First smear & pelvic issues

[OnNaturesCourse]

I'm nearly 7months pp.

I have my smear test booked soon, and I'm getting nervous.

I had stitches after birth due to forceps delivery as baby was really stuck. I have had a little trouble with urine control, nothing major just more aware when I have to hold my bladder and a few leaks. Sex is a little uncomfortable after a while, and I've had on/off thrush and scar pain. So while I count myself lucky im certainly no where near what I was 'down there' pre birth.

With the ongoing bother I'm having I am DREADING my smear. It's about 4 years since my last one so I can't really recall it. Please give me comforting tales of post birth smears.

Doesn't help that I've recently heard tales of post birth smears showing up cancer cells or changes possibly caused by the birthing process.

I'm sh*tting myself incase my troubles are caused by something more sinister than post birth issues, or it's too painful to get done 😔

I had my first pp one 3 months after I had my little one.

I was dreading it for a few reasons.

• I was due one while I was pregnant because I was on 6 monthly smears for irregular changes.
• I hadn't has sex by that point.

I needed not worry; was totally fine. Everything back to normal and no discomfort.
Just remember the more you tense etc the more change you'll have some discomfort. Speak to the nurse doing it before hand about your worries and you're birth etc and she will be extra gentle I'm sure. X

I could actually cry. I hate the build up, wish you could book it on the day and just go. Would be much easier on my nerves.

Now I think of it it is about 5 or 6 years, I was hospitalised previously so didn't attend. Then I fell pregnant.

Shit.

Aww I feel for you. The build up isn't great but I'm sure everything will be totally fine. I went through a HUGE panic the first time I got an irregular result back but nothing came of it.
Could you maybe try phone up and get an appointment sooner? So much easier said than done but try not think about it too much x

Changes due to birth shouldn't cause an abnormal result this long pp, but that's why they tell you not to have one during the first three months after childbirth. I had mine about 4 or 5 months after I think, I was pretty nervous about it being painful (I had a second degree tear and a few other tears, and hadn't had sex at that point) but it wasn't any different to my first smear (well, it was better and far quicker actually because the nurse the first time couldn't find my cervix).

Certainly let the nurse know you're feeling a little anxious about it and don't forget you can tell her to stop at any time.

I had my first pp smear about 12 weeks after giving birth. It was absolutely fine and actually I hardly felt it. I had to wait about three weeks for the result which wasn't great as I have bad health anxiety but all was well.

Don't put it off - go do it and you'll feel so much better after.

It's the wait afterward I am not looking forward to either.

I am definitely going. I have my LO to think of now so...

Doesn't make the wait any easier, or the fear.