11 days after birth - those with a vaginal delivery, come in - poss TMI

rainfallki

I never posted a birth story since I never really posted much to begin with..  but Gabriel James was born on June 5th at 9.17pm (42w1d) weighing 8lb 6oz via a pain med-free vaginal delivery.  They did induce with pitocin and I ended up with an episiotomy and internal and external tearing.  Things didn't go according to birth plan, other than staying med-free and having a healthy baby (which is THE most important thing!).

Anyway - I'm wondering how quickly those of you that had a vaginal delivery got to looking somewhat normal down below.  It's only been 11 days, but I'm feeling a little discouraged - to me, it looks like a baby could just slide out right now without any stretching needed.  DH says things are looking better already and I never saw it at it's worst... which is true.  But I could use some encouragement, I guess...  when we can get back to a normal sex life, I want it to be normal.  Not big enough for a baby to pass through.

carissa_danielle

Well, at 7 weeks PP, I would say that things are looking tremendously better down there. I can't remember how things looked down there before to compare, but everything has gotten better since delivery. Give it time, everything will get better!

Athena0809

Can I first say my hat's off to you for going med-free! I honestly think I could not have done it without the epidural, though I got to 8cm without anything, anyway, I also had two internal tears and I have to say at 4weeks it's looking good down there. I didn't look with a mirror until about a week ago because I was so nervous to look down there but size-wise it looks normal!, I can see the stitches, some are coming off already and it's still a little uncomfortable, itchy because now it's healing, I have kept my routine, peri-bottle with warm water, patting dry with toilet paper, witch hazel and and anti-bacterial spray (can't think of the name right now). As far as getting back to a normal sex life, to be real, I can't even think about sex right now. I know we are supposed to have pelvic rest at least for the 6 weeks until the post partum check up and after that I think it will be (speaking for me) a wait and see game. GL!

h2ojock13

You went med free with a pitocin induction? Your a rockstar!

I delivered on June 2nd and things still look a little "loose" down there. I was brave and looked the first day I was home and things do look like they've shrunk down a bit but it could be the swelling going down too.. I don't know. I've been doing kegels when i'm holding the baby to help tighten things up.  Women do go back to having a normal sex life after babies, so don't worry too much about that. I'm sure things look scary down there right now, but it'll get better as time goes on. 

kacelle

I had an epi-free induction as well; hats off to you!  It was tough stuff, and I didn't have any tearing (which I'd imagine would make it much more painful).  

At 3 weeks postpartum, I still look "stretched," but much less than I did when I first got home from the hospital (when I looked in the mirror and wanted to cry. 

theaustins05

i haven't taken a mirror to it, but from how i feel, and what i feel when i wash/wipe things seem normal. swollen, soreish, but normal.

Luma88

LOL - I'm too scared to look down there.  But things feel normal!

EJChapman123

Maybe Im a super healer - but I look/feel normal.  I only had a couple internal stitches though, but within 10 days or so I had no pain and only a little itching here and there.

Honestly, if I had the green light from my doc (I don't obviously) I would be willing to try sex now, but I obviously know its not a great idea.  But im oddly horny. 

carissa_danielle

Luma88:

LOL - I'm too scared to look down there.  But things feel normal!

Ditto!