Ever since I had my baby, I feel like I am never fresh down there. I constantly have some type of discharge, and the odor, to me is gross. The discharge isn't heavy, but I don't know what to do. I am constantly cleaning, and I feel like I can't do enough to make myself feel normal. My husband doesn't notice, but I do. Is there anything I can do to help this? I am always afraid that other people can smell me, and I am very self consious as it is, and now this is thrown on to it. Any advice would be great. Sorry for the TMI.

By Anonymous on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 11:38 pm:

How long ago did you give birth? It takes awhile for your body to get back to normal after having a baby. Did you have your postpartum checkup? Have you had a pap smear lately?

You might be just reading too much into this. The worse thing you could do would be to douche. Douching creates more problems. Do you use feminine wash when you bathe? I find that helps. I also read somewhere that orgasms are a body's natural cleanser.

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By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 12:14 am:

You may be creating more of a problem by over cleaning. The vagina is self cleaning. If you are having a discharge with an oder you need to go in and have a pap done. You may have caused an infection. It may have very well have been normal discharge which most women have at different levels at different stages in their lives, but with over cleaning you might have caused yourself more issues..

And anon #2 I have also read and been told that douching is not good.. It causes and imbalance in the natural secretions of the vagina and can cause yeast to grow. It not only washes out the bad bacteria's it washes out the good.

And another issue, if you wear tampons you can also give yourself an infection. Some women are prone to yeast, a tampon prevents the natural flushing of the system.

I say go see a doctor.. We really have no way to know what exactly you are experiencing but the doctor will be able to see first hand and will have the experience to tell you what to do..

Are you breast feeding by any chance??

On any medications?

Oh and if it is a yeast, you need to clear it up because yeast left untreated can cause infertility issues.

By Anonymous on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 01:19 am:

Could the type of feminine napkin you are using be the issue? My OB told me that "funkiness" down there could occur (my word, not hers), and most often does occur in her patients that tend to use the Always brand. I forget the reason, but she did say to alternate between that brand (if I used it) and another.

I totally know what you mean. I've never had anything going on down there until I got pregnant. Then I had more stuff going on after I had my first ds. After my second ds, things seemed to have gotten worse. Nothing is wrong, no infection, no douching, nothing like that, so the only explanation would be that my body is adjusting and readjusting. I just make sure I wash normally and alternate feminine napkins.

By Wandilu on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 01:31 am:

I had a friend many years ago that was having similar problems,and when her DR checked her,he found some of the afterbirth was still in her.After it was removed,she was fine.

By Anonymous on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 08:25 am:

My child is almost 3 years old now. I don't douche, and never have. The discharge doesn't have an odor. It's usually clear too. I have an appointment in May, so I am just going to wait until then. My husband thinks that I am fine, and I am reading too much into this too. I just feel so different down there after having given birth. I do use those flushable wipes from time to time. I have never seen a feminine wash. What kind do you use?

By Feona on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 09:32 am:

I think you should see if you have a bacterial infection at your doctors office. I don't think you can cure that sort of thing without medicine.

Also a nurse told me that using fragrance free detergent - like a baby detergent (I think gain has one) on underwear was a good thing to do. She said Tide was too strong for some women and caused problems for some women. (I love tide.) But I don't think that is causing your problem...

By Crystal915 on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 10:24 am:

Please see your doc. It's normal to have discharge, and every woman is different, but see the doc to be sure. This is a TMI, but I had the joy of finding out at my 8 week postpartum I had a bacterial STD, thanks to a cheating husband. Ever since then, I've learned my lesson, better to go and check than not know and stress. I am NOT saying your DH cheated or anything, just sharing my experience!!! I've also had one bacterial vaginosis infection, and never felt or noticed anything different than normal, so it can go both ways.

By Dandjmom on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 12:17 pm:

Anon I am positng this with my name , becue I de beleie we as women all go this,it's something natural, at first I was ashamed but after hearing other women talk about it I felt more compfortable. I'm still self consious about the odor. Liek you my spouse doesn't seem to notice either. And I too wonder if oter's can smell it and what they must thigk of me .

No douching isnt' good. I jsut made as appointment and go to see my doctor in April. while thereI paln to ask her to test dn treat me for bacterial vaginosis(sp), I knwo and uindersthand that doctor's don't wll the time knwo where this comes from.

My friedn she experiecned the sme problem a few yesra ago after having her son, she sid along wtih medication , her doctor had her douche wtih half betadine adn half water for 5 days no sex, adn recommend that she start takign more showers then baths.

So until I cna get ot the doctor I plan on tring this and another thing I intend to ask my doctor to test me for is NON-SPECIFIC URETHRITIS. I think this may have been what or somethign similiar to what Crystal was speakign of. No I'm not suggesting that any cheatign is going on on anyone's part. It coudl have also been somethigthat happended in childbirth, your cervix could have been damaged . I found two websites that I were readign up about this , I will post there addresses. One abotu the condition that I just listed dn the other abotu a medication that a lot of women have been using.

www.enzara.com

http://www.well-net.com/STD/urethrts.html

Like me I hoe you too get to the bottom of what is causing this.

By Crystal915 on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 12:38 pm:

Actually, what I was referring to was trichomoniasis, a bacterial STD that both partners must be treated for. I had a clean bill of health at the beginning of my pg, then my ex moved to TX 3 months before I could move to be with him. I was 6 months pregnant when I got there, so no reason to check for anything until 8wk post-partum and my pap was abnormal. Trich is the most common STD for women of childbearing age, from my research on it at least, and can be cured, THANK GOD, with a round of horrible antibiotics for both partners. Anyway, that's just ONE possibility, but any abnormal discharge should be checked out, especially if there is an odor. When I had vaginosis this year, I would notice an odor for a couple days after sex, but my DH would not, turns out I had vaginosis (not a STD!!, often caused by stress or just because, like yeast infections). So, again I stress, if it seems abnormal to you, you know your body best, GO see the doc!! Hugs to both anon and Letishe... it sucks being a woman and dealing with stuff like this, but we all go through these things!! DO NOT DOUCHE!!!! They are not recommended AT ALL, unless your doc suggests one for a specific reason. Douching upsets the natural balance of good bacteria in your vagina, and can cause more harm than good. Like someone else said, the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, it's dangerous to mess with it's natural function!!

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 07:29 pm:

Please, please listen to the posts above who say see your doctor. It may be something simple that can be cleared up easily, or it may be a sign of something serious - but you won't know until your doctor takes a look and maybe does some tests. It is surely better to have yourself checked and know than to go on worrying.

By Dandjmom on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 11:20 am:

I agree Ginny, and I will be anoxiously awaiting the 24 of April. It just disappoints me that you have to wait so long for a doctor's appointment at all. I mean I understand that they can't always see you on the spot or even the next day, but to wait a whole month for an apppointment. I'm just gald my children's doctors make it a practice of getting them in there as soon as possible (even the sem day) if there is a problem.

Thanks Crystal & Ginny for your comments, and not being harsh.

But I have to say that the wait gives me enough time to create( tend to clam up when talking about personal issues with the doctor, or forget to ask/suggest things) a list of questions and possible answers to her questions.

Like tell her when it started ( after the birth of my son) I've been to other doctors and have been led to her finally by a friend that has the same issues.

Sometimes it's hard being a woman. We have so much more then cooking, dishes, running a household and taking care of the kids to deal with. Like my fiance thinks thats all I have to do and less not forget my 9 hour a day job on top of all that.

By Anonymous on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 01:02 pm:

Thank you all for all of your input and help. I really appreciate it. I have an appointment in May, so I will talk with her about it then. If I make an appointment now, they will not have anything too much sooner anyways.

By Crystal915 on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 01:32 pm:

I would call and TRY to get in sooner, really, because if it is an infection of ANY kind, the sooner you deal with it the easier it is. (((anon)))

By Anonymous on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 11:20 pm:

Eve's Feminine wash. It's a gentle gel that I only use to wash the outer and inner labia area but not the inside.

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