Did you have any lasting, long term effects of having a Vaginal Birth?

[sethsmummy]

I have to admit i had awful after effects from my vaginal but it was such a bodge job its almost laughable almost 5 years down the line. I had severe pains for 3 years afterwards and still get some now... toilet problems from both ends, couldnt have sex for severe pain (still is very painful sometimes).

I got to 10 and baby got stuck also... id had around 5 catheters placed and removed throughout... stuck on the bed.. lord knows just how many internal examinations which were extremely painful PLUS more for them attaching clip to babies head. I then was taken to theatre, had an epesiotomy and then failed Vountouse. he was born via forecep but i was pulled down the bed as they did it.. they damaged me and they damaged my son.


BUT even after all that ( I did have an elective section with ds2 due to fear) i really really want a VBAC this time round And have been told i have really good chance of success even though ds1 got stuck. Im going to give it my all and am already taking RLT and EPO to try and make my chances better Ill be induced around 38 weeks due to GD so am giving myself all the headstart i can get xx

 

[Perplexed]

No lasting effects with my vaginal delivery.

I reached 7cm then requested epidural. By the time I was administered that, I started feeling pressures and the urge to push. Had an episiotomy and stitches.

Due to the catheter I didn't pee till the next day, but I don't remember it burning or anything. My stitches hurt for maybe a week. Some women say that their first bowel movement pp hurt but I don't recall honestly. Sometime pp I did get constipated and bled with bm but it was a hydration issue and not due to vaginal labor.

Dtd hurt and we first tried 8 wks pp. Maybe 10 or 12 wks pp was okay again. If anything presses very hard where the stitches were I would get sensitive...but I do wonder if it's more psychological rather than physical. Just me remembering the pain of when the stitches were healing. They have healed 100%.

 

[Betheney]

I had straightforward vaginal births with no assistance, no tearing and no lasting effects. Gas and air and pethadine with the first and absolutely nothing with the second. I was out of bed minutes after delivering the placenta and showering straight away.

 

[nikkchikk]

I had straightforward vaginal births with no assistance, no tearing and no lasting effects. Gas and air and pethadine with the first and absolutely nothing with the second. I was out of bed minutes after delivering the placenta and showering straight away.

One of the reasons I would choose not to have an epidural; so I could get up and move right away!!

 

[BunnyN]

I had a natural drug free home birth. I am proud of it. I am sure I would not have gotten it without being well prepared and determined. It was also hard work . I loved the feeling of pushing, it was very empowering. I loved the feeling of the actual birth, feeling the head and then shoulders being born. Those first mins of skin to skin contact were amazing. I hope I get to do the same again this time. Of course things can change and you sometimes have to adapt. Many women have lovely birth experiences with an epidural or cs. Sometimes women have a disapointing or traumatic birth experience but that doesn't mean they failed. I think its women who get through a traumatic birth and hard recovery that are the bravest. At the end of the day we are glad if LO and mother are healthy in the end but it never hurts to try and have the best experience you can.

I had no pain after birth, just a bit of discomfort for a few days. I was up and walking straight away, but the MW did advise me to take it easy and have a lot of bedrest for the first days as I bled quite a lot after the baby was born. I had a small tear in my labia which was stitched but the stitches pulled out so has left me with a tear. The MW said I could have it repaired but it honestly doesn't bother me. Other than that in general I do feel a little different down there but nothing life changing. For the first week or so after it was very puffy and flappy looking, lol, but that did 'bounce back' more or less . My bleeding slowed after a few days and stopped after 2 weeks. We had sex again just after 2 weeks and it was pretty good, just had to take it a little slow. The only thing I really don't like is a little flap of extra skin I seem to have been left with at my bum. I think it was because I had haemoriods during pushing and it stretched the skin a bit. Again if it bothered me too much it could probably be repaired. I have no big problems with bladder control or anything like that. My bladder may not be quite what it ).

 

[BunnyN]

Sorry, double post, was trying to finish my sentance from the last post... my blader may not be quite what it was but I think that has more to do with two pregnancies with only a years gap between.

 

[Srrme]

I have no lasting effects. I tore 4 times and was cut, but it all healed fine and it doesn't look or feel any different than before.

 

[MoonLove]

These replies have been wonderfully helpful. Thank you so much, i feel so much more at ease

Another question i'd like to ask in here - Did you experience intial loss of bladder control, straight after baby was born? I think i recall from when i was first pregnant, stories of women not being able to control their bladders due to the shot muscles in the intial first few days. Does that wear off?

With my c-sec, i just couldn't feel my bits and i'd just sit on the toilet until i could hear that i had finished, but i didn't have any accidents. I want to know whether to expect it with a vaginal birth.

Thank you!

 

[BunnyN]

My bladder control was better pretty much straight after birth than it had been at the end of pregnancy. Infact I can remember it being a relief not to have to worry about coughing and sneezing anymore. It improved a bit more in the couple of months after. My bladder control has never been quite as good as it was before pregnancy. I noticed it at the begining of this pregnancy when I spent a lot of time throwing up violently over the toilet which made me wee myself too (not glamorus, lol). On a day to day basis its not an issue though. I'm not sure how much of it had to do with a vagingal birth and how much was just pregnancy. It can't help that I had less than a years gap between pregnancies. Doing exercices to strengthen it would probably help too, which I haven't been very good about.

 

[purplecupcake]

Nope. Right after giving birth, within an hour, I felt I had to pee and was able to get up and go. I can hold it for 4-5 hours now which might be my favorite part about not being pregnant anymore!

 

[nikkchikk]

No issue with bladder control after DD was born at all. The only problem I had was PP pain while peeing from a small tear. Staying hydrated (to dilute pee) and running warm water from a squirt bottle over that are during the stream helped a lot. It healed in a couple weeks.

 

[BunnyN]

The MW advised me to pee in the shower the first couple of times, lol. I know a lot if ladies find it really stings to pee for a while after but I didn't even have a problem with it stinging.

 

[RaspberryK]

I had no toilet problems of any kind xx

 

[adrie]

Honestly, yes.

I had an episiotomy and did not tear beyond the cut and all healed up well; however, I had BV on at least 2 occasions--the second of which ended me up in hospital b/c it was misdiagnosed with ongoing stomach pain and I was prescribed the wrong antibiotics. I also had a MAJOR yeast infection. But all is well now (my LO is 13 months). My vagina looks and feels exactly as it did pre-pregnancy.

Also, I get cramps on occasion, which I never had prior to pregnancy during the start of my monthly cycle. They are mild though, no big deal. Prior to getting on birth control, I had cycles that mirrored those from my youth! I felt like my body had been rejuvenated; was great to feel like a teenager again since I no longer look like one! hahaha

I may be alone in this--but I am not sure why people would choose a C-section for no reason other than convenience? I mean, isn't it possible to arrange childcare ahead of time? I don't understand why anyone would choose major surgery over a vaginal birth if possible. I personally would not entertain the idea. To each her own though.

Having said all of that, it's important to remember that there are risks will labour regardless of what route you choose. For example, women can die from both vaginal and C-section births, due to complications. You have to have faith in yourself, your body (and God, esp., if you believe).

 

[adrie]

My recovery was great, I never even took an Advil. No long term effects!

Just wanted to say that your daughter is BEAUTIFUL! My niece and nephew are redheads (my nephew is more strawberry blonde though). My LO had a bit of red in her hair for a few months but now she is light blonde.

I'd love to have a little redhead!

 

[claudinator]

Nerve damage in my butt, DS was big for me and I'd a fourth degree tear and I'd a scar across my butt cheek and then I got a granula on it bstill breathless and weak 11months on. They can't get my haemoglobin back up 😞.

 

[mara16jade]

Hemorrhoids. 'Nuf said.

Five months later, I'm still super prone to getting them - and I had NEVER in my life ever had even the tiniest one. I was told that since mine were pretty bad, I will most likely have flare ups and get them easier.

Oh well. If that's the only issue I have - I'll take it!! No stretch marks, no "looseness", no incontinence, no scars, etc.

And I had an epidural and I've had no ill effects from that either.

 

[vickyandchick]

I gave birth 2 months ago and no changes to bladder control however I now have a fissure which is not comfortable at all. I had a 2nd degree tear and a labial laceration which have all healed- did hurt for a week or 2 but nothing too painful or anything that some ibuprofen couldn't sort out.
Dtd at 6/7 weeks and it pinched a bit when he went inblush but other than that there is no pain at all- OH says it feels the same and he seems happy enough

I also had an epidural and I was up having a shower a few hours after he was born

 

[mummytobe_93]

Absolutely fine and back to normal. I was having a few problems with bladder control for a bit but that came back after a few weeks. No pain, nothing. For me I loves my vagainal birth and I would choose to do it over again. I guess it's just the pushing your baby out and meeting then for the first time. Hard but so worth it x

 

[Dolly84]

I have a vaginal birth with ds, had a 2nd degree tear, I tore both sides and my perineum, but the healing was quite fast. I used to pour a jug of water over it when I had to wee the first few times just so it minimised the stinging, and I held a sanitary towel on my perineum when I had my first bowel movement. But all healed superbly. I am currently 23 weeks pregnant with #2 and I'm wishing for another vaginal birth xxx