Some GOOD news at last about damage due to childbirth!

[MrsTittleMouse]

I had an awful first delivery, which resulted in a very large episiotomy and very painful scarring. Despite improvements due to giving up breastfeeding and using a dilator, I found it very difficult to have sex - even 18 months after DD1 was born.

DD2 was born 2 months ago, and the second vaginal delivery has really stretched the internal vaginal scar from my huge episiotomy. But the news gets better - I found a sympathetic gynae who was willing to try cortisone injections. Only two days after the first treatment and there is already a noticable result - the hard scarring on my perineum has softened, and the whole perineal area is much less sore and tender. It's still not great, but I am really happy that there is such a dramatic change so quickly, and it's still early days.

So there is definitly hope for anyone out there with painful scarring like mine. My gynae says that 50% of women get a good result from cortisone, so it's well worth a try.

thanks for that....i am 6 months pregnant and tearing and scarring was my biggest fear

Wow, that is really interesting, and fantastic news for you, I'm so glad.
I'm worried about baby 2 (20 weeks pg), because although I don't think i've had such a bad time as you, things definitely aren't quite 'right' yet, and as I start getting a bit heavier I can definitely feel my old scar - scares me for birth...
Are you getting the cortisone injections on the NHS? Did you suggest them or did they? Side-effects/risks?
So glad it's working well for you.

I suggested them at my 6 weeks postnatal check up, and the OB hadn't heard of them. Luckily there was a gynae in the clinic that day and she went and got him - and he was keen to try cortisone (on the NHS). It isn't something that he's done a lot of, in fact, he had to order in the cortisone specially.

The main worry that I had was whether cortisone injections would prevent me from having surgery in the future, if things didn't work out. That isn't the case though - surgery is still an option if I need it. There don't seem to be any side effects, except that you have someone injecting into your girly bits and it hurts like buggery! He put local anaethetic in too, so the pain was only temporary.

did the injections hurt?

Yes! It was over pretty quickly though, and the local anaethetic then kicked in, so that I was able to sit down in the car to get home right away afterwards.

sat here with legs crossed. Still waiting my Fentons which I had to cancel cos of dd's op. Have to wait till she's recovered.

DH came and held my hand (and our screaming DD2). To be honest, if I end up having a Fentons, then I'm going to request cortisone afterwards whether I think I need it or not.

Hi Mrs Tittlemouse - bit late joining your thread here!

Really pleased to hear your news, remember you from the mammouth thread about childbirth recovery we posted on. Can't believe your OB hadn't heard of the injections! Thank goodness you did

You may remember I had 2 x injections, then 2 x Fenton's (first one bodged). Just had a little tip, if you do end up having a Fenton's in the future, ask if they plan to give you cortisone injections during the op, my surgeon did as a matter of course and I certainly appreciated not having to have them whilst awake again. It is recommended you only have a max of 2 in one site though due to thinning of the skin. With having two op, I ended up with 4 in total which annoyed me a bit.

Really hoping you won't be needing it anyway though now! Congrats on your daughter! I'll be meeting mine end Feb.

sorry, maximum of 3

Thank you Lotster - that's really useful info - especially as my gynae is new to all this and might not be aware himself. He did ask me if we planned to have any more children, so maybe that was why.

Good luck with your new LO - will you be planning for a VB or a CS?

Hi again,

it needs to be an Elective C/S after the trouble and time it took to get downstairs sorted. After two Fenton's I don't have much stretch left apparently.

Shame, as I would like to have benefitted from the stretching of the scar you mentioned, but in truth I'm relieved. got my marbles back now and whilst I'm aware C/s comes with it's own list of potential problems, I couldn't take any more messing with downstairs now that area is finally private again!!

this is reassuring, i might ask to be referred for cortisone injections if no improvement soon (same problem )

Hi Silversixpence, they do hurt, but they can help.

Feel like I'm telling everyone I meet to rub their fanjo lately (!) But daily massage with wheatgerm oil (or other containing vitamin e) is another good way to break down scarring.

Hello, very happy for you mrstittlemouse, and congratulations!

lotster, i remember you being due sometime in february, i'm sure everything will go very well with your CS, I wish you the speediest recovery!

Funny that this thread has been revived - I've just had my second set of injections. The gynae was really shocked at how much better the nasty ridge of scar tissue improved after the first set, and very happy. He concentrated the second set of injections on the very sore taut region at the entrance to my vagina, and according to DH (who is helping me with perineal massage) it has soften a little already. He (DH) also said that the area looked much less angry.

The gynae has told me that I have his blessing to "test his work" as he put it (!) but I don't think I'm brave enough yet. Maybe after some more massage...

Thanks Godivas! 27th to be precise.

Sounds so positive, best of luck Mrs T

Is this thread still active x