Episiotomy

[Ouch]

I imagine that this is a bit of a delicate subject, and I use the term wisely. I would really like to know how quickly others have recovered after having an episiotomy. I had my first baby 9 months ago. I ended up having forceps - they had to turn him as he got stuck with his head sideways whilst he was still quite high up. Needless to say, this involved a "generous" episiotomy, they told me that this type of forceps (kieland's) are bigger than others and not curved so they need a lot of room - arghh!

Anyway, basically, it's healed a bit wonky but generally ok. However, it is still really quite sore around the scar, sex is very uncomfortable and doesn't seem to be getting easier with time. I know scars can be re-done but I wouldn't consider doing anything yet as I am hoping to have a 2nd child. Does it usually take this long to settle down, will I start to feel normal again soon? Appologies if this is a bit graphic but I would really appreciate any thoughts, thanks.

Dear Springmum

You have all my sympathy - everyone thinks sex should be fine after a c section but it wasn't fro me either and it was just as you described it felt as if my insides had all shifted about so that penetration was impossible not just painful.

My doc diagnosed severe vaginismus due to post traumatic stress from the birth (i thought I'd injured myself trying to push out a breech baby)

Anyway I was sent for counselling - given plastic willies to "practise" with at home (thank god for anonymity) and eventually the problem went away - though sex wasn't that great again until I'd finished b'feeding - and lots of folks say that regardless of the type of birth.

I'd definitely go and see your GP
Ask for a physical exam and if that shows nothing for some counselling - you've nothing to lose?
Feel free to email me if you'd like to talk further

I had an extended episiotomy and 3rd degree tear with dd1, and sex was painful until I had dd2, and tore again (to a much lesser extent). I kept going to the doc to complain but they said it looked fine, so it should be ok, but it bloody wasn't! Conceiving dd2 was a minor miracle in that respect. After I tore with her though, everything was fine.

So glad I'm not alone, I had an 'epi' when my son was born 18mths ago and have only just sought advice from GP because of the discomfort during sex. Dont know if I can face corrective surgery or should I just wait for baby no. 2. Why is this such a common problem ??

AS someone who has had corrective surgery, it has made me feel much more "normal" again - to be able to not have sex because I'm knackered or not in the mood rather than because it hurts
I have a designer vagina
My only problem with the whole thing was being awake as I had a local. I felt really quite upset for a few days afterwards everytime I talked or thought about the procedure - despite the theatre nurses being really kind. Couldn't have a general because b'feeding. Was very interested in the post about breast feeding and potential probs with sex - quite optimistic that when I give up in a few months things will continue to improve.
The whole experience has made me think a great deal about next time. I had really wanted a home birth next time, but am having second thoughts in case I need stitching again after a tear. I don;t know what the procedure would be, though, if I was at home.
But really, it's all sorted now and I am so pleased that there's been a positive outcome. I can't praise my wonderful GP enough for being incredibly supportive. She's a star!

i'm so glad i've come accross this thread. i can sympathise with your position ouch. i had a ventouse delivery which led to a 3rd degree tear. the doctor who delivered the baby stiched it all up there and then and i remember feeling the needle going through and it being of a a curved shape (that's how clearly i could feel it). it turned out the stitching was all wron so i was rushed to the theatre had an episiotmy straight away ans they took it all apart and stiched it up again. all proffesional comments following the procedure (midwifes, nurses, doctors, ai had to go and see a specialist on 3rd degree tears, had tests done and so on) were very congratulatory on how good the repair looked. i myself didn't look at it at all for fear i might faint at the sight of it. i sat on a rubber ring a lot, had bath with laveneder oil, used the hairdrier , had very strong painkillers for a long time and didn't attempt sex for many, many months. it wasn't actually painful (guess because of the tablets i was taking and it did apparently heal very quickly and correctly , so i was told because i never looked) but the entire experience was very, very traumatic for me, even now when i think about it i feel like crying because of it. i was very tight before having dd (which was nice and not painful actually), so i guess now i'm a normal size (can't compare but that's what i amagine) but to me it feels odd when having sex because it felt different before and i'll never feel taht again. that's life i suppose. what really annoys me is the fact that although i have enquired about it at the time and often mentioned it to the midwife about seing a gynicologist bbefoe the birth i was constatntly discouraged to do that. i was also to embarresed to come out with it and tell the midwife that actually i know i'm tight and it'll be tricky to deliver a baby through there. i wouldn't have mided a c section myself. after birth it turned out that my vagina is also shaped at a slight angle towards the back so that would obviously make it occured to deliver. i'sm still so bloody angry at never having had an internal examination as i'm pretty sure this aspected would have been noticed and i wouldn't have had to go through all the trauma. sorry, i'm going on an on about my experience... yes, it does take a long time to recover, but yoy should be offered more medical expertise - i.e. see specialist to finf out how things are healing and get some advice on this. you will feel normal again but as you say, wait for 2nd birth for a final 'repair'. and ask to see a consultant sometime soon just to get some reassurance. deffinetly try lavender oil!