I had my 8.6 pound son vaginally 15 months ago. I had an episiotomy and afterwards it took me around 10 weeks to heal and wasn't healing right at first even though I followed all the after care instruction. It also was difficult to poo for a while and I had to apply pressure to my perineum to get the poo to come out because it felt stuck. Now 15 month pp I looked at it in the mirrior and it looks the the skin under my vagina is still opened up like it never healed together, like my stiches didn't take or something. Is this just me or is it like this for anyone else? Is this one of those things that come along with having a baby? Is there any repairing it? I'm afraid my dr with think I'm being vain if I go back now and ask her to fix it but it's uncomfortable and ugle. Any advice or imput helps. Thanks and god bless!!
First of all, all of the most recent research shows that they shouldn't be doing episiotomies! So do go back in there and have her fix it!
I had two and the skin between the vagina and the anus are very thin they call it something but forgot but yes it is very ugly! They do have a cream to use.
If you didn't heal properly ANYWHERE else, and it was painful/uncomfortable/ugly you'd go in and get it at LEAST seen, yes? Your vagina/vulva deserves as much respect as your elbow or your nose.
Peg's answer is similar to mine.
I had to have two surgeries (not with a pastic surgeon but with a colorectal surgeon). The tests to evaluate the damage from the episiotomy and to guide future repair work were hard to deal with so pull together your circle of emotional support.
However, the repairs are necessary. If you're having to help your bowel movements empty now at your age, how will you manage when you're older and the tissue elasticity is different?
My surgeries helped me but didn't solve the problem completely because of my age (40 when I had my child, 42 after the second surgery).
Get on this! It's not your fault! Episiotomies should be used very, very rarely. Sadly, they are used too often, and we suffer from the damage.
Oh my gosh! Who cares what your Dr. thinks! I bet she wouldnt want that going on with her vagina either. I also had an episiotomy, and my vagina looks exactly like it did before children.. I would get it fixed if I were you!
I had a horrible 4th degree episiotomy. My daugter was 7 pounds 15 ounces and came out sideways so my doctor cut me all the way back through my muscle and everything. It was painfull and hurt to walk for awhile but now its fine. But I also have one piece of skin that looks seperated like it should have healed together with my stitches. It is not painfull at all, in fact it's numb but it's not noticeable unless you look closley so I never mentioned to my doctor. If it is uncomfortable and noticeable I would at least ask my doctor about it and see what they recommend. Good Luck!
I had an 3rd degree episiotomy with my first and didn't have problems with it. That being said, if I had any issues AT ALL I wouldn't hesitate to go to my doctor. They are not going to (or shouldn't) judge you for vanity. It really doesn't sound like you are being vain to begin with, but honestly, so what if you are? The doctor can give an honest evaluation and recommend or refer as mets your case. GL, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor!
Episiotomy was the thing I was most afraid of. I was so scared. My daughter came out and the first thing I said was, "Aren't you going to cut me?" Thank God it wasn't necessary, but all my friends had told me horror stories. Your baby is 15 months old and I think you should definitely talk to your doctor. Don't be embarrassed. It's really important that you heal up properly and if that hasn't happened, you need to let your doctor know. You might need a little procedure to have you put back together correctly.
Doctors who are OB/GYN's have seen just about every single thing so don't be afraid to mention it.
Best wishes.
Sorry you've developed this problem. Do get it evaluated, particularly since you have reason to think it never healed properly, or trouble can become worse over time (particularly when menopause thins the tissues further.)
It's possible, if you ever still have to support your perineum for pooping, that you have developed a rectocele. This is a tear or cut right through the band of muscle that helps to form a strong wall between rectum and vagina. The location and extent of this separation can vary somewhat depending on the injury, but the result is something of a pocket where stool can collect, or be "aimed" wrong (bulging into the space of the vagina instead of out the anus) when you're trying to have a bowel movement.
I had this problem develop about 40 years ago – I received an extensive episiotomy when my large baby was born and pulled out by forceps. The muscle was cut and/or torn. I have never had a "normal" bowel movement since, and when I hit menopause, had insult added to injury… for the past 12 years I've had to use a gloved finger to remove poop that can't exit any other way. This is painful, awkward, messy, often embarrassing, and limiting – there are public toilets and bathrooms in other people's homes that are simply impossible for me to use. You do not want to end up in this condition, I promise you.
If you can afford it or have decent insurance (I do not), get this corrected now. There is surgery for it. Good luck.
You should see your doctor immediately! You probably need a little reconstruction which is a lot more common than I ever knew before I became a mother and started talking to other mothers. That's not normal or the way it's supposed to be. Good luck getting everything "fixed"!
I had a tear the first time through (older mom here) and it was sewn up, but I ended up with tissue that was sticking out, like a huge skin tag and it was painful to walk. I went in and had it repair. Helped a bunch. If you are having trouble with BMs and it is painful other times, too, definitely get it checked and fixed.
Ouch, good luck to you.
Talk with your doctor, she can tell you what is normal and what is not. There is not reason to feel embarrassed, all your doctor will think is that you have a concern, not that you are vain or anything else. They have heard it all, they do not judge.
I let myself tear naturally the best choice for me & have healed but after 3 big babies it's not near as pretty as it once was.I would personally get surgery on it but hubby see's it differently than I & i'm not in pain down there or have issues with poo.Get an exam & yu'll be headed in the direction she can tell either tell you it didn't heal correctly lets do such procedure or let it go & correct it after another baby whcih I would rather wait incase you have more kids
This is so common with episiotomies! Please go to your doctor and insist that it be fixed. You may need to see a plastic surgeon.
dont ever hesitate to go see the doctor if you are concerned about something. That is what they are here for. and dont leave til you are satisfied, that is what you pay them for.
I delivered one 8.8 and one 8.11 tore something awful (1/4 inch from my hiney hole as my midwife put it) but never had an episiotomy. I healed with little scarring and now have no discomfort. Have you had a pap smear since then? Did the dr mention something to you? If it really looks unhealed, or things are still uncomfortable down there I would definantly have it checked out!
