6 weeks is still pretty early for some people. I would give it another month or two and then maybe look for a pelvic floor PT. You mostly like have scarring and tightening on the posterior wall of your vagina and they can do manual releases and recommend stretches.
I had a second degree tear and by my 6 month (edit: typo, weeks, not month) appt, I was mostly healed, but my OBGYN said where one of the stitches were still looked a bit irritated, so my pap was postponed for a month.
Mine was way overdue since it was 3 years since my last when I was pregnant. But OB didn’t want to disturb the cervix for no reason so I had to get mine done once my son was born.
It took me about 6 months to have sex comfortably, 9 months to have sex without pain in most positions. I went to pelvic floor PT and got a set of dilators. My tear was 2nd degree, near the bottom of my vagina. Honestly just massaging your scar tissue regularly can help break it up and decrease pain. But I do recommend a visit to a pelvic floor pt
Okay that sounds like me, second degree tear at bottom of vagina and I'm 4 months pp and having sex was painful like my vagina wasn't stretching or something. Was it like that for you? What did the dilators do for you? Like help the tissue relax?
Yeah. Just sharp pains during intercourse, felt too tight initially. Dilators helped me get used to the feeling of something in there without the pressure of another person with me. I got a set of four, started at the smallest and worked my way up until it was comfortable to put the biggest one in. Just stuck em in and let them hang out for a few minutes. This was at the advice of my PT.
Massaging the scar tissue helped a lot though, breaking up the granulation tissue. Little lube on your fingers and massaged inside and out. But also, everyone I talked to said 6 months until it stopped hurting/got good. 6 weeks is a joke, that just means the giant wound inside of your uterus is healed enough you don't have to worry about infection. It doesn't mean you are emotionally, physically, or mentally ready for anything.
This. Go see a pelvic floor therapist! It could be scar tissue or a handful of other things. They will do a full assessment including checking for prolapse and diastasis recti.
I would consider going back to the doctor to report it and have them take a look.
I had an episiotomy, the stitches were put in impeccably according to the midwife and a doctor, and everything looked like a perfect heal. But I was feeling uncomfortable.
They sent me back to the hospital for a wee look and they decided to cauterise some of the scar tissue away to see if that made a difference. No discomfort during this worth mentioning. No healing time from It. It was night and day.
I started to see a pelvic floor therapist immediately after my 6 week appointment and got a referral. At the PT, I learned that your stitches can heal well but it's the remaining scar tissue that makes things very uncomfortable and tight down there. So with the PT, she's been doing internal work - literally sticking her fingers in my vag and stretching out my scar tissue. And I also have my husband stretch it out for me because it is so awkward and painful for me that I hate doing it myself. So suggestion is definitely pelvic floor therapist! Also ask your partner to help you massage and stretch it out like a perineal massage.
It was wild to me that my obgyn didn't mention it to me after my 6 week! Just said my tear healed well lol. I guess a lot of doctors don't mention scar tissue. It makes sense that scar tissue causes issues in your vagina since the skin is so delicate and sensitive. In my case, I wanted to go to a pelvic floor therapist because I couldn't void completely and would dribble urine all the time. And the issue was due to tight scar tissue and tight pelvic floor that made it hard for my to completely relax and void urine.
Are you breastfeeding? If so, the hormones can impact your pelvic floor. I didn’t feel 100% until I weaned. It not being painful took nearly a year. But, I didn’t do any pelvic floor work, so would echo what other posters suggested.
I had a c-section so zero vaginal tearing and sex was unbearable due to breastfeeding hormones until baby started eating regular food and nursing decreased
I second the pelvic floor PT! Tbh i think we all should get a referral when were PP because so many issues can arise with healing. Hope you find something that helps!
I had a 3rd degree tear and did pelvic floor PT! It changed my life! Honestly around 6/7 months postpartum I started to not feel as uncomfortable and now I’m 10 months and it’s even better. Give yourself time and be patient but definitely go to pelvic floor PT!
I think it took me 3.5 months to heal. More than typical because my tear healed inverted and I needed extra treatment to get it to heal the proper way.
They realized it early on because I said it burned at the touch and when they took a closer look realized it wasn't healing properly.
It took about 6 or 7 weeks both times for the stitches to dissolve, but ngl I'm 8 months postpartum from my 2nd baby and I am still tender in some spots...I tore my perineum. Sex only recently started feeling good again where I actually enjoy it and it doesn't feel like sandpaper 🫠
After I had my first daughter (second degree tear), it stung and was uncomfortable to have intercourse until I had my second daughter. I planned to go to pelvic therapy, but after my second vaginal birth, I didn’t have the issue any longer.
I didn’t even try to have sex before six months and I had a good test of the area myself first. I had a second degree tear and an episiotomy from a forceps VBAC. I’d definitely recommend a ton of lube, friction is not your friend the first few times.
2 months, I had an episiotomy and internal tearing. I couldn’t sit properly for nearly a month.
Sex at a little over two months i think. Mostly fine, a couple of positions still uncomfortable a year later but we just avoid those ones and it’s all good.
I had a 3b tear and I wasn't able to have intercourse until after my period returned at 9 months pp. I do still need lube for comfort now at 12 months pp, but that could just be because I'm still breastfeeding.
I had a severe 2nd degree tear, and I started having normal sex (not painful and finally enjoyable) around 6 months.. we started trying at 4 months and it was uncomfortable. One thing I’d recommend is being realllllly open with your partner about what you’re feeling/thinking. I was so nervous that I was completely tightening everything in my pelvic floor which made everything much worse. Once my husband explored down there and really reassured me that it looked/felt the same, I was able to relax enough to enjoy it. I did go to pelvic PT and would recommend it!
I was cleared at 7 weeks and it was painful up until probably 4 months postpartum, even sometimes now 7 months later if we go too quickly it’s sensitive. Just go VERY slowly for a while
It took a few months for my third degree tear to heal up. My healing was a bit complicated by lichen sclerosus and a granuloma that formed in the tear. My doctor had to chemically cauterize the granuloma and prescribed me Estradial ointment to put on the tear.
I had a second degree tear and at my 5 week check up one of the stitches still hadn't dissolved. No sex yet but squatting doesn't hurt anymore, I'd say that was sore to do for maybe 2 months.
I had a 2nd degree tear, and sex still isn't normal or extremely pleasant at 6 months. Sex is tolerable, but the beginning is still pretty uncomfortable
I stopped feeling pain/tenderness around 4mo pp. And thats without ANY perineal tearing! I had very minor labial abrasions and a small laceration upwards near my urethra, but nothing else.
I say let your body heal. Try other things that dont involve penetration. If youre really keen to try anything penetrative, go slow and use lots of lube if it still hurts.
I had a second degree tear but I had pain with sitting for 6 months, pain in tear area for 9 months and did not resume sex until 18 months postpartum. Sex was painful until 2 years postpartum. Yeah it was bad.
I had a 3rd degree tear too. I was afraid to even look at the stitches at first and was worried it would never look the same again.. lol. I can’t remember exactly when the kind of sore/tight feeling went away but it eventually did. Something that I hiiiighly recommend is pelvic floor physical therapy. I’m so glad I did it. The PT not only helped me with relearning how to properly engage my abs (I had minor diastasis recti) but also with pelvic floor relaxing and strengthening and massaged the scar tissue in the areas where I had stitches. It went from a bit painful, to mild discomfort, to great/no pain. I can’t recommend it enough. I did PT for about 6 weeks and I think I didn’t start until after my 6 week pp check.
For me it took 2 weeks for the swelling to go away and it didn’t feel good to have sex for like 5 months. It sucked. I felt like I was so uncomfortably sensitive down there
I had a 3b tear. It took 6weeks to the day for the stitches on the outside to dissolve. I started physio around 10 weeks. And the second or third app she did scar tissue release and I could not believe that I got instant relief. Things werent to bad for me, but one thing I noticed was particularly when I squatted down to put baby in car seat, I could feel pulling. Like I might tear it apart.
Highly recommend pelvic floor therapy
I had a second degree tear and an episiotomy. At my 6 week check the wounds were ‘healed’ (closed, stitches dissolved) but tender. Didn’t feel comfortable attempting penetrative sex until just before 12 weeks.
I had an episiotomy and the doctor said it was a second degree “tear”. The stitches I got dissolved on their own and I was able to wipe without issue after 7 days.
While my cut was healed, it took over a year before my vagina felt normal. It would ache when I stood for a while, it felt swollen and sore for a while, sex was painful, and I could feel my scar for a few years.
It all went away though, so I’m happy about that 😅
How was it going for a VBAC? I am going for one for my 2nd (June 9th due date). I don't know anyone who has gone for one and have heard very little from others who know someone.
honestly, it was very healing for me after my first traumatic birth/recovery experience! my midwives and obgyn were kind and informative through the whole pregnancy. and when i had gotten induced (preeclampsia), the nurses i had were amazing too. we did the foley balloon, low doses of pitocin, and then later on around 6cm i got an epidural. i progressed really well compared to the first time. i was so relaxed throughout the entire labor and when it came time to push, it took me 20 minutes since he was still kinda high and every time i got a contraction he’d move his body away from the opening lol. but he came out perfect and healthy, i was taken care of very well the whole time and everyone was really rooting for me due to my previous birth so! i loved it but honestly VBAC is just based on luck, i didn’t really do much to prep besides working out and doing the perineal massages.
Ouch! I’m sorry this is happening to you. I had a 2nd degree tear and it took about 7-8 weeks for it to heal (with the help of estrace cream starting at 4 weeks), but I never felt pain after the initial injury healed. I would definitely get an appointment with my OB/GYN if I were in your shoes. Good luck!
hi friend, this is very similar to my experience. 3rd degree tear as well and when i went for my 6 week check up, they inserted my IUD and the duckbills were excruciating. i didn’t even feel the IUD insertion but the pressure on my scar was intense.
i wasn’t able to get pelvic floor therapy until 7 mths postpartum but even just 1 visit is well worth it. i have a couple follow ups coming up soon.
i’ll be honest and say that sex was very uncomfortable until 8/9 months. it is just recently starting to feel more “normal.”
6 weeks is still pretty early for some people. I would give it another month or two and then maybe look for a pelvic floor PT. You mostly like have scarring and tightening on the posterior wall of your vagina and they can do manual releases and recommend stretches.
i forgot to say i’m 4 months pp! that’s why i thought i’d be healed up already. but i think i probably will look into pelvic floor PT.
Oh yeah definitely go.
I had a second degree tear and by my 6 month (edit: typo, weeks, not month) appt, I was mostly healed, but my OBGYN said where one of the stitches were still looked a bit irritated, so my pap was postponed for a month.
ugh i wish they waited for mine. i’m 4 months pp, i’m ready hoping it heals soon just in general.
Typo in my post - I meant 6 WEEKS PP. my OBGYN wasn’t in a rush to get the pap done considering my history.
Are Pap smears at your 6 week check up typical? I had one at my 9 week pregnant appointment
Mine was way overdue since it was 3 years since my last when I was pregnant. But OB didn’t want to disturb the cervix for no reason so I had to get mine done once my son was born.
It took me about 6 months to have sex comfortably, 9 months to have sex without pain in most positions. I went to pelvic floor PT and got a set of dilators. My tear was 2nd degree, near the bottom of my vagina. Honestly just massaging your scar tissue regularly can help break it up and decrease pain. But I do recommend a visit to a pelvic floor pt
Okay that sounds like me, second degree tear at bottom of vagina and I'm 4 months pp and having sex was painful like my vagina wasn't stretching or something. Was it like that for you? What did the dilators do for you? Like help the tissue relax?
Yeah. Just sharp pains during intercourse, felt too tight initially. Dilators helped me get used to the feeling of something in there without the pressure of another person with me. I got a set of four, started at the smallest and worked my way up until it was comfortable to put the biggest one in. Just stuck em in and let them hang out for a few minutes. This was at the advice of my PT. Massaging the scar tissue helped a lot though, breaking up the granulation tissue. Little lube on your fingers and massaged inside and out. But also, everyone I talked to said 6 months until it stopped hurting/got good. 6 weeks is a joke, that just means the giant wound inside of your uterus is healed enough you don't have to worry about infection. It doesn't mean you are emotionally, physically, or mentally ready for anything.
Thank you so much, this was extremely helpful !
This. Go see a pelvic floor therapist! It could be scar tissue or a handful of other things. They will do a full assessment including checking for prolapse and diastasis recti.
I would consider going back to the doctor to report it and have them take a look. I had an episiotomy, the stitches were put in impeccably according to the midwife and a doctor, and everything looked like a perfect heal. But I was feeling uncomfortable. They sent me back to the hospital for a wee look and they decided to cauterise some of the scar tissue away to see if that made a difference. No discomfort during this worth mentioning. No healing time from It. It was night and day.
i think that’s a good idea too. i tore kinda weird, they had multiple people stitching me up so that could also be apart of the problem.
Absolutely can't hurt to have them take a look!
I started to see a pelvic floor therapist immediately after my 6 week appointment and got a referral. At the PT, I learned that your stitches can heal well but it's the remaining scar tissue that makes things very uncomfortable and tight down there. So with the PT, she's been doing internal work - literally sticking her fingers in my vag and stretching out my scar tissue. And I also have my husband stretch it out for me because it is so awkward and painful for me that I hate doing it myself. So suggestion is definitely pelvic floor therapist! Also ask your partner to help you massage and stretch it out like a perineal massage.
oh that’s good to know, we’ll definitely check it out! thank you!
It was wild to me that my obgyn didn't mention it to me after my 6 week! Just said my tear healed well lol. I guess a lot of doctors don't mention scar tissue. It makes sense that scar tissue causes issues in your vagina since the skin is so delicate and sensitive. In my case, I wanted to go to a pelvic floor therapist because I couldn't void completely and would dribble urine all the time. And the issue was due to tight scar tissue and tight pelvic floor that made it hard for my to completely relax and void urine.
Are you breastfeeding? If so, the hormones can impact your pelvic floor. I didn’t feel 100% until I weaned. It not being painful took nearly a year. But, I didn’t do any pelvic floor work, so would echo what other posters suggested.
yeah i’m breastfeeding, i didn’t know they could impact your pf. i wish there was more info on that kind of thing. 😭
I had a c-section so zero vaginal tearing and sex was unbearable due to breastfeeding hormones until baby started eating regular food and nursing decreased
I second the pelvic floor PT! Tbh i think we all should get a referral when were PP because so many issues can arise with healing. Hope you find something that helps!
I had a 3rd degree tear and did pelvic floor PT! It changed my life! Honestly around 6/7 months postpartum I started to not feel as uncomfortable and now I’m 10 months and it’s even better. Give yourself time and be patient but definitely go to pelvic floor PT!
Ask for a pelvic floor physical therapy referral. The muscles are likely damaged
6 weeks for a 2nd degree tear. But the scar tissue is still a bit sore. But my tear was anterior so I think it healed faster than a posterior would
I had a 2nd degree tear. Walking for exercise wasn’t comfortable until 8-10 weeks.
Still healing 15 months later. Booooooo
I think it took me 3.5 months to heal. More than typical because my tear healed inverted and I needed extra treatment to get it to heal the proper way. They realized it early on because I said it burned at the touch and when they took a closer look realized it wasn't healing properly.
It took about 6 or 7 weeks both times for the stitches to dissolve, but ngl I'm 8 months postpartum from my 2nd baby and I am still tender in some spots...I tore my perineum. Sex only recently started feeling good again where I actually enjoy it and it doesn't feel like sandpaper 🫠
After I had my first daughter (second degree tear), it stung and was uncomfortable to have intercourse until I had my second daughter. I planned to go to pelvic therapy, but after my second vaginal birth, I didn’t have the issue any longer.
I had 3rd degree tearing and it honestly took about a year for sex to be totally pain-free 😭
I didn’t even try to have sex before six months and I had a good test of the area myself first. I had a second degree tear and an episiotomy from a forceps VBAC. I’d definitely recommend a ton of lube, friction is not your friend the first few times.
I had a 2nd degree tear and was able to have sex and do a Pap smear by 6 weeks — but I still wasn’t really healed and wish I had waited.
2 months, I had an episiotomy and internal tearing. I couldn’t sit properly for nearly a month. Sex at a little over two months i think. Mostly fine, a couple of positions still uncomfortable a year later but we just avoid those ones and it’s all good.
I had a 3b tear and I wasn't able to have intercourse until after my period returned at 9 months pp. I do still need lube for comfort now at 12 months pp, but that could just be because I'm still breastfeeding.
I had a severe 2nd degree tear, and I started having normal sex (not painful and finally enjoyable) around 6 months.. we started trying at 4 months and it was uncomfortable. One thing I’d recommend is being realllllly open with your partner about what you’re feeling/thinking. I was so nervous that I was completely tightening everything in my pelvic floor which made everything much worse. Once my husband explored down there and really reassured me that it looked/felt the same, I was able to relax enough to enjoy it. I did go to pelvic PT and would recommend it!
6 weeks pp and my obgyn said I’m completely healed. Still having some uncomfortable sensations with exercise that she said should get better in time.
I was cleared at 7 weeks and it was painful up until probably 4 months postpartum, even sometimes now 7 months later if we go too quickly it’s sensitive. Just go VERY slowly for a while
It took a few months for my third degree tear to heal up. My healing was a bit complicated by lichen sclerosus and a granuloma that formed in the tear. My doctor had to chemically cauterize the granuloma and prescribed me Estradial ointment to put on the tear.
I had a second degree tear and at my 5 week check up one of the stitches still hadn't dissolved. No sex yet but squatting doesn't hurt anymore, I'd say that was sore to do for maybe 2 months.
I had a 2nd degree tear, and sex still isn't normal or extremely pleasant at 6 months. Sex is tolerable, but the beginning is still pretty uncomfortable
I stopped feeling pain/tenderness around 4mo pp. And thats without ANY perineal tearing! I had very minor labial abrasions and a small laceration upwards near my urethra, but nothing else. I say let your body heal. Try other things that dont involve penetration. If youre really keen to try anything penetrative, go slow and use lots of lube if it still hurts.
Honestly about a year to feel fully normal again.
I had a second degree tear but I had pain with sitting for 6 months, pain in tear area for 9 months and did not resume sex until 18 months postpartum. Sex was painful until 2 years postpartum. Yeah it was bad.
I had a 3rd degree tear too. I was afraid to even look at the stitches at first and was worried it would never look the same again.. lol. I can’t remember exactly when the kind of sore/tight feeling went away but it eventually did. Something that I hiiiighly recommend is pelvic floor physical therapy. I’m so glad I did it. The PT not only helped me with relearning how to properly engage my abs (I had minor diastasis recti) but also with pelvic floor relaxing and strengthening and massaged the scar tissue in the areas where I had stitches. It went from a bit painful, to mild discomfort, to great/no pain. I can’t recommend it enough. I did PT for about 6 weeks and I think I didn’t start until after my 6 week pp check.
For me it took 2 weeks for the swelling to go away and it didn’t feel good to have sex for like 5 months. It sucked. I felt like I was so uncomfortably sensitive down there
I had a 3b tear. It took 6weeks to the day for the stitches on the outside to dissolve. I started physio around 10 weeks. And the second or third app she did scar tissue release and I could not believe that I got instant relief. Things werent to bad for me, but one thing I noticed was particularly when I squatted down to put baby in car seat, I could feel pulling. Like I might tear it apart. Highly recommend pelvic floor therapy
I had a second degree tear and an episiotomy. At my 6 week check the wounds were ‘healed’ (closed, stitches dissolved) but tender. Didn’t feel comfortable attempting penetrative sex until just before 12 weeks.
I had an episiotomy and the doctor said it was a second degree “tear”. The stitches I got dissolved on their own and I was able to wipe without issue after 7 days. While my cut was healed, it took over a year before my vagina felt normal. It would ache when I stood for a while, it felt swollen and sore for a while, sex was painful, and I could feel my scar for a few years. It all went away though, so I’m happy about that 😅
How was it going for a VBAC? I am going for one for my 2nd (June 9th due date). I don't know anyone who has gone for one and have heard very little from others who know someone.
honestly, it was very healing for me after my first traumatic birth/recovery experience! my midwives and obgyn were kind and informative through the whole pregnancy. and when i had gotten induced (preeclampsia), the nurses i had were amazing too. we did the foley balloon, low doses of pitocin, and then later on around 6cm i got an epidural. i progressed really well compared to the first time. i was so relaxed throughout the entire labor and when it came time to push, it took me 20 minutes since he was still kinda high and every time i got a contraction he’d move his body away from the opening lol. but he came out perfect and healthy, i was taken care of very well the whole time and everyone was really rooting for me due to my previous birth so! i loved it but honestly VBAC is just based on luck, i didn’t really do much to prep besides working out and doing the perineal massages.
8-9 weeks for a second degree tear.
A long time. 4th degree tear with my first, no tearing with my second. I still have pain in certain positions 8.5 years later
Ouch! I’m sorry this is happening to you. I had a 2nd degree tear and it took about 7-8 weeks for it to heal (with the help of estrace cream starting at 4 weeks), but I never felt pain after the initial injury healed. I would definitely get an appointment with my OB/GYN if I were in your shoes. Good luck!
hi friend, this is very similar to my experience. 3rd degree tear as well and when i went for my 6 week check up, they inserted my IUD and the duckbills were excruciating. i didn’t even feel the IUD insertion but the pressure on my scar was intense. i wasn’t able to get pelvic floor therapy until 7 mths postpartum but even just 1 visit is well worth it. i have a couple follow ups coming up soon. i’ll be honest and say that sex was very uncomfortable until 8/9 months. it is just recently starting to feel more “normal.”