Will my vagina go smaller in time? Episiotomy..

[KittyKatG]

Hi everyone, writing this to issue my anxieties and negative feelings after a very traumatic birth of my first child

Long story short, had an emergency forceps and episiotomy birth because I had sepsis during labour. Not sure what caused it.. possibly because my waters that had broken during induction had been left around 36hrs....? Or that I had so many internal checks.. who knows

Was in hospital for 10 days total. Had to be readmitted as my episiotomy stitches got infection

I am currently seeking counselling that I'm waiting for also and have been put on antidepressants for PND

I have been obsessive over looking at reassurance of if your vagina can shrink back to a smaller size especially after an episiotomy?

I'm so devastated I went for a natural birth. It's my biggest regret. I wish I'd have had an elective section.

Been looking into reconstruction surgeries.. and trying to do pelvic floor like mad :(

Give it time. Waaaaay too early to panic.

I had an episiotomy. Stitched me up almost. Had to have surgery to open me up, stitches came apart. GP saud just leave it. It's been fine tbh.

Omg don't look so close to the birth!!
I've had 2 naturals, no tears and it looks awful after for a few months.

Give it time to heal- it's not just the birth it's the weight of the baby whilst pregnant that can damage your pelvic floor. So 9 months of weight bearing.

Mine looks the same as before potentially feels a tiny bit different but better actually as DP was always too big before.

I thought so too with the antibiotics..but wasn't given any until sepsis set in.

Midwife initially thought that my shakes were the birth shakes but it was my temperature sky rocketing 🙄

Thank you! Will look In to pilates, I do think now and again if I'm doing the pelvic floor excerises right or not 🙈

Thank you for your kindness 😊

I'm not breastfeeding no, will make sure armed with lube when we eventually go for it

That is still very new! I’m not saying it will go back exactly how it was but I had an episiotomy and returned to ‘normal’.

Yes it does return to its prepregnancy state

Everyone is different, every birth is different, trust me, I was nursing over 40 years, quite a bit of gynae,you wouldn't believe the variations. I don't think that male or female genitalia are wildly attractive haha. But yes,waaay to soon to be concerned. You've been through a hell of an ordeal, concentrate on your lovely baby. I was really nervous after my 4th bad tear (1st h was a pig) second very gentle, started again after about a month (don't tell anyone, still "at it" at 74!) I had an early menopause at 42, have always kept up the sex life and I believe that is why I have never suffered from vaginal driness

Be gentle with yourself. Five weeks is probably too early for anything but the most gentle pilates (I started pilates again at seven weeks pp).

It is possible to overdo it with the pelvic floor exercises and develop a hypertonic (painfully tight) pelvic floor - I did this. Get a pelvic floor physio referral from your GP or self-refer if that's what happens in your area. They will teach you to do the exercises correctly and can also give you tailored exercise programmes to help with pain. They are very experienced and can give you a much better idea of where you are in your recovery, what's normal etc than either the GP or midwives.

As a FTM, I found all the NHS guidance seemed to suggest you will be physically back to normal at six-eight weeks post-partum. Bollocks! I have yet to meet a first time mum who has felt recovered this quick. Maybe they exist somewhere. I think it sets you up to feel even worse when you AREN'T back to normal at six weeks. But you will get better bit by bit, week by week, and your body will start to feel like your own again.

At only 5 weeks you’re nowhere near healed yet, let alone back to anything like normal. Please don’t worry. It takes months to fully heal. Our bodies take a battering in childbirth, we are torn and stretched and cut in so many ways, we’re not Lego people with babies that neatly pop out like taking a doll out of a box.

Try to be patient, look after your health and comfort, and don’t worry too much about doing enough exercises or the right type at this point.

Had episiotomy, third degree tear and cording/ keloid scarring on the tear scar. Had to have ultrasound on it as I had issued a with no two control for a bit. It seems ok now ten years down the line. Just don’t have another vaginal delivery if concerned about any more tearing. Had two sections after that. Easier recovery from them!