee a little when I sneeze but I take that as just one of those things you live with post childbirth!!!

PP

I had ventouse and episiotomy and had a few problems afterwards, with bladder control, sphincter control and (what I found worse, believe it or not) problems using tampons - they just wouldn't stay put!! It took several months and lots of pelvic floor exercises before it got back to normal, but it did after nearly a year.

I had an extended episiotomy 9 weeks ago to the same place as JossStick's tear and then a few days later all my stitches came undone. I had to have a blood transfusion and felt at the end of my tether, looking after my baby when even sitting/walking, everything was so painful, this in turn made me feel like a bad mum because I needed so much help from my partner and I wanted to do it myself. Now 9 weeks on, although I am still in pain on days, I can't believe how much better I do feel although I have had a lot of support from my health care team who were brilliant. I think once the swelling and bruising goes down it makes a big difference. My advice would be to keep doing the pelvic floor exercises no matter how hard and lay on the sofa don't sit. My MW told me off because she caught me sitting on it.