Is it true? (tmi)

[Salsa]

Probably sounds like a terrible thing to ask - but all part of getting my head around what we are probably doing in 4mths time!

I picked up a baby book in a shop yesterday. The bit about giving birth said something along the lines of after you have given birth vaginally your inside bits never feel quite the same. They feel looser and dropped. Even though you do get use to it, you dont have the same tight compact feel that you did pre children. The author then said that although she had gotten use to it, she was reeminded when she got on the trampoline with her kids - and initially felt her insides might fall out, though she knew that they wouldnt.

Is this true?
Is this author being brutally honest or does vaginal childbirth only affect some woman that way - or was this just the authors experience but not the experience for most?

I have had people over the years be very honest about some of the things that happened to them during labour and after, but no-body has told me before that forever after you`ll feel all 'dropping down', even if you do get used to it.

[cookiemonster]

No WAY!!!!
I'm sure it affects people in different ways, and it's probably all the do with the different sort of births we have (intervention vs. no intervention, episiotomy or tearing) but if anything, my vagina would be *tighter* now. Maybe feels a bit 'looser' in the first few weeks post birth, but nothing that didn't pass.

I would suggest that the author had not taken the time to strengthen her pelvic floor after she had her children? I have no issues, whatsoever; but for me I had a textbook birth with no tearing. Sex is infinitely better too .

[tobyturtle]

Cant say that i feel that way after giving birth to my son nearly 12 months ago. I think the author may have been being a bit extreme. Of course it wont be EXACTLY the same, but to be honest, i haven't noticed a difference.

For a couple of days afterward, i felt as though i was still trying to push, but nothing after that.

I should add my birth was also textbook, like cookiemonster, no tearing or intervention or stitches etc. I think it may have alot to do with what type of birth you actually have? Not sure, can only talk about my experience!

[twins_mummy31]

My insides felt funny for about a month but they soon went back to feeling normal .... i dont think what the author said is completely true but everybody is diff maybe she felt like that but not everybody will... i have twins naturally and im ok....

[skittlebub]

I feel the same as I did before and I had an episiotomy & tears but, my stitches havent finished healing yet so I dont know if that will make a difference but, I dont think it will

[kimbaz]

I think the author has issues of her own!

My insides def have not felt like they have fallen out....but i can tell a difference in tightness....not as good as pre baby...but its not like 'omg i dont feel anything anymore' loose KWIM.

[Trillian]

I have had four babies and I still feel the same - 'she' looks a little bit worse for wear on the outside though LOL - I had one episiotomy, two tears and a tiny graze (but you can't see where that was now anyway). But as far as tightness goes, it is no different and I'm pretty certain that it isn't any where it shouldn't be. Making sure you have a strong pelvic floor is one of the biggest factors in how you recover after the birth - but that can be weakened by pg alone and not just the way you give birth. It really irritates me that someone can perpetuate such a myth simply because they publish it in a book and based on their OWN experience alone.

[MantaRay]

That is definitely not true. It sounds like the author might have had a prolapse (which can be caused by pg itself and also straining when going to the toilet so is not necessarily related to vaginal birth at all). I have had two vbs and my insides don't feel any different.

[Sararose]

I have to agree that it sounds like the author had a prolapse. I had a prolapse after the birth of my daughter but seeing a good physio has meant that everything feels back to normal down there. As others have said proplase is not something everyone gets and as manta ray said preganancy alone can cause prolapse even if you have a c-section. My daughters birth was very straightforawrd no intervention and a small grade one tear. My physio said I was unlucky in the gene pool and that I have poor connective tissue but things are much better now.

It sounds like the author has written purely about her own experience, don't let this scare you, keep doing pelvic floor exericses and enjoy the birth of your baby however it happens!

[Snacks]

Things felt a bit different down there for me for a while post birth. Now, I do feel a bit 'looser' I suppose, though our sex life hasn't suffered for it (I agree with cookiemonster - its better now than pre-baby, even though it took me quite a while to 'get back in the saddle' ) and I certainly don't feel like things are going to fall out... But I haven't jumped on a trampoline recently either, so who knows LOL.
In any case, as PPs have said, I've heard your pelvic floor muscles are more likely to be adversely affected by carrying a baby than by giving birth vaginally, so really, it doesn't matter which exit bubs comes from in that regard

[Mamakass_loves_Annabelle]

Straight after, as in Im still on the 'giving birth' bed, yeah felt un like my self. But about 3 days later I felt back to normal, not painless but never 'loose'.
Dont read in to, to many peoples experiences, yours will never be the same

[BekZ]

I agree that the author may have had a prolaspe.

I did not feel much different after DD1 except for the stitched area. That felt a bit sore for 12 months. After DD2 I feel like my insides were going fall out but this was only for a couple of weeks...Enough to freak me out.

Yes when i jump or run I do get a funny sensation...but that is geting better with routine pelvic floor exercises.

I tore with both my labours and have been stitched over twice.DH assures me that all seems normal but he could be telling me fibs.

If you are worried got and see a physio and they can guide you through the exercises and maybe give you some home work

All I can say is do your pelvic exercises...I do them when I have gone to the loo!!! Sorry that is way too much information!!!

oh and listen to your midwife during labour....they are the best at preventing tears...i didn't listen and look what happened.

[Mamakass_loves_Annabelle]

Completely agree Bekz! Listen to your mid-wife, if you feel that she isn't supportive and you know better about your body, fair enough. Otherwise listen to her/them and you'll do you best

I was very fortunate and didn't tear, get cut etc but i truly think in the end its up to bubs how you labour will be
Read to get knowledge but dont take it as gospel

[CourtRach]

After my DS birth, I felt damn uncomfortable and sore for a couple of weeks but that improved. I had quite a few stitches from a tear. Did not feel any different from before his birth. Went on a trampoline about 4 months after his birth and didn't feel any different from before.

Due to give birth to 2nd bubs any day now so we shall see after this one.

I have religiously done my pelvic floor exercises and have never had any issues at all. I have never had a prolapse so don't know what that would feel like so I can't comment.