What are your ongoing health issues due to a vaginal birth?

[Cinderella25]

My sister and I were talking about how a section is more painful but you seem to get less life long health issues.

So what are your going issues due to having a vaginal birth?

None for me. I didn't have any epidural though, which I think is the root cause gor most of these problems.

I had an emcs, most of my ongoing physical issues are from pregnancy and pumping.

However, the cs has significantly worsened my pelvic adhesions, which causes daily, constant pain. I already have endometriosis and adenomyosis so adhesions we’re already an issue, but I can literally feel that things are attached where my scar is.

Woman need to be educated on the risks of pregnancy and childbirth.

We are told ‘you’ll go back’, ‘you won’t notice the difference’, ‘that you only get prolapses if you are over 35 and have multiple births’. None of these are true.

Personally I don’t think I would of chosen to have a child if I knew I would be in constant pain for years and have no sex life. It’s a lot to deal with at 26.

just had my second in january and since then sometimes if i cough a bit of wee comes out! that should rectify itself apparently. otherwise i don't have anything except an episiotomy scar (#1) and a second degree tear (#2) but they cause me no issues.

I’ve had a cough/ cold recently and I’ve had to wear those always sensitive bladder pants!

Nothing other than that though- and it has been a pretty terrible cough!

I wouldn’t change my birth experience for the world.

Also I had an epidural! No bad tearing. I had the one with a button that you can stop pushing towards the end. I’d have an epidural again- it was amazing with a back to back baby! I know many women who didn’t have them and got bad tears.

Keloid scarring/cording from where I was torn ( third degree tear). I had to have a lot of physio/ ultrasound The first year after as I had issues with my sphincter control.
It’s fine now but I worry about the future especially when I go through the menopause.
I had sections after that. If I had my time again I would have had an elective section from the beginning.

I had an episiotomy and forceps delivery with no pain relief and a labour that lasted less than 4 hours with my first but I can honestly say that I healed up remarkably well and very quickly, my 2nd was an emergency c-section which was a far longer recovery and has led to multiple horrible complications. I have agonising back problems due to the spinal, a very sore/numb scar area, I ended up with sepsis due to a kidney infection caused by the catheter, PTSD from the trauma (obviously vaginal birth can result in PTSD too), I actually have more bladder problems after my c-section than my first, sex hasn't felt the same since, any future pregnancies and births will carry more risks than if I hadn't had a c-section.

I would never choose a c-section if I had the choice; yes vaginal births carry many, many risks and I do think that there should be more warnings about this as it seems alot of people don't realise what can happen (but in many cases there are things that can be done to prevent/treat the issues). However vaginal births are in general less risky than c-sections, and while no birth is ever easy, in the majority of cases - again not all - the recovery will be much simpler, quicker and less painful than a c-section.

Personally I don’t think I would of chosen to have a child if I knew I would be in constant pain for years and have no sex life. It’s a lot to deal with at 26.

Please don’t put up with that Cinderella, keep trying for help.

40 years ago for me these matters were not discussed. Sex was impossible after my VB, I felt more of a freak every time someone announced they were expecting their second. My XH even went to our GP after I’d got nowhere, he was just told to be “more of a man” i.e. just force himself in! Bloody barbaric.

I was eventually given vaginal trainers, but they were made of glass and I was terrified of them shattering under pressure after I’d eventually forced even the smallest one inside me.

What did help was time. Over a decade later I had a second child, I kept my fears about the birth to myself throughout the pregnancy, but I was dreading it. My second delivery required no intervention or stitches, I couldn’t believe the difference. Could have jumped off that delivery bed and danced all the way home.

There is hope Cinderella, please don’t give up, you are so young.

None that I'm aware of!

Are they less risky than elective c-sections? I think not! Where do people get this idea from? They babies that have cerebral palsy because they have been deprived of oxygen. They are vaginal births or emergency sections due to failed vaginal births. The tears are all vaginal. The stats never take into account long term problems once women hit the menopause. It’s one big lie!

Not really anything, one episiotomy and one second degree tear.

I was desperate to avoid a section especially with my second as DH only had a week off after and I had a small age gap.

Luckily no2 was a quick easy labour (despite the tearing).

Haemorrhoids are not birth related, but pregnancy related.

Painful episiotomy scar tissue which occasionally tears.

I have groin hernia which is very painful and a long waiting list to fix- but that’s pregnancy more than birth I think

Haemmoroids and a large episiotomy scar, but given the nightmare carcrash that was my first labour I consider myself to have got off lightly!

Haemorrhoids are not birth related, but pregnancy related

Not necessarily. I was told pregnancy can cause them but birth and particularly the pushing stage is an additional risk factor.

'Also I had an epidural! No bad tearing. I had the one with a button that you can stop pushing towards the end. I’d have an epidural again...I know many women who didn’t have them and got bad tears.'

This ^

Haemorrhoids are not birth related, but pregnancy related

I did suffer hems during pregnancy at the v end. But it was a LONG pushing stage that caused the long-term issues. I now have skin tags from the horrific ones I ended up with after labour and these flare regularly. So, I agree that pregnancy can cause them but labour (particularly a long pushing stage where you are putting pressure on that area for a prolonged period can ultimately cause longer damage

I think part of the issue is that the best vaginal birth outcomes are frequently held up against the worst c section options, so you have this narrative of "only a couple of stitches and you're out the same day", versus "probable death". And really it's not a true comparison.

@sar302 I agree with you there and medical staff in my experience are very guilty of that. I got told if I had a c section the stats on the probability the baby having fluid on lungs was 25 percent and how if I had a VB the baby wouldnt have fluid on the lungs and I would be home the same day. Well guess what VB baby still had fluid on lungs and I was in hospital ages and in SCBU. I do find they love to gloss over VB yet present every statistic for a c section and can only think it's a cost issue.

12 yrs on.
Prolapse
Bladder spasms
Mild incontinence

Also tore so have scarring.

Just come out of a urodynamics appt following vaginal birth 2yrs ago.

Had CS first time 5.5yrs ago. Had mild incontinence from that. I have a sensitive scar and a CS overhang.
I had a vaginal birth of a 4.5kg baby, 3B year. I had urge and stress incontinence, currently being treated.

Is what it is. Still plan on a vaginal birth for number 3 when that happens

I can no longer to a quick poo. Only leisurely man poos for me.

So sad women are still taught to perpetuate the myth that CS is more dangerous/ worse recovery than VB. This thread is not full of horror stories. It is full of average experiences, reflected in the same number amongst our real life friends. We are simply pawns in the healthcare system, which is struggling to provide free maternal care.