S/o tearing

[missbella]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread.

i had almost a 3rd degree tear ( midwife couldn't tell so she called the doc in to asses and do the stitches because she could only repair a 2nd). 3 outside stitches and countless internal ones. It healed well and by 4 weeks pp I felt pretty much normal. The only exception is sex. At 7 months pp it's still sore in one particular spot, where the outside stitches were. The midwife said it could take a year to feel normal again but I'm just wondering if this will go away at some point or if it is permanent. 

TIA!

[bunch]

I wasn't back to normal until a year. It can be especially hard if you're bfing.

[lilac05]

It took a long time for me, too.

[h]

I had a "borderline 2nd/3rd degree tear" with DS1 and a crapload of internal stitches. As in every nurse that came to check on me postpartum took one look at my chart and said "wow you had a lot of stitches" with an appalled expression on their face.

Sex was painful for 8-9 months and somewhat uncomfortable for well over a year. It didn't feel totally normal until after I had DS2--it was like tearing (though much less significantly that time) and being repaired again somehow fixed the issue.

[yellowbrkrd]

Yes. I had a third degree tear and even when sex didn't hurt, it still didn't feel quite right until at least 9 months.

[dcn]

Yeah I wasnt normal until a year, and really not until I weaned.

[stacyb1983]

2nd degree tear with both babies. Sex was uncomfortable for about 9 months after the first. I'll let you know on number 2.

[MadamePresident]

I didn't tear with my second, which is surprising considering how fast he born, but without a ton of really good lube, (and even sometimes with) I'll be sore for a while.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Are you nursing?

Breastfeeding can make sex pretty uncomfortable because it makes your tissues not have enough estrogen (or something like that -- I'm always being told this by my doctors -- apparently they can tell I lack estrogen by looking at the color of my tissue down there).

[missbella]

Dec 19, 2014 20:29:06 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

Are you nursing?

Breastfeeding can make sex pretty uncomfortable because it makes your tissues not have enough estrogen (or something like that -- I'm always being told this by my doctors -- apparently they can tell I lack estrogen by looking at the color of my tissue down there).

Yep I'm nursing. I was wondering if that was contributing to it.

[gibbinator]

I was just going to blame nursing too. I had a fairly bad tear with ds1 and sex just wasn't too pleasant for a year.

[spk926]

I had a bad 4th degree tear. Don't google it- you will regret it. It took a looong time for sex to not be painful. To be honest its still uncomfortable at times but much much better than it was. Now its just become the new normal and I know what positions to avoid so it isn't painful.

Sent from my SM-G900P using proboards

[dougthedogsmom]

I was told at the time I had a 2.5 degree tear (episidomy). My OB later told me it was really a 3rd degree one. I didn't even get cleared for sex until 12 weeks and he said to wait until I felt ready. I am now 6 months pp and sex is still pretty uncomfortable in the beginning. I too hope that it heals/goes away with time. Damn big headed baby! It's a good thing they are cute.

[missanne]

Took me a long time too. With DS I healed much faster.

[Deleted]

I had a c section (and nursed)and sex was taking one for the team for the first year.

[lolo]

Dec 19, 2014 20:19:55 GMT -5 MadamePresident said:

I didn't tear with my second, which is surprising considering how fast he born, but without a ton of really good lube, (and even sometimes with) I'll be sore for a while.

Awkward, but what lube do you use? I'm just meh on mine.

[gretchenindisguise]

Dec 19, 2014 20:29:06 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

Are you nursing?

Breastfeeding can make sex pretty uncomfortable because it makes your tissues not have enough estrogen (or something like that -- I'm always being told this by my doctors -- apparently they can tell I lack estrogen by looking at the color of my tissue down there).

My midwife just told me this today at my pp appointment. It impacts lubrication too. So load up on the astroglide.

[bowies]

Thank you for posting this. I've been feeling poorly about my lack of interest in sex because it's just so damn uncomfortable.

[greencrayon]

Not that I'm having any right now, but I've never had sex that wasn't uncomfortable after the baby. I'm 11 months out. Not nursing.

[water*drop]

Once I got to about a year of discomfort, my OB prescribed lidocaine to put on scar regularly to desensitize the nerve endings in the exact spot. It sounds weird, but it actually worked really well and quickly.

[elocrates]

IME, it does get better wih time. 1 year pp was pretty much back to normal. 2 years pp after DS3 is even better. Hang in there. Use lots of lube.

[formerlyllizzyb]

I had a c section and BFed and sex was not comfortable the entire time I nursed.

[MadamePresident]

Dec 20, 2014 2:33:43 GMT -5 lolo said:

Dec 19, 2014 20:19:55 GMT -5 MadamePresident said:

I didn't tear with my second, which is surprising considering how fast he born, but without a ton of really good lube, (and even sometimes with) I'll be sore for a while.

Awkward, but what lube do you use? I'm just meh on mine.

We use one called Wet. It doesn't dry out as fast as the Ky ones seem to do. I think we bought it at Wal-Mart.

[flgirl]

I had a third degree tear 12 years ago. It was so bad they did a running stitch so no idea how many stitches. Due to scar tissue and a strange way part of it healed I still have pain and will sometimes bleed. Unless I want a revision I am stuck with it. Luckily, the last 3 were c-sections, so much easier for me to heal from. I find lots o lube helps. Weirdly, this time nursing is helping the situation. That has never been the case but I will take it. A lot of the elasticity of that area depends on hormone fluctuations. Even during a month, the area changes and is either more or less comfortable. Hopefully with time yours will heal up to a place where it won't bother you.

[Deleted]

I'm glad you posted this. I'm 8 months out and sex is fine, but I have a spot from the episiotomy where the skin is super sensitive (and red) and sometimes bleeds with the friction. I was starting to freak out that I had a problem, but after reading the comments, it seems that it can take a long time to get back to normal.