Incontinence post forceps; any positive outcomes / advice

[flamingojive]

I'm 6 days post emergency forceps delivery with a tear and episiotomy. I'm now incontinent for both water and solids; can't help but cry when I talk about it.

Terrified this will continue indefinitely, doing pelvic floors all the time. No other advice or assessment has been offered apart from pelvic floors.

Is it too early to be pushing for a referral (to someone/anyone) at this stage? Has anyone else experienced this that can offer advice?
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How incontinent are you? I had problems after a similar experience but didn't find proper help for months (didn't realise it was available ). Tbh you probably want to wait for it all to heal before seeking a physio, but do ask your gp/midwife/health visitor for advice.

Congratulations btw! It's hard I know, but try to separate your baby from this and enjoy him/her as best you can x

Your hospital will have/should have a specialist continence midwife. Call up the midwife team and get referred asap. It may heal itself as the swelling and damage goes down but it may not. Make a fuss to your HV or midwife or GP too, but definitely get in touch with the hospital.

I was almost completely incontinent after DS was born, it was days before I could even feel my bladder. But after about 2 weeks things did get better and by about a month I didn't need to wear pads anymore. I vividly remember how scared I was but I think everything was just a bit bruised from birth.
I have no problems now, and hopefully time will be a healer for you too. I do wish it was something that was talked about more, as I had no idea it might happen.

Take it easy and be kind to yourself

I had a forceps delivery and third degree tear. It was some weeks before the urge I was losing control of my bowels went. Thankfully I never did but sometimes it was close and the urge came on very very suddenly. I was utterly terrified after my delivery due to the injuries but 7 months on everything in that respect is back to normal.

Pelvic floors are very important. I saw a physio in hospital, i hope you have too. Didnt see one after I was discharged though but i also had an extra post natal appointment back at the hospital at 6 weeks to check my injuries but everything was OK by then.

Don't put up with it, see GP/midwife/HV if you are worried. I am fine now but found the postnatal care in the community not good so you have to be proactive, I had a severe pph too so was extra fragile.

If you haven't been discharged from the midwife yet make sure you ask for help before you are.

Look after yourself and Congratulations!

🌷Keep doing the pelvic floors! Hope it gets a lot better soon. If not, make sure yr medical team are aware of yr probs and keep asking them for treatment.

(Hugs) I know how awful this feels. But it will get better in time.

I was similar. Ended up seeing a specialist NHS physio at st marks in harrow who gave me exercises for my anal sphincter, also checked damage to sphincter and was just basically wonderfully supportive. I might let out a few more farts than the next person, but that is all.

You and or a friend/relative need to push for support. My GP referred me to this physio.

Hang in there, look at your beautiful baby and remember, this will get better.

And ditto what Golden said.

Thank you all! I have something to take with me to the GP/HV/MW. Such a big help and good to know I'm not the only one. It is not something that is really spoken about, it should be.
xxx

Hello hello, couldn't read and not reply. I had a forceps delivery after an 8 hour(!) pushing stage of labour and was urinary (sp?) incontinent afterwards (mild prolapse-related). I wasn't prepared for it at all and found it emotionally really difficult - v tearful etc. I spoke to my midwife and self-referred myself to a wonderful women's physio, who checked me out and gave me so much help and advice. On one hand I probably went too early because thingns take a while to heal and hormones make a difference too, but emotionally I needed to do it. 3 years on my bladder is much weaker than it was pre-pregnancy, especially around my period (hormones again), but unimaginably better than it was in those early months - it's more minor leaking here and there rather than full on wetting myself - and i find it so manageable now.

So speak up, and you do what you need to do xxx