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Childbirth

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

post birth tear,would really appreciate some advice!

6 replies

katobri · 13/05/2009 19:51

My baby is now 15 months old and i have only just realised the extent of how badly i tore when giving bith to him and how little it appears to have healed.it seems i tore in quite an unusual place, from the vagina upwards to the lip on one side giving the appearance of a rather large gapping hole. Just after giving birth the midwife told me that there was a small tear which would probably heal itself so no need for stitches but i was shocked when i had a good look a couple of months ago as one side of my vagina really seems to have torn and totally opened up.
I would really appreciate some advice on this as i feel quite self concious about it! Is it something that can be rectified and does it pose a problem for any possible future births?
Advice would be greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
Gugu · 13/05/2009 20:30

wouldn't it be a good idea to have a doctor see it? the way you described sounds like it needs medical work on.... perhaps stitching... it is surprising that they let you go without closing the tear... I tore from vagina down to rectum and had several stitches and couldn't sit on my bum for days... that also left pretty weak rectal muscles...doing tons of kegels now after 2nd birth.

treedelivery · 13/05/2009 20:34

Doctor. You might need swabs to see if an infection has caused the wound to re open, or the opinion of gynae to see if it does need 'work'. That usually means bringing the skin together, to line up, with stiches.

If it did it is usually done under general, takes an hour or so. But it all depends.

Doctor doctor doctor. For sure.

Hth

Worldsworstmummy · 13/05/2009 20:38

Def the doctor. I too tore upwards, and by the time i got to see the consultant for reconstructive surgery she told me to repair it would cause greater scarring and discomfort than leaving it. So now am an interesting 0 shape as opposed to a 8 shape iyswim. She did sort out the weakened perineum issue for me.

farmgirls · 13/05/2009 23:18

How you describe your tear sounds exactly like mine, 2 years ago. Mine was classed as 2nd Degree with no stitching required.

There's still a gaping huge hole where before it was tiny and tight, now I can see a ribbed back wall which also protrudes slightly of what I presume is the interior back wall of the inner vagina. I keep thinking I have a prolapse, as I still have a heavy feeling down there 2 years later, but I think it might be just weak pelvic floor muscles. My baby was fairly big at almost 9 pounds. As for the clitoris, hmm no longer a little hooded butterfly more of stepped on and put in the washing mchine butterfly with a missing wing-but it still works at least! The puffy little side flaps are also crinkly and deflated now, with an extra half-flap on one side
Never been examined by anyone about this. No point now second baby is due in a few weeks! I wanted to avoid the major abdominal surgery that is a c-section so I guess I just have to put up with a mangled-up mess down there!

I'd read it would never look the same again after childbirth, but... I was too scared to even get a mirror down there for the first 6 months, can you believe it!

Well, with all that stretching, t least bub 2 will come out easier!

Must say, I've found midwives more knowledgeable about this problem than your usual GP. My doctor just sits there looking things up on the internet (which I could do at home) nd they dont seem to do examinations anymore, wonder if that's an Americn-style 'liability' scare they're avoiding there?

Ask a midwife to taake a look, they'll have seen more post-childbirth vaginas than doctors, that's for sure!

katobri · 15/05/2009 18:30

thanks all! will definately go to gp and hopefully get a referral.

OP posts:
katobri · 15/05/2009 18:30

thanks all! will definately go to gp and hopefully get a referral.

OP posts:
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