What are internal stitches?

[ephrinedaily]

Apparently I had two internal stitches which were dissolveable. Everything really hurt whilst healing but I haven't a clue where the actual stitches could have been. Normal stitches are on the perineum aren't they? Where are internal ones?

[avenanap]

They'd be the ones holding your vaginal walls together. There are a few different layers inside between the vagina and the anal passage so the stitches could be anywhere.

Sounds very painful though. Try not to walk around too much, salt baths are good. I had to have these, I remember the pain 9 years on. Never again.

[ephrinedaily]

Oh my God. The MW told me to push slowly at one point and I was thinking WTF? How? So I er, obviously just carried on. Now it sounds worse than normal stitches! And I was all smug about not having to have stitches takem out! Good thing the baby's cute

[Eaglebird]

My fanny looked like a patchwork quilt after I had DS, and it felt like a crown of thorns .
I had a morbid fascination with my stitches - black internal ones which dissolved after about 2 weeks if I remember right. And white external ones which looked like fishing line & took nearly 6 weeks to dissolve. Yuk.

[ephrinedaily]

You looked! You're very brave. I was too scared. Everything looks normal now..crown of thorns sounds about right at the time though!

[Eaglebird]

I had to contort myself but managed to have a look with the aid of a mirror. I got such a shock, it looked such a mess.
The doc that stitched me up must have got no prizes for needlework at school

[2point4kids]

I had internal stitches with DS1. They hurt like hell but at least it didnt sting when I wee'd as they were inside iykwim!

I just had Ds2 a few weeks ago though and NO stitches at all this time, hooray

[Eaglebird]

I had no problems with going to the toilet either, hooray.
The worst bit, apart from sitting, was walking about. I remember having a heavy sensation and worrying that my insides were going to drop out.

[ephrinedaily]

Oh yes walking about was awful. I went for a long walk two weeks after the birth with some visitors I didn't know well and ended up crying and begging for someone to get a taxi

[avenanap]

Mine was horrid too. It was also the result of a male obstetrician. I even ordered him to go and have a coffee before he started in the hope he'd be careful. he didn't give me enough anaesthetic so I felt the first stitch. I'm so ashamed of the end result. No more children as I am too ashamed. I'm pleased I can sew as I'm hoping to go to medical school next year. At least I can do a better job for some other mother.

[addictedtoharibo]

Oh the worst bit wasnt walking - the worst bit was sneezing!!! You never really think that that part of you would be affected by sneezing but I preferred childbirth lol!

[slinkiemalinki]

I had some internal stitches - actually thought I got off far lighter than had I torn externally (from the sounds of others' experiences at least). My daughter had her hand in front of her face, that was all, so they were abrasions as a result of that. I had none of that stinging when I weed. I didn't have any problems walking - walked loads. First few times having sex stung a bit but not enough to stop. No problems now!

[ReachOutAndTeuch]

I also had some kind of crochet affair, which required almost everyone + student to have a look and see if they could do it, but had to wait for Sister in the end, and anaesthetic had worn off...

Thank the gods for gas and air

The arnica worked bloody well though!!