First Degree Tear healing questions

[mrsmccullen07]

I am at 16 days postpartum and I was told I had a small tear less than 1cm at the bottom of my vagina .. tonight I decided to shave and check it out.

I didnt shave down there because the tear doesnt seem to be healed ? how can I tell ? it doesn't hurt or look red or anything but my opening seems more open but maybe its just stretched ?? this is my 2nd vaginal birth and my first resulted in a 2nd degree tear that took stitches.

I feel stupid since I dont know what my vagina looks like normally so I cant tell if this is a tear or not ?

[Raquelita]

It could be a tear, it could be scar tissue, it could be partially healed skin but not fully.

[A21Lee]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vaginal-tears/PR00143

First degree lacerations are really superficial and if the area of the tear doesn't itch, cause you pain, or burn when you urinate, it's likely healed. The tear doesn't always heal together even when you get stitches so the opening will appear more open. You have to get stitches with second degree lacs because there is a tear in the muscle that needs to be brought back together to heal (it obviously takes a little more time than a first degree). They can take a few weeks though. Everyone is different. The tissue may appear white/grey. That is scar tissue. Hope that (and the slide show pictures) helps!