Not for the squeamish.....Healing Question

Updated on April 30, 2007
K.B. asks from Milwaukee, WI
12 answers

Hello everyone,

I am almost nine months post partum and I'm not very satified with how I healed. I had an epidural and pushed my daughter out in 37 minutes. While I was happy to have it done with, I'm not happy with the aftermath. I ripped pretty extensively inside and out and the doctor took forever to stitch me up. We never really discussed the extent of my tearing and I have to believe it was pretty jagged from what things are like now. Ok, this is where it starts being too much information.....I have basically bunches of skin on two places, almost like a flap that could not be sewn back together. It can sometimes feel my husband rubbing on it while we are intimate. Did anyone else have a problem healing like this? What can I do about it other than plastic surgery?

Thanks for any insight

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So What Happened?

Just want to let everyone know that I went to the doctor today and told him the problem. He took a look and called it a large skin tag that was formed when the stitches bunched. He will be removing it for me next month with some novacaine, scapel, and one stitch. Not too bad, but I'm not looking forward to it.

More Answers

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P.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

I haven't had this since both were c-sections but I know a lady who hurt while being intimate and they recut and stitched her up again. I would go back and have someone else redo it at their expense. I would claim that sex isn't the same and that it doesn't feel good and if it was done correctly the first time you wouldn't be here.

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L.A.

answers from Wausau on

go see your gynocologist as soon as you can and a remeinder change ob doctors too if you ever have another baby or find out if its something he done or couldnt prevented because i have had five babies and never had that happen to me.

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D.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi- I hate to say this, but my son is 9 1/2 and the same thing happened to me during his birth. I never had anything done with the excess flap of skin & it still gives me pain once in awhile (during intercourse, like you mentioned, mostly). I wish I had done something when it first happened, but didn't realize it wouldn't just go away once time went by & I fully healed. So if I could give you any advice, it would be to have your OBGYN take a look & get it taken care of. Believe me, it doesn't go away on it's own.

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S.

answers from Minneapolis on

K.,
The fact that you had such extensive damage and no one ever talked to you about it is totally unacceptable. I would go back and demand the appropriate aftercare, or if you are not comfortable being seen at the same place, at least talk to them about it and then go to the gyn of your choice. You should not have to feel uncomfortable during sex or ashamed to talk to a doc about it. Good luck

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C.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

I have not had this problem but my best friend had almost the same thing as you. She had gone to the doctor at least 5 times to complain about it. Unfortunalty she was told that plastic surgery was the only way to fix it. I know that insurance will not cover the surgery unless there is a medcial need. My friend was able to get her doctor to pay to fix it because her's was due to the doctor doing a crappy job because she was in a hurry to deliver another women. Your's seems to be a little worse and I truly belive that it is the doctor fault and they were not careful enough. I have to have my 9 month old son's cir redone because the doctor messed up.

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L.H.

answers from Milwaukee on

I have heard of this happening to someone and she had to have her episiotomy re-done. I would definitely get it checked out!

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T.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi K.,
I understand what you are going through. My first child, Gabriella, did a number on me also. She was a forcep delivery after 3 1/2 hours of pushing. I endured over an hour of stitches afterwards (60 + stitches) I was not allowed to leave the hospital bed for 2 days after her birth. I had the same symtoms you have. Unfortunately they did not go away until I had my second child (16 months later) My doctor fixed some of the problem areas after my second daughters birth. Now life is MUCH BETTER and enjoyable.
I would talk to you OBGYN, but I wouldn't have an elective suregery if you plan on being pregnant again (sooner rather then later) No sense in two sets of 6 weeks of recovery :)

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J.H.

answers from Eau Claire on

Wow, I have a friend that tore to the point that she had to have a total of like 200 some stitches, but I have never heard of the doctor screwing up like that. I am so sorry you have to go through that. I have wracked my mind trying to think of something other than surgery but nothing comes to mind.

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J.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi K.. I'm sorry you are having such a rough time healing. It doesn't seem fair after all of that, does it? I had a similar situation with my first son's delivery. I would imagine that what you are feeling is scar tissue. I had "issues" with this for about as long as you are experiencing. The good news is that it does eventually heal in my experience. And with my second delivery I did not have the extensive ripping as I did with my first. I would definitely talk to your OB/GYN about it. I have heard of scar tissue being cauterized to speed up the process so maybe that would be an option for you. It could also possibly be hemmorhoids which is another one of those joys no one tells you about ;) I hope you are feeling better soon and that you can get some answers to your questions!!

take care,
J.
SAHM to 2DSs

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M.L.

answers from Rochester on

I have 2 friends that have had issues simmilar to yours and there was some additional surgery done to reconstruct for one of the and they both had physical therapy. I would suggest being seen and see if there is anything that can be done for you. You shouldn't have these problems a year later.

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J.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'm sorry that you are having such a terrible time with this. Here's what I would do. If you are planning on having any more kids any time soon I would just leave it for now. Once you are pregnant and they are down there anyways you can have the OB look at it and talk about how to fix it at your next birth. That way you'll be all drugged up anyways and they can fix it while they are down there, especially if you tear again. I tore really bad with my first child and had nothing with my second and they were only 4 oz different in size.
Best wishes to you and don't be embarrassed. One thing I have learned in life is that most embarrassing things are happening to more people than you think.
J.

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K.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I read this and my heart went out. (Just what you wanted to deal with after the birth of your daughter, right?)

I have extensive scar tissue after my daughter, (epidural, 15 minutes of pushing- but I didn't rip on the outside- just 'healable' trauma on the inside.) I noticed the same issues.

The first thing I would do is call your insurance company. I would explain that you were NEVER spoken to by your doctor about what you are now dealing with. I wouldn't go into crazy details, but I'd make sure they had it on record. Then? I'd contact hospital admin, or your doctor admin. I'd explain what was going on, and see if they can get you a patient advocate if the doctor isn't willing to fix it, without suggesting a plastic surgeon.

I'm so, so sorry you are having to encounter this. I think with talking to the right people, it will go a long way.

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