Need episiotomy help so painful

[Melonballs1]

gave birth 2 weeks ago was a forced birth and ended up stitched then un stitched and stitched up again. I’m still in so much pain 2 weeks on. Taking max paracetamol ibroprufen and dihydracodine daily and I still feel pain from it is this normal. It’s been check by the midwife and lead doctor on the ward who all say it looks fine. My stitches have come apart almost at the top and I have two holes before the stitches all come together and are healing nicely. I still struggling sitting getting up crouching etc which is so difficult with a new born. Was anyone else still in this much pain. I’ve been told the holes should close if I keep my legs together when sat down and asleep. Other wise if still there once everything else is heeled then they will do something. I’m wincing in pain still

just wish I would feel better

Hi I wouldn't say this is normal, I didn't feel much pain from my epise and had it in similar spot although I did have a few gaping stitches. Maybe give it a couple of days and watch for infection

I would be demanding more/better pain relief, why are women expected to just deal with this!?

I’ve been checked for infection as I actually had an infection but not down there and they ruled it out.

When my stitches popped, I had them checked weekly at the doctors surgery by the practice nurse. It was very reassuring to know each time that they were healing okay. I think mine took about 5 weeks to completely heal. I remember being uncomfortable but not in extreme pain. I was advised to have daily salt baths in warm water and then to either let myself ‘air dry’ or to use a hairdryer on a cool setting. The things we do!!!

I would get an appointment with the practice nurse or re-contact the midwife team for advice. The extreme pain doesn’t sound right at all.

I don't remember having any pain after my episiotomy, so I would say it isn't normal. After my second birth (no episiotomy) my stitches fell out within 48 hours and the midwife was unconcerned, so this part is possibly normal. I hope you feel better soon

Mine popped after a few day's and I let them heal on their own, it was painful but didn't last as long as yours.
What helped me massively was twice daily shallow not too hot baths with drops of lavender oil and tea tree oil.
I had both oils ready for next labour had little tares but not stitches and oils really soothed them.

OP demand a swab is taken to check for infection, I was repeatedly told my stitches looked fine and I had no infection. I was in sever pain after 2 weeks - far worse than vaginal birth with only gas and air.

They finally agreed to take a swab and surprise surprise I did have an infection. By the time I was prescribed antibiotics the infection had already passed but it could have saved me days of intense pain.

My stitches also took ages to heal. They had left part of the wire sticking out so it never allowed the skin to heal over properly for months. It’s really hard and the midwives just think you should be fine so it’s hard to communicate that it isn’t fine. For now absolute minimal activity, avoid sitting, bed rest as much as possible and fresh air to the stitches really is a good thing - basically lie in bed with no pants on a towel for a few days. I hope you have good support at home. It does get better, mine are fully healed now.

12 years on and I will never forget the pain, mine took a full 6 weeks before it started to improve. You are not alone. I did plenty of water douches (just an ordinary sports cap bottle of water). No advice really just that it will improve but can take time. I did end up with pnd so keep an eye on your mental health.

And yes to baths with Epsom salts!

Ask for antibiotics. My deep pain came and went until 3 months PP when I went back and insisted on anti biotics. The gave me co-amoxiclav and I was much better very quickly

Don't wait though. My scar tissue is very deep and sometimes it still aches when I have period pain, even though my DD is now 7 and I've had another birth (with no assistance and only 2 stitches which healed quickly) since then.

I was in pain for weeks/months with my episiotomy after a ventouse birth, and wasn’t totally pain free until about 20 months. I hope that is not discouraging but rather an encouragement to push for further pain relief because I wish I had realised it wasn’t normal! Things I wish I had done were take laxatives, asked for stronger pain relief, and rested more in those first few weeks. I also went to a pelvic floor physio at about 3 months and had estrogen cream prescribed while I was breastfeeding- both of those significantly eased the pain.

You say it was checked on the ward? So a few weeks ago? Assuming you're home? I'd go to your GP.

I had one, it was utterly hideous and a worse recovery than my later ELCS. It's 13 years ago now and I still vividly remember the awfulness.

I used to have a tepid bath with a couple of drops of teatree and a couple of drops of lavender every day, it did help a little bit. Sending strength, it's absolutely grim but it will pass. Excellent diagram!

Definitely go back again. Push for a swab if you're worried about infection. But also, you need to be incredibly careful about things like crouching down. If it hurts - don't do it!

I had horrendous pain after my episiotomy I had to sit on a donut cushion and keep topped up on pain relief.
The thing that I feel started the healing process and pain ending was witch hazel on a maternity pad and popped on the freezer

I remember feeling so down and miserable because of my post birth pain. It was 6 weeks before I walked normal again.

They used to make mothers stay in bed after having a baby, now they say get up and be active to promote healing. All I did was delay my recovery by going for short walks everyday. Once I finally stayed home for a week, and didn't walk anywhere I felt huge improvement, although it was several months before it stopped hurting full stop and it still hurts with a period (weirdly another pp has mentioned this)

And externally I used Sudacrem. That was like within 24 hours I felt big improvement. I had 2 external tears that I'd (stupidly) refused to have stitched.

Please get off your feet OP, rest rest and rest more. Get a bath pillow to sit on in the bath to make it more comfortable and take the pressure off.

Mine was like that extending into my thigh. Horrible. I went old school with it in the end and sat in a salt bath every night and it seemed to improve from there on.

Whilst you wait to see someone, get some ‘spritz for bitz’ from Amazon. It’s pricey but so worth money! Spray on a maternity pad and it is so cooling and full of stuff to help you heal. Really helped after my second.

This really stung when I used it so have stuck to lansinoa ice pads it’s heeling better at the moment. Turns out I had an infection which has now been treated. Top stitch has split which means I now have one hole and one bigger vagina 😥

I found a bath with tea tree, lavender and peppermint essential oils really helped me to heal