Anybody else have a stretched vagina after giving 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.

[Meags]

Wow, I am so relieved to find that I am not the only one feeling this way! DH keeps saying he notices no difference, but it is 6 months since I gave birth and it certainly feels like there is lots of space 'down there'. DTD has not been so great for me since birth, it is encouraging to read that most of you noticed improvments in this area. Maybe there is hope for me yet? DH is pretty keen to get pregnant again soon but I am terrified another pregnancy and birth will just make it worse.

Since reading everyone elses comments, i'm going to be more diligent with the pelvic floor exercises and maybe go back to pilates.

Thankfully I dont have anyproblems with continence, and didn't tear so have no scar to worry about.

It is so nice to not feel alone in this, especially as it isn't exactly a dinner party conversation topic. I wish you all the best with this and hope to read more as we seek action and solutions.

[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!

[paradise lost]

Bea I'm so sorry things haven't resolved for you. I have a friend who just had her pelvic repair done (though she actually had all 3 of hers by c-section, so i'm not sure if it can "save" the pelvic floor...?) and she's feeling so much better. She had a partial prolapse for about a year after #1, then after #2 she had a full-prolapse in recovery and was rushed back to theatre to have it put back, but even afterwards she had to wear a pessary to stop her cervix slipping into the vaginal opening. After #3 she had the gynae sent to her bed in the maternity ward to discuss her repair, and had it done 9 months later to have time to heal from the section). She called me from home the day she left the hospital and said "Hey Bec i just climbed the stairs and i'm not dragging a rock around in my pants anymore!" Her recovery seems to be going great and she's SO much happier in herself.

So don't lose hope, i'm o sorry this happened to you, but it can be repaired when you're ready.

Huge

Bx

[BellyBelly]

Guys, there are a few brand new posters in this thread and one had to be edited due to very graphic nature, which you wouldn't have seen as a mod had to edit it. I didn't do the editing myself, but I trust that if something had to be edited, it was absolutely required. We allow and encourage this discussion on BellyBelly, of course we do.

[Jaycee]

Bea, firstly let me say I am sorry that you are still having issues, hugs to you.
It certainly is not the topic that I was commenting about, of course you are able to discuss this. The new poster went into a little too much detail, as Kelly has said above, that was what I wasn't happy reading, not the topic itself, trust me. I just felt that that graphic a post should be discussed in the adults only area, as that's what it's there for.
I hope this explains it all.