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Postnatal health

As with all health-related issues, please seek advice from a RL health professional if you're worried about anything.

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Original poster

When did you first look downstairs?

15 replies

Firsttimeuser12 · 14/06/2019 20:43

4 weeks tomorrow, forcep delivery with stitches ( wasnt told how bad and didn't ask) I'm scared to look at the damage:-( when did everyone else check? I keep having a heavy feeling and I'm worried this is some sort of prolapse, although not painful. I haven't had any accidents but I cant stop my urine flow like I previously could. Does anyone have any experience with this?

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greatbigwho · 14/06/2019 20:44

I never have, six years on.

Disfordarkchocolate · 14/06/2019 20:45

About 12 years after the last one, never felt the need. Husband happy enough.

EyeDrops · 14/06/2019 20:46

Yeah I'm not sure I ever have!! Got my DH to look after my 6 week check. I could just never bring myself to!

C-section second time around so not had that issue again!

Chinks123 · 14/06/2019 20:51

I looked a few days after out of curiosity..not the best idea. I didn’t have external stitches so nothing to see in that sense, but it was very swollen. Looked again a couple of weeks later and it looked back to normal.

I’m experiencing the heavy feeling and not being able to stop my urine flow, but I’m pregnant again so I’m hoping it’s a temporary issue!

toldmywrath · 14/06/2019 20:55

I never looked.
A different thing altogether, but I had a total hysterectomy a while back and experienced that dragging feeling as if I'd prolapsed. Thankfully it disappeared after three/four months, so it might 'just' be trauma to the area.

soarin · 14/06/2019 20:59

Aw gosh I remember bending over in mirror and my whole fanny and bum was black with bruising 😭 same week with mirror as I knew something didn't feel right, stitches had come loose from cut. It's an awful time. Fully recovered now

Tinyteatime · 14/06/2019 21:09

I think I had a peek a few days pp. One of my labia was so swollen I looked like I had grown bollocks, no joke, I wanted to see it. The doctor checked it and said it was all ok but it was quite alarming. I’m sure I had a prolapse after dc2. My cervix was so low down and I think I also had a bladder prolapse, there’s a bulge in the wall that wasn’t there before. I never had it checked, but neither have I noticed any other unpleasant symptoms. Cervix went back up in a few weeks with plenty of pelvic floor exercise.

Original poster

Firsttimeuser12 · 15/06/2019 20:30

I've got the absolute fear to look, I also have bad piles from the birth. I don't really want to see but I'm still getting some discharge, hard to know what's normal and not. Right now I feel like I'll never be the same again. Thanks for all your replies

OP posts:

Flamingosnbears · 16/06/2019 16:25

I'm four weeks tomorrow too, I did yesterday...

Original poster

Firsttimeuser12 · 17/06/2019 08:23

You're braver than me!! Should I wait to look then?

OP posts:

LuckyKitty13 · 17/06/2019 08:28

I looked after 7 days - second degree tear that was stitched. Apart from looking a little "open" it all looked very normal. Stitches I couldn't even see. Hopefully that may make you feel a little better.

snowbrigade · 17/06/2019 12:13

I looked after about 6 weeks and everything looked quite open and messy (rotational forceps delivery with a big episiotomy). My husband who's a doctor had had a look before a few times and kept commenting that things were slowly but surely getting better and better. I wasn't convinced though!

Totally got fobbed off at my 6week check up by the GP so that appointment was of zero use to me...

I too had a heavy feeling for quite sometime and felt sometimes an odd dragging feeling when walking. So at 12 weeks pp I went privately to a pelvic floor specialist physio (NHS wouldn't refer me). Best decision ever! Got reassured that I hadn't prolapsed but also had a proper assessment of my pelvic floor strength - apparently managed a good squeeze for only 3 seconds, so still a long way to go, but she said that given my delivery, it could be much worse. She also taught me how to properly do the exercises.

I'm now 16 weeks pp and feeling normal down there, managing 5 second squeezes now.

Things are definitely getting better, still not back to running though which I'm desperate to do! My physio suggested waiting till about 18 weeks pp before gently trying walking/jogging. Also still not felt brave enough to try having sex. Love how patient & kind DH is with me.

Sorry for a long post, just wanted to share some reassurance and encouragement about seeing a specialist physio if you're worried!

Confusednewmum1 · 18/06/2019 23:45

I looked at about a week and omg, all the stitched ect. It scared me so much had sex at 8/9 weeks just because I felt I should. I was a nympho when pregnant. Worst mistake ever!! Baggy hole ect. But after 7/8 months back to normal, with the exception of coughing hard can lead to little accidents.

charlottrebekah · 24/07/2019 16:56

Please have a look. I know it's not nice and proper make you cringe a little but I also had forceps and stitches which has left me with horrible piles :( so uncomfortable, I can't sit on my bum, struggle to walk and can't bend down probably. Which has meant I struggle to look after my daughter. Lucky I have a amazing boyfriend who's looking after the both of us but honestly you need to check everything is ok down there for your own sake! Any problems or worries please go to your midwife, I know it's embarrassing but I'm sure she's seen it all before hopefully you are recovering well :) x

dancingelephants · 28/07/2019 16:27

@Firsttimeuser12 I'd like to know how you're getting on? I'm also unable to stop urine flow, once I've started going. Has this improved for you? How's everyone healing? Also getting a heavy feeling.. generally feeling a bit bruised. And wondering how long it'll take to feel normal?

I'm 10 days pp and had a look a few days after baby arrived. Very swollen but a few days later everything looks mostly normal. (No stitches).

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