3rd degree tearing

[sib13]

I had a induced labour which led to ventouse and 3rd degree tear. This was no nearly 9 weeks ago and i have not healed right in part of my tear which im currently seeing the hospital about. Sorry if tmi, i still have pain in the tear area but also in my vagina. I am getting really down about this and just want to feel normal again.

Is it usual to still have some internal pain and will it ever heal and feel normal again? :(

It can takes weeks and weeks (or even months) before you feel 'normal' again. I had a 4th degree tear and it wasn't until DS was about 9 months old that I realised I wasn't in pain or discomfort from it. That is not to say it will be the same for you.

The whole area has been bruised, battered, torn and stitched so it will take time to heal and settle down but definitely talk to the gynaecologist at the hospital, especially as they are seeing you still.

If you are feeling really down about it speak to your HV or GP as you may have a bit of post natal depression, especially if the birth was traumatic for you, and just need some help processing it all.

Thanx for getting bak.
Yea i think im just like its 9weeks i must b better by now rather than giving it time, and especially cause part of it hasnt healed well.
I think i will discuss with the gp about it as it was a mess and quite traumatic.

Thank you

Sorry wee question cravingcake, did you heal up all fine and have been fine since feeling 'normal'? I jst feel as if i wont

It can take ages for things to feel normal down there after a delivery like that I found. I remember thinking things would never go back to normal, but a year on I never think about it and have no pain/sex is normal so it does heal.
Definitely get help with it though, keep going back if it doesn't feel right. Remember you are trying to recover on limited sleep with a newborn which also makes things take longer.
I think it was about 3-4 months before I began to feel normal.

Yea thats how i feel that its never gna b fine again. Yea ive been going back and forth so im definately pushing on that at the moment. I just wanted hear other people experiences of having tears and wat there kinda healing time was, so i had a better understanding as dont think the docs are v sensitive to the fact of that. Thank you

Unfortunately for me I also had a bowel and bladder prolapse, along with a very painful skin tag. I had the skin tag removed and surgery to try to correct the prolapses (but this is returning). I am also hypermobile so my circumstances are probably different to yours. I have had to accept a new state of normal for me.

Do speak up to your GP, hospital, Heath visitor and anyone else you happen to see, physio may help you in the longer term, but it is normal what you are experiencing. I found counselling very good as my DS birth was extremely traumatic for us (shoulder dystocia, forceps, episiotomy tore further, post partum hemorage).

I agree, visit your GP and ask to be referred back to gynae. It can take ages for things to settle, however, there can also be non healing and you shouldn't suffer because you're not sure if all is well. If it's still sore anywhere and you're having pain through intercourse (if you're even at that stage), or inserting a tampon etc then definitely go back to GP. And keep pushing because, as you say, some areas (in the country) can be dismissive of the pain.

craving I've had exactly the same as you. 4th degree, double prolapse. Had surgery in May (also rebuilt perineum) and touch wood, things seem to be holding.

Thanx for the replies really do appreciate it.
Craving i hope you do get that sorted and dont have to accept that as a new normal.
Yea im back to see consultant in hospital in 3 weeks time as on my last visit i was given a type of dressing and honey cream to put on the area of the tear that just hasnt closed to see if this helps in anyway and i do have an app with the gp 2mro to discuss things and get her to check everything else is well or not.

Hi, I had a 3rd degree tear with my son, after an episiotomy and forceps. He is my first, and a 3rd degree tear was something I really feared. I was incredibly upset and down after, the labour was pretty traumatic, but this outcome was the hardest part to come to terms with. But you know what, it has been absolutely fine! It took months till I felt fully recovered, the stitches had split a few weeks after the labour, but even this healed well. I remember it being sore and a little tight for a long time. In the first few months, I remember swearing that in my next pregnancy, I would opt for an elective cesarean to save my poor vagina! The consultant who assessed me when I was pregnant with my daughter said everything was fine and I was able to have a vaginal delivery with my second. I had to have an episiotomy, but this is nothing compared to a tear!
What I would say is pelvic floor exercises, and just take it easy and rest. Don't push yourself to do too much. I understand your frustration, but I haven't had any problems at all. :-)

Also, what I was told by a consultant, was to air out the area as much as possible to dry it out and aide healing. It was hard with the bleeding, but I basically was pantless with just a skirt For me, this was way more affective than anything else.

I am six months post birth and only just starting to feel back to normal (episiotomy here but you get the idea) in the downstairs region. It does take a long time for some people to heal but in my experience what you are feeling is normal.

Thank you for your replies, its good to hear that this is "normal" to feel like this as i have been getting myself down about it also and had a horrific birth. Yea i feel like that just now that im either never havin another or im gna demand a section. Thank you again everyome for sharing your experiences

It's really normal to start feeling low and reflecting on the birth, what went wrong, what could have been done differently about this time. The novelty of a newborn is wearing off, the broken sleep doesn't help and everyone starts going back to their usual lives. Speak to your GP, health visitor or hospital about having a debrief of the birth. I did this and it helped.

I also saw a gynaecologist afterwards and asked them to put it in writing their recommendation for me to have any further children by elective c-section (they told me verbally & we're happy to confirm in writing). It's only because I had this that I felt able to think about a second child (who is about to turn 2!).

And is it normal to now b hitting nearly 3months and getting a feeling like muscular soreness in and around the downstairs area? Its not all time more if i do too much it can be really achy at times

That sounds normal to me unfortunately. Try to think of it slightly different, if you were to have a deep cut and trauma to say your hand and fingers but still had to use it (even just light duties) while recovering it would still be achy at times three months later. Same goes for the pelvic floor. Throw in pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones, lack of sleep etc it will take a while for your body to get back to what it was. Some days it's just a bit more uncomfortable and painful than others.

Yea thats true, better way to think about it. Thank you, i just get myself frustrated with it, its reassuring to read your replies as i dont really have any mum friends or any1 who has been through the same.