Healing open episiotomy wound

[QforCucumber]

A week ago today I have birth and due to having a forceps delivery I needed an episiotomy.
Noticed throughout the last 24 hours or so that I was really stinging so have just had a look and all the stitches have gone - surely they dont dissolve this quickly?
Midwife looked at them on Wednesday and said they looked ok then.
The wound isn't bleeding but is open slightly, ive rang the 24 hour advice line and they've said they cant really do anything.
Does anyone have any hints or tips on how to get it to close up or heal a bit quicker? I'd at least like it to seal itself together soonish!

[icklekid]

I would make an appointment with nurse at your gp surgery I was left with a gaping hole after episiotomy and she put silver nitrate (???) Or something similar on to help heal. It stung but was rusk of infection otherwise. She used to see me each week until it healed to reassure me

[kiki22]

Definitely go to your gp, this happened to me turned out I had an infection and wasn't healing properly, unfortunately I listened to the midwife and by the time I went to the GP it was quite bad. GP was horrified and gave me antibiotics I had to go back a week later to maternity assessment to be recut. I don't mean to scare you but please go to gp or ask to go into the unit to be seen asap every day healing can mean your not healing properly and may need fixing.

[QforCucumber]

Thanks guys, community midwife is coming out to see me today to have a look.
kiki would you think I should still see gp too?

[kiki22]

I would say if she says its nothing ask for a swab and a second opinion. I kept thinking mine felt stingy when it hadn't before and looked a little gapey there was nothing else to suggest it wasn't healing right and infected but obviously id never seen what it should look like before. Better safe than sorry when it comes to your bits im 4 years up the line and still gets sore if I squat or have sex to long .

[QforCucumber]

She took a swab and said I will know by Tuesday - advised it doesn't look infected but she did it just in case. Definitely seemed much more helpful than the lady on the phone - has put my mind at ease which is half the battle I guess. Thanks for the info.

[1frenchfoodie]

Ahead of the swab result on tue it is worth when dabbing to check for and smell any discharge. Mine started stinging 9 days on, MW said it was a irritation from sanitary pads rubbing, no discharge, heat or smell were reassuring signs that no infection had set in.

[Julieb85]

I had the same thing but isn't end up with an infection or anything, it just looked open after stitches dissolved which was less than a week - although I was having 3 showers a day! The best advice I was given was to use the cool setting of my hairdryer down there after shower/bath. It's literally soothed pain instantly and kept the wound dry that it healed up pretty quickly....only a few weeks or so!