Trouble holding in gas after childbirth

[Hann376]

I’m 5 weeks postpartum after forceps delivery with episiotomy and another small second degree tear - the consultant assured me the episiotomy hadn’t caused a third degree tear that extended to the back passage (as ironically this was one of my biggest fears of childbirth as I was worried about fecal incontinence).

Ive had trouble holding in wind since giving birth - I have been doing my pelvic floor exercises as often as I remember (probably only managing once a day) but am a bit worried as I feel like this shouldn’t still be an issue this long after giving birth. It’s not too bad now as I’ve only let one slip in front of family or friends so no big deal but I’m terrified about still having this issue when I have to go back to work after 8 months!

Has anyone experienced this and will it get better??

Hiya and congrats on your baby!
I'm 6 months pp and also had a forceps delivery, but I ended up with a 3rd degree tear that was fixed up in theatre.
I think you should definitely get this checked out. I was still having your issue 5w after the birth, but as I say I had an identified 3DT. Are you still under the midwives? I believe you are until 6 weeks pp. You need to tell every HCP you see about this and don't let them brush you off telling you it is normal. Hopefully it's nothing, but if something has been missed the outcome will be much better the earlier it is spotted. You might need an endoanal scan, which is not nice, but the best way to spot any defects.

Honestly at 5w PP this sounds normal to me. I was definitely having this issue still around then after both my first and second births which were both ventouse with episiotomies and some degree of wound breakdown both times too. You can tell your GP about it at your postpartum check there if you're still experiencing it. If you're still under community midwifery care then tell your midwife too. But it's likely time is the healer for this, it was for me both times. I'd say by 3 months or so both times things were basically back to normal.

Agree with pp, worth mentioning it at your GP check. I have memories of a similar issue (I had much less of a tear though) and I think it went away in a couple of months.

Sorry if I seemed really alarmist, obviously my advice is just coloured by my own experience which was a bad one. I'm sure as others have said you'll be fine.

Hi OP! I had this for a few months after having my DD (I had two 2nd degree tears, one perennial and one labial), but it did calm down, was better by 4/5 months and now have no ongoing issues. Just keep doing your pelvic floor exercises when you can and it should get better 💗Congrats on your baby! xx

Hi OP, I also had a forceps delivery and had this problem in the first few weeks PP.

I would say keep an eye on it, and if you are still struggling with it in a couple of weeks, talk to someone.

However, I would also say - you need to be doing pelvic floor exercises way more than once a day (I'm assuming you mean one batch of 10). I was advised to do 40 - 60 a day, in combination with other exercises. Have you been shown how to do them properly? I.e. on an outward breath, and imagining you are drawing spaghetti up your rectum.

The reality is forceps cause pelvic floor damage most of the time- I have two types of prolapse and I'm afraid every single person I've interacted with online about prolapse had forceps. Midwives have no knowledge- pelvic floor stuff isn't covered in their training- so you need to see a physio, either privately or you can often self refer to an NHS one.

Raise it at your 6 week check up but I wouldn't worry.

I had forceps and 2nd decree tear after a long labour and prolonged pushing stage. I think I was about 6 months to begin to notice the full healing of my pelvic floor. My GP and midwife kept telling me 9 months to make, 9 months to recover.

Forceps do a number on you internally and externally. I still get a discomfort on my period etc.