Anybody else have a stretched vagina after giving birth?

[loulabelle]

I would seek a second opinion for sure.

I pushed for an hour and a half with my labor.Although I didn't have forceps or the Vac, I did have a nasty Episiotomy.

I was still in a heap of pain 2 months later so I went to the Doc and found out that the had stitched me up incorrectly.They had to restitch all over again.

Probably not the same problem you have but I would still go to see a different Doctor.

Oh....And the hospital originally told me it was all fine 3 weeks after birth.

[Deltadawn]

Thanks Marydean for letting me know that. It is reassuring to know that it shouldnt be a problem, like I said, the Ob didnt seem too concerned by it.

Satya and Laurab - All was good and dandy after the birth (almost good as new) and then it just happened when I fell pregnant with Baby #2 just a few months ago. I dont know whether the extra pressure of the pregnancy on the uterus has made it drop or something?

[Sophia73]

Hi Tonydayl,

I have a prolapse after birth of my daughter in December. The good news for me is that the symptoms are improving month by month to the point where I almost feel "normal" again. I've been very diligent in doing my pelvic floor exercises and seeing my physio.

Also, I recently saw a female gynae who specialises in this area and was really reassuring. She told me a few things I hadn't heard before, namely that the damage to the pelvic floor is often done in PREGNANCY rather than in labour ( I was solely blaming my birth experience - long labour, forceps and episiotomy). Also that weakness in the pelvic floor and hence prolapse is mostly genetic (weaker connective tissue). The hormones in pregnancy and while breastfeeding really affect the symptoms - hence this may be why you're suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable while your pregnant.

Oh, also I was worried about further damage by vaginal births in the future and she was reassuring in a strange way by saying - look, the damage has been done already and another labour is unlikely to make a bit difference.

Anyway just some food for thought. I

[Deltadawn]

Thanks Sophia! Thank you for sharing that information. My Ob is on holidays for another 6 weeks so you have put my mind at ease. I must admit I was very lax about doing my pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy but am trying to do them through this pregnancy when I remember.

Thanks again!

[BekZ]

Ladies I need to jump into this conversation!!!

After my second pregnancy/birth I had a bulge coming out of my vagina and it really scared me. I am 9 months post birth and I still have a small bulge. I can only feel it when I sit on the loo and I don't have any incontinence issues thankfully.

I have started doing pelvic floor exercises everyday and I hope I see an improvement really soon.

We want to start ttc bub number 3 by the end of the year and I really would like my vajayjay to be back in it right full place before going throuhg another pregnancy.

It looks like I should find a phyiso who deals with these issues or should I see my doctor first?

[Sophia73]

Hi Bekz,

Definately do both! I'd recommend seing a gynae rather than a GP - they would be able to diagnose and recommend treatment. I had a bad experience with a GP who told me "wow that's a really bad prolapse" possibly because they really don't see that many compared to gynaes!

A women's physio is helpful in making sure you are doing the Pelvic Floor exercises properly and suggesting core strengthening activities that will also help.

Don't worry too much - I'm reassured it's very common - however do act now to prevent it getting worse.

[jilljuneja]

All my baby is 15 months old. I had very deep tears and colud not walk for days.

I only have problem - my vagina is now very big. When we do sex we both dont feel much. It is really big in comparision to earlier.

I have not pelvic floor exercise much. I am planning to take things seriously now. As it is affecting my marriage.

Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

I want to know is big vagina common and how to reduce the width or the inner hole width.

Jill.

[Akira]

Since giving birth to my first (which was long and prolonged) my vagina was stretched and did not seem to be going back to it's normal pre pregnancy dimensions, which was probably a fault of my husband who was fascinated by my new vagina and he couldn't leave it alone and after a period of discomfort I couldn't resist his attention either and really enjoyed it. My vagina has remained reasonably constant (as in still stretched) over the years and after the next two pregnancys, but it doesn't seem to have gotten any bigger, but I seem to be able to accommodate a lot more.

I never got used to it filling up with water, but have grown to live with it, still gives me a bit of a surprise, no matter how I prepare for it. If I persist, I seem to adapt to the temperature after a few minutes.

[Jaycee]

Um, perhaps you may be better suited to the adults only area??

[helle]

Um, perhaps you may be better suited to the adults only area??

I was just sitting here thinking how wonderful it was that this thread got bought up. Everyone speaks about what your body goes through during pregnancy and labour but no one ever mentions the things that happen to your body after you have given birth and the different ways everyone goes about coping with it.

Alot of woman are left feeling a bit clueless and wondering if what they are going through and is happening to their body is normal.

I think this thread is just as relevent as the EWCM & different vaginal discarges talk that goes on in the TTC threads.

[BellyBelly]

Sex After Childbirth - Will It Ever Feel The Same Again?

Are you worried about how your vagina will bounce back after childbirth? Do you wonder if sex will ever feel the same again, for you or your partner? We've interviewed real-life women to find out if they or their partner noticed a difference in sensation after childbirth. Find out who's having the multiple orgasms!

[Akira]

Um, perhaps you may be better suited to the adults only area??

In my experience, women who give birth are adults. My response was trying to show that with the right attitude and partner the 'negative' changes can be accommodated.

[Jaycee]

Well appears my response was not taken well from a couple of people, perhaps i shall keep it to myself from now on

[Akira]

Well appears my response was not taken well from a couple of people, perhaps i shall keep it to myself from now on

I wasn't offended by your comment, I just felt that we are all adults and my input about how we coped might help. I hope I didn't offend you, if I did, I'm sorry. I think we should leave it there.

[Bea06]

Hi,

As the person who started this thread and asked the question I am kind of bothered goodness gracious by the suggestion that this sort of stuff is somehow too rude or something to be talked about. And that it should only be a topic for "adults". I was deeply traumatised by my birth experience and the fact that afterwards my vagina was quite frankly, completely and utterly ruined. It is so stretched that I can no longer swim, walk (without feeling like my insides are going to fall out), wear tampons properly or enjoy sex like I used to. Given that my child is now almost 3, although prolapse surgery is on the cards once I finish my family, I have I have come to accept that it will never be the same again.

I was deeply shocked that this occurred as I had never once heard it mentioned until AFTER it happened to me. If I had have known for a nano second that it would be the case I would have had a ceaser in a heartbeat.

If women can't ask this sort of stuff on Belly Belly where can we ask it? It is a deeply personal and quite upsetting topic for me to talk about. I really appreciate the women that take the time to reply and share their personal stories (sex and all), involving their experience post baby.

Thank you to all and sundry who have replied! It is much appreciated!

[bec.r]

Hi, I am a physiotherapist who works specifically in Women's Health (pelvic floor and pregnancy) up on the gold coast. If your feeling that your vagina is stretched and you are getting a heaviness/dragging sensation it is the first symptom of a prolapse. It is best to be reviewed by your obstetrician or GP, and book in with a Pelvic Floor Physio. Even when you are doing your PF exercises the majority of women are doing them incorrectly, and these are the muslces that will tighten your vagina and support against prolapses. It is imperative that you are informed about these exercises in your child bearing years, especially if you have signs of a prolapse and/or you leaking urine at any time other then going to the bathroom. The earlier you get onto these problems the easier they tend to be sorted out.

[KimB]

Omg wish BellyBelly was around when I was having my 1st baby.

I had a normal pregnancy but a terrible labour (pushing for 3 hours before they got a dr) and ended up in theatre (under a GA) having an episiotomy from hell. I did suffer from a cervical prolapse that seemed to clear up, had problems with my bowels as I was too good at pushing (now have haemaroids sp), but I could never get my pelvic floor muscles to work properly after that. I saw a physio and she told me I was using my tummy muscles instead lol so I had super strong tummy muscles but no p/f ones. It was only after my 3rd that I had it checked properly and the gynie found that my p/f muscles weren't even attached to each other. After the episiotomy they didn't stitch me back up right so all that time that I was trying to do my p/f's ..........aaarrrgghhhh. Any way in 2005 I had repair surgery to pull the muscles back together but to tell the truth I still have trouble doing my p/f's. I still feel huge down there and I've had 2 more kids since the repair surgery and the 4th one was a vag birth with only a small tear so I must have been enormous before the surgery lol. I know the difference between what I was pre babies and now and it is not good. I still have phobias about myself down there but DF is ok with me. I have areas that are numb so enjoying DTD is on and off. I don't have any incontinent problems but just wish I could control the muscles like I used to. Could drive them wild with the clenching lol.

Sorry if it hasn't answered anyones questions but thank you for letting me get it out there. Have kept this to myself for over 15 years now.