Feeling hysterical, just looked at my 2nd degree tear and it is not good

[lucysullivan]

Had dd almost 3 weeks ago and a 2nd degree tear. The doctor stitching me up took quite a long time over it and I felt reassured that she'd done a good job and everything would be OK... Midwives checked the stitches a couple of times when they saw me at home in the week after the birth and said it was healing well. However, I have just had a good look (maybe I shouldn't) and almost passed out with shock. I think some of the stitches must have come out to early because I can see a hole in my perenium and an area where the skin should have closed up and hasn't leaving a sort of gaping area. I don't know what to do now. Do I leave it and hope it miraculously heals up. (Would it?) Should I ask my midwife to come and have a look (she said I am under her care until 4 weeks after the birth) or should I see my gp? Have now convinced myself I'm going to need a complete repair job .

oh no! you looked! I did the same and I think I can remember having something similair and it was actually all fine. I think you should ring your midwife if you're really worried, but I would imagine it will be okay

I've never looked 6 years on(!) so don't know what is normal for 3 weeks post birth, but definitely ask the mw to check it out.

A lovely frined of mine told me never to look down there after giving birth!(when I went to visit her after she had her 1st baby). Best piece of advice I ever had! Still now you have looked and you are worried-I totally understand that. Ask your GP or midwife to have a look - they will know what to look for- and it can be fixed if it needs to be. I hope its ok in the end xx

speak to midwife for reassurance. i didnt tear with either of mine but i guess that means ive got a fanny like a wizards sleeve or something....either that i did good with the panting bit.

dont look down! as for the time period after its a CAR CRASH

It will get normal again xx

Talk to your GP or MW, but I had a second degree tear with DD2 (4.5 years ago) which got infected and was a right mess. 'Tis absolutely fine now, even though I've since had DD3

Thanks everyone for reassuring words, good to know it does and can heal, I just can't imagine at the moment how the skin will all pull itself back together again...

Health visitor coming today so might mention it to her. At the moment I keep wishing I'd had a c-section which I was meant to be having in first place until consultant persuaded me otherwise.

OMG you mustn't look. I had 2nd degree tear with DD and make mistake of looking... it all healed up fine.

If you are worried though call the community midwifes to come back and get them to have another look. And if you do need repair job its not such a big deal...

If you are worried then please give her a call.

I asked my mw what it looked like down there and she told me to have a look. God I wish I had't, car crash is just how I describe it too. Such a massive, well, hole is the only answer or should that be

you looked!!!

I've never looked!

Don't look!!! HUGE mistake. My DD2 is now nearly 11 weeks old and I still haven't looked. Get checked out by your GP to be on the safe side.

Don't look. Give it about 6 months.

Saw health visitor today she said my gp surgery no longer automatically does postnatal checks you have to make a special request with a doctor to have one done.

Has anyone not had a doctor check them out after giving birth? Although I'm petrified of what they might say am still going to try and get an appointment. Will give it a few more weeks though.

I had postnatal check with both DD and DS - with DD i had 2nd degree tear - she asked if I wanted her to check and I did. With DS I didn't tear and she didn't ask..

If you are worried though make an appointment sooner rather than later. Just make an appointment with GP and say you are worried about how you are healing.

I looked and cried for about an hour so I feel your pain- chopped liver was not what I was expecting (sorry- TMI!!). 10 weeks later thing are looking and feeling a lot better (apart from the piles- sweet jesus, they hurt!) and we even had careful and paranoid sex last weekend. It will get better quickly, bathe your extremities with lavender oil in the water (I sat in a plant pot tray for hours on end to start with) and take arnica for the bruising and swelling. Mainly, ask them to check every time they see you, it's their job and they know what to look for- we just see the end of the world as we know it! It will get better, promise!

well I just spoke to my midwife and she said that it should have healed by now and I could have an infection and to see the doctor. I don't think I have an infection, it all feels fine apart from the gaping holes so now I feel even more worried. And of course rang the doctors and can't get an appointment despite explaining the situation

phone your gp as soon as they open in the morning.

You will feel better if it is checked - tell the phone dragon at your doctor's that your midwife has told you to see the doctor. And your midwife thinks you have an infection (even if you don't think so!) Don't look - I did and it was horrid, even my midwife said so.

I've had surgery before (though not on my fanjo) and it took the skin a while to knit back together properly once the stitches had dissolved - I did have open areas like you describe for a good few weeks, so it doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong. I agree, get it checked for your own piece of mind.

forgot to say, the skin doesn't really "pull together" - what happens is that the open area fills up with granulation tissue, which then gradually turns into scar tissue, which is pretty much normal skin.