Note from admin: I make a point to not edit anyone’s post for a variety of reasons, one of which is that your words are YOURS and we need a safe place to express ourselves, no matter how hard the things we have to say are. I do, though, want to mention that bodies are just bodies, and genitals are just genitals. Sometimes they won’t work properly, but that doesn’t make anyone, as a mama, a woman, or a person in any way gross. You are all beautiful no matter what. You might feel gross, but I am here to hug you and tell you that you aren’t. You are lovely. I promise. (And this message isn’t specifically for the mama who posted here, but for any mama who needs it.)
Ok so this is super super gross ladies I’ve had 3 natural births, last one 11 months ago. My vagina looks like it’s falling out to me. what do you think? Do you also look like this after children? Is this completely normal? I had a slight prolapse on my second and it got worse on my third. Sometimes I’m more “closed” and tighter then others. It depends on cycle. Please help. Do I need to see a doctor in your opinion?
Due to the intimate nature of the photos, I am linking them. Click here and here.
It looks to me that you have a cystocele which I a bladder prolapse. The ligaments may tighten over time, but if you’re having discomfort or you’re just not happy with the look there is other treatments. You’re vagina looks completely normal though, but if you’re unhappy there’s no shame in seeing a Dr. Also, if you’re breastfeeding that can slow the healing process since you’re not producing as much estrogen (my case).
OMG…this could have been my typing this! My 1st 2 children were cesareans, so my vagina did not change at all. It was still “normal”. My 3rd baby was a vaginal and I pushed for 3 hours!!!! I also have a minor prolapse (nothing they were concerned about). It looks similar to yours. What you are seeing in your vagina is not the prolapse (at least that is not what it looks like), that is your urethra…mine tilted like that as well, so I can see it and it looked like it was falling out! All I have to do is slightly spread open my labia, and there it is. This is normal, it’s just a different normal. I am not a doctor, but that is what it looks like to me. I don’t know about you, but for about 6 months or so I felt pressure down there…like something was going to fall out, like I had to do a constant kegal. I saw a pelvic floor PT and a prolapse specialist, both said everything was fine and I had a very minor bladder prolapse. You look normal mama. I know it sucks to look “different” down there…but my hubby doesn’t seem to care, and I am sure yours is fine with it as well. I actually tore my labia on one side (tore away from my clitoral hood), so it hangs down more on one side than the other. I hate it…it looks like my vagina is sticking it’s tongue out…but so it goes!
What does your doctor say?
i would definitely recommend you see a physical therapist that specializes specifically in the pelvic floor. regular docs are often not helpful or well versed in these situations and a PT can help gauge you internally, isolating which muscles need strengthening (or releasing). I am a healthcare practitioner and often refer to these specialists and am pleased to report that they are quite miraculous in the work they help women do.
Hi there. Its hard to say honestly, first I obsess over everything else but give my vaginal area little thought after my babies. And I dont think I really ever looked at mine before kids really, I examined myself after my first birth to see my stitches and after my second to find my cervix. So to me it all looks normal. If its going to drive you crazy and you cant stop wondering if everything is ok, then you should go see a doctor for peace of mind.
Hi! I don’t know what type of prolapse I have but I know its there. I just had my forth over the summer. Im still healing from it. But I just wanted to share that I asked the dr twice on two different visits and she said all was normal. I don’t care what normal looks like, I care what it feels like. And it didn’t feel right. Anyway, I did TONS of research and I found this type of exercise that I have been doing and you can look it up on youtube. its called hypopressive. A lot of the videos are in Spanish. which sucked! The blonde girl I believe her name is Trista, she was very helpful. But I have been doing some of the exercises and things have changed SOOOOO much. I don’t slouch anymore and I have almost no discomfort down there and its like reversed itself almost. And when I get lazy and don’t do them, that discomfort and junk comes right back. I hope this helps!
My first question to you would be how do you feel? Is function totally normal?
You could have a cystocele or bladder prolapse or even a rectocele (where there can be a weakened area of the vaginal wall, allowing prolapse), but I’m in no way qualified to diagnose these and even if I were I don’t know that it would be obvious from your photos (your photos look pretty normal to me).
If your functions are normal and pain free (meaning sex, urination, defecation), I don’t think I’d worry too much (although it never hurts to ask a doctor or midwife to just look at it). As for the look, mine definitely looked different after each of my 3 kids…looking different is definitely to be expected I think (but I TOTALLY appreciate the question, because how would we know that?)
If, however, any of those functions seems to be compromised, I think it’s worth discussing with your doctor/midwife or whomever looks after your well woman care.
I think it looks very normal. Prolapse issues I thought were very detectable by touch inside rather then by sight outside. Feel free to discuss with your GYN though. As long as my DH can get to my clitoris I am happy and not worried about how it looks.,,,
I stopped breast feeding the end of September Marissa. I should mention I was diagnosed with two tumours at the neck of my cervix. In October I had a biopsy and the tumours removed. Thankfully they were begin. They put the coil in for me while I was in surgery also.
My GP sent me to a women’s Physio. She recommended that I do lots of kegal so and buy an electrical exerciser for this too. I’ll get on ASAP but they are expensive items.
I’ve been told I have a tilted uterus forever. My last baby was 9pounds 12 ounces. The whole labour was 5 hours slept through 2 of them thinking baby was just turning, she was but because she was ready to be born. When she wS born I was sent home and all was fine till she was 12 days old and I haemorrhaged with her in my arms. I was rushed to hospital to be told some placenta was left inside and it was like rotting meat inside me. This caused an infection in my blood that almost killed me and needed to be cleared before I was safe to be operated on. After a few days of oral & IV antibiotics they went into my womb through my vagina to remove the placenta. I don’t think all this has helped my healing process. I don’t feel uncomfortable but sometimes during sex it feels like nothing, not much sensitivity down there. I don’t feel pressure down there anymore but I could barley walk for the last 4 months of pregnancy with the pressure. My fiancé doesn’t like to perform oral sex so he knows no different about how it looks.
The day after I took these pics I went to my GP. I started to feel awfully sick and was suffering from back pain. I had a really bad kidney infection too so maybe it made me focus on this area a little more too as I just felt something wasn’t right!!
I just want a normal lady area and I’m only 26 now I can only imagine what the future holds. I hope the muscles don’t give in on me!! I bought kegal balls and an using them daily now to try build the muscles until I can put the money aside for the machine.
Sorry if this is scatty as I tried to answer the ladies in order but added in more info along the way.
Thanks for your help ladies x
I am so sorry to hear you are having a hard time :( Seems like a less than ideal birth/postpartum experience. I hope you fiance is supportive and understanding. We are here to help if you need lifting up!!!
Thank you so much x I’m ok just want to feel normal right now. My baby will be 1 in 3 days I expected to have a normal area down there after a few weeks