Episiotomy healing advice for a fed up mummy

[Imalwayscold]

So my baby boy was born 8 days ago, after a really straight forward labour I ended up having to have a mediolateral episiotomy and a foreceps delivery as he had his head wedged on a funny angle. I had a midline episiotomy with my daughter and I'm sure that by this point I was almost pain free. This time I don't feel like I'm healing at all. It looks like where I was stitched has now come apart and there's an open section at the entrance to my vagina then a stitched and closed section and then a gaping section that was closed and is now open. I know that this is quite common and I am prepared to wait for it to heal but I really want to know how long it will hurt for as I'm getting really fed up now of not being able to do anything and being in pain.

Sorry to moan!

[Junosmum]

I had this. At 2 weeks I was still in pain and looked horrific but by 6 weeks I was healed and now it's barely visible. I just kept it dry (hair dryer on cool!).

[kinkytoes]

I was told that using a hairdryer can introduce germs so most definitely not to use one. But changing your pad every time you go to the loo, washing with simple water from the shower head twice a day and letting the air get to it for ten mins a day will help promote healing.

[Lindtnotlint]

Poor you. Could it be infected? I would have a community midwife look at it ASAP to check - if it is infected then antibiotics will fix the pain and also improve chances of a good heal long term. Poor healing and pain (especially if it is worsening rather than improving) could be signs of an infection. Probably not, but I would check it out sooner rather than later as it will just get worse if it is infected. Pus and smell are also things to look for but it is not always super obvious. On healing there is no magic bullet - keep it clean and dry and stay patient :-(. It is very early days and they can improve quickly. Good luck!

[icklekid]

I'm afraid it took me about 8 weeks to be fully healed although my episiotomy did gape and get infected. I second getting hcp to have a look and check it is ok. I remember 6 weeks being very frustrating as think I'd thought if people recover from c section at this point why am I still in pain?!

[havalina1]

Hi. OP get it checked by your GP. I had the HVs check mine several times but it wasn't til I went to the GP she acknowledged it was infected and that my pain relief was inadequate. I was in hell for two weeks until this got addressed. They can give a different combination of pain relief and to be honest I don't know why they don't give antibiotics as par for the course after serious tears.

Good luck and congratulations on your baby!

Oh hot baths with burying in them also helped keep the wound clean.

[havalina1]

*bathing not burying!

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

Pelvic floor exercises are important as they encourage blood flow and aid healing.

[Miffy1979]

I'm sorry to say mine took a good 8 weeks to be fully healed and pain free I had a lot of baths with some drops of tea tree oil, and used a maternity pad soaked in cold water with some as well to use as a compress to relieve the pain & swelling. It's horrible though, I really feel for you. X

[Hedgeh0g]

Mine came completely open- I think the midwife said there was only 1 stitch left. Some tips to aid healing that she gave me (would have been nice if they'd mentioned it before they came apart and got infected but ho hum): rinse with a shower head after going to the loo if you can, kitchen roll to dry yourself, never a towel as they are unlikely to be washed hot enough to be clean enough to use on an open wound. They gave me flaminol to syringe into the open wound, which really helped, so if you can get hold of some from your midwife or GP that might be a good idea. Mine healed well in the end. The damage to my pelvic floor from the forceps - not so great. Do do your pfe: I didn't, and am paying for it now.

[kinkytoes]

Have you seen a specialist physio Hedgehog? Don't suffer in silence. It took 14 months before I felt right again, and it was the physio that helped me the most.

[Hedgeh0g]

I have kinkytoes, but somewhat belatedly - am pregnant again and realised the head in the sand approach probably wasn't going to cut it any more. Limits the options of what she can do to basically lots and lots of pfe, at least until baby 2 is born. Not much progress so far, but I'm hoping that's because with the pregnancy I'm basically working to maintain the status quo and not get worse, and that once the baby is born I can finally make progress. Fingers crossed anyway.

[katienana]

Mine took a long time to heal. I was told they heal from the inside first so it might not look like it is healing when you look at it. I called the maternity assessment unit at the hospital where I delivered and I was seen quite quickly by a consultant who confirmed it was on track but if it didn't heal by x date to come back. It was very reassuring.

[Me624]

My DS is 8.5 weeks old, mine had definitely not healed up by 8 days! In fact I know it was still very painful at that point as I remember I was only just starting to leave the house for short walks etc and it was still agony at times. I would say it took 3 weeks before I stopped daily painkillers. My stitches came apart by the entrance to my vagina too but when I had a look with a hand mirror about a week ago it has almost healed up now. I asked the GP about it at my 6 week check and he basically said wait another 6 weeks and come back if it's still not healed.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Get it checked.
Put water on a sanitary towel and put in freezer. Use these, will help with swelling pain. If you have any lavender and tea tree oil you can add some drops of these onto the pads or into a bath.

[makingmiracles]

I had one with dc1, couldn't sit down for over a week and was still in pain at 8 days, pain didn't subside till over 6 weeks down the line. On hindsight I think it probably got infected but wouldn't let anyone check. Healed OK in the end and no further problem, went on to have dc2,3,4 without any tears or needing to be cut.

I would get it checked out soon if you're still in pain by the end of the week, you might need ABs or stronger painkillers.

[Cakescakescakes]

Shallow warm bath with 5-6 drops tea tree oil in it. Sit in it for 10 mins then lie on a towel to air dry. Do this twice a day. I had a 3rd degree tear and 2nd time round a gaping episiotomy wound and this helped both heal and helped with the pain too.

[Frazzled2207]

Iirc I was in agony and couldn't sit down (had to lie down or stand up!!) between day 3 and 9ish.
Then it slowly got better and I think I was running again at 5/6 weeks.
Do get someone ideally a gp to check though, I found midwives unsympathetic.

[TheRollingCrone]

YO to the warm bath, salt is very soothing and tea tree oil great for healing.

congratulations!

[MrsGlam]

I recently had an episiotomy too and found Arnica tablets and witch hazel on pads really made a difference for me.
I am still a little tender but manage to get out and about now. (2 weeks and 6 days)
It does get better I promise.
I haven't dared to look at mine yet!