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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

6 weeks post birth - unpleasant smell down below and ladybits look different - is this normal? TMI! Help needed asap!

21 replies

Emmanj · 13/01/2009 14:13

Please can someone help and stop me driving myself insane! 1st time mum......
Gave birth 6 weeks ago, it was a long and traumatic delivery - 2 weeks late, failed induction, prolonged 2nd stage, failed ventouse, forceps and episiotomy, and a unexpected large 9 pound 9 baby!
Since ive stopped wearing the maternity pads (about a week ago), i have noticed an unpleasent fishy smell down below, no unusual discharge or itching, no discomfort or buring/itching, just smells!
Bravely took a mirror down there yesterday and was slightly concerned to see what used to be a very small dark opening to my vagina...is now a very large open hole, and could see a big pink fleshy thing inside - (im sure this wasnt there before)! nothing is 'hanging out' (!) but can see it - is it my womb??? aaarghh!! Also noticed a feeling of 'air' being trapped there, sorry to be so gross but like farts at the front??! Whats going on.
I have my 6 wk check tomorrow at GP but have been doing my own head in worrying since i looked up there.
Please advice!

OP posts:

lilymolly · 13/01/2009 14:15

Hi I had something similar
My episiotomy scar was left open at the skin to heal with natural intention i.e when my legs closed would encourage the skin to heal together

I had an infection which required a swab and specific antibiotics

Get mq to check it
but it sounds like you have something similar.

Sounds horrendous so hope you feel better soon x

lilymolly · 13/01/2009 14:16

mq being midwife of course!

Lotster · 13/01/2009 14:21

Hello Emma.

The first time with a mirror can be scary but don't panic. Glad you have your check tomorrow, and you'll get proper advice then, but in the meantime, so you can sleep tonight (!)...

The pink fleshy thing is just part of your vagina. It's bit lower now because of the birth, it may draw up again with some pelvic floor excercises. My friend had the same panic and described it a bit like a "flower" hanging down - you just never noticed it before becaue you vagina was tighter.

As for the size of your opening (I think that's what you mean), a 9.9 baby might do that to you! But you can check tomorrow to be sure.

The smell could well be an infection, your doc can take a swab tomorrow if they don't immediately tell you what it is.

Don't fret too much hon. Childbirth does change you down there, and you will get anything wrong sorted and get used to the rest. Anything really isn't right though, or not explained properly, do persist until you are happy.

Original poster

Emmanj · 13/01/2009 15:55

thank you so much guys, it really helps just reading your posts and feel calmer now. everything just feels so much worse when you over think things and dramatise, and obviously u always think the worst!
will ask all the things you suggest at the GP tomorrow. Thanks x

OP posts:

MamacitaGordita · 13/01/2009 19:16

3 weeks ago this post could have been written by me- I did not have an instrumental delivery like you but did have a large bambino and had all the stuff you describe- weird smell (although this was discharge combined with the 'natural' cotton pads I was using), fleshy bit that seemed really low, trapped air... totally panicked and decided I would need mega corrective surgery and probably never have another baby ! Now I'm 9 weeks on and the nunu region is much improved- I checked it all out at the GP at my check and she alieviated my fears. I just launched into the pelvic floor exercises big style! Childbirth really does just change you and it takes a good while for things to go back towards the way they were- and they may not go all the way back! If it does turn out to be something more serious it can be sorted! HTH xx

Lotster · 14/01/2009 14:23

Did doc put your mind at rest Emma?

Original poster

Emmanj · 14/01/2009 17:09

hi, went to the GP today for the 6 week check. 1st thing he sadi was that he wouldnt be doing an internal down below examination unless tehre was any unusual soreness, uncomfortableness. i explained my 'smell' problem and he said its common and to wait until ive had a periond, and all should be fine after that happens. said if it was an infection id have abdominal pain too, and would feel unwell...which i dont. I explained the 'gaping whole/air/extra bits', and again was told this is all normal, just a result of pushing out a big baby and he said to do the pelvic floors vigourously!
All in all, I am reassured that all is ok, but i did feel that he was shrugging me off a bit...but then i suppose if nothings really wrong and its all normal and part of recovery then i shouldnt worry. he just kept saying to wait until period had come and see how i am after that.
thanks for your thoughts Lotster!

OP posts:

Lotster · 14/01/2009 18:03

No probs sweets, if you get to worrying again, book in with a female doc or nurse and make them check you out.

lilymolly · 14/01/2009 18:11

I did not have any abnominal pain, and did not feel unwell when I had an infection in my episiotomy scar- so i think he is talking bollocks to be honest.

Cant understand what the waiting for a period is about either- The smell to me is indicative of infection and I would ask for a swab.

lilymolly · 14/01/2009 18:11

I did not have any abnominal pain, and did not feel unwell when I had an infection in my episiotomy scar- so i think he is talking bollocks to be honest.

Cant understand what the waiting for a period is about either- The smell to me is indicative of infection and I would ask for a swab.

Original poster

Emmanj · 14/01/2009 18:55

to be honest i did think at the time that how could he tell there was no infection without even looking??!! but i suppose i was naive and put my trust in GP thinking they know best as this is my 1st baby!
I think i will see how i go this week, i have my helath visitor coming on Friday so will have a chat with her and see what she thinks. I dont wanna be worrying about things un neccessarily, but then dontw ant things getting worse if theyre not sorted properly.
Bloody doctors, grrrrr!
Will keep checking on here, and will keep u posted on how things go, thanks ladies x

OP posts:

MadamAnt · 14/01/2009 19:00

Sorry you're having worries! I would definitely bring it up with your HV, just to be on the safe side, not least because if you wait til you period comes, you might be waiting a loooong time! I didn't get mine until DS was about 11 months old

That said, I do remember my lochia having a slightly whiffy smell occasionally, especially when it was tailing off. Hope you feel reassured/sorted soon.

BoffinMum · 14/01/2009 19:44

A bit of a postnatal whiffy smell is normal but anybody who is worried should be having a swab to be on the safe sie, particularly if they have been anywhere near a hospital.

It's amazing how much your bits spring back considering what you put them through when giving birth, but it does take a few months of pelvic floor exercises for this to happen.

BoffinMum · 14/01/2009 19:45

I would add that tepid baths with a bit of salt in them are good for minimising whiffy smells and infections at the same time.

Salleroo · 14/01/2009 19:49

I was like you after birth, all the same episiotomy, forceps, 9.13 baby and had what you describe. You would know if your stitches were infected. I took a look with the mirror too and was seriously traumatised but there was pus around my stitches. How fishy is fishy?

I cant believe the doc didnt bother to take a look, lazy git.

What I would suggest in the interim is when you pee, have a jug (like a measuring jug) of luke warm water with salt diluted in it and pour it down your vulva just at the opening as you pee. And crutially always wipe front to back after a poo. Isn't the after effects of birth horrendous.

PS. Unless you are at the Pelvic floors religiously 5 times a day, the days of a nice tight cliterous are far far behind you I'm afraid. It will tighten up but not the same. As MadamAnt said you could be waiting a long time for a period.

Salleroo · 14/01/2009 19:50

PS. Enjoy your bouncing baby, the time goes v. fast.

mummy2benji · 16/01/2009 00:18

Hi! I'm now 5 weeks post-delivery with stitches for 2nd degree tear and I also got a shock recently when I checked that area with a mirror! I could feel a fleshy bit when washing so decided to take a look - it's next to where my stitches were, just to one side, and feels like a normal non-tender bit of skin, maybe a fold of skin following the stitches? Definitely wasn't there before though! If it was further back I'd say it's a pile, but that's not where it is (sorry, probably TMI!) My plan is to do the pelvic floor exercises and hope it goes away. If it gets tender I'll see the gp (altho I'm a gp... ) I'm sure these things will settle given time, but if you are worried then definitely make another appointment (a pain, I know) to see a female gp. I know I probably sound fairly clueless for a gp, but it's a lot harder to check yourself than it is to examine other ppl! Loluv x

Original poster

Emmanj · 17/01/2009 18:17

got my period today so will see if all is back to normal.....( or as normal as its gunna be!!) when that finishes!

OP posts:

mrikula · 11/07/2018 17:32

This problem is commonly faced post vaginal delivery by most of women. Here is a detailed post with efficient remedies to overcome this postpartun vaginal order. gangofshe.com/postpartum-vaginal-odor/

geveyyy · 05/01/2022 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Garman · 05/01/2022 15:23

@geveyyy start your own new thread, and also not a lot of point putting the trigger warning at the end! Especially as the photo appears beside the text!

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