Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Are stitches after birth supposed to be this painful?

15 replies

somuchpaintoday · 09/10/2024 11:05

I had a baby on Saturday and had a few stitches not an episiotomy just as described to me as a couple of grazes.
I am in so much pain which is getting worse each day, standing up hurts, I can barely walk, sitting down hurts, even lying down and I honestly feel I could burst into tears at any second because of the pain.
There's no way I could leave the house today or yesterday although I did the first day home as it wasn't as bad then.
Is this normal?
I've had a look and it seems like it's ok, no puss and swelling has gone down.

OP posts:
Original poster
somuchpaintoday · 09/10/2024 11:08

I am taking paracetamol for it but it's not helping.

OP posts:
dorotheasc · 09/10/2024 11:25

I completely sympathise. I did have an episiotomy but the first few weeks seemed unbearable. Walking was difficult, sitting down the absolute worst. I regimentally took paracetamol and ibuprofen which did help. Unfortunately it just took time to heal. I was also told to not bath with stitches by the hospital but there is conflicting info on this online. Hoping a speedy recovery and congrats on your arrival!

minipie · 09/10/2024 11:27

I had stitches both times and it definitely wasn’t as painful as you describe, and it didn’t get worse over time. No harm in getting checked over OP.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Antenatal & postnatal Families General health
Deliberationdivinationdesperation · 09/10/2024 11:30

I had stitches but it wasn't as painful as you describe, I had a few days of it feeling sore and tight and then it got better as the days went on. I had paracetamol, ibuprofen and maybe dihydrocodeine if that's the right name for it which I had each of a few times a day.

Maybe paracetamol isn't enough pain relief, I would definitely ask to be checked out if you're still being seen at home by your midwife or ring up and ask if not.

SunQueen24 · 09/10/2024 11:31

I’d get them checked OP. I had a third degree tear and episiotomy and my stitches weren’t at all painful. I was sent home with prescription painkillers though.

Mrsttcno1 · 09/10/2024 11:34

Definitely ask to be checked, I had my daughter 6 months ago and had an episiotomy and a tear elsewhere so stitches on both and I did have discomfort for a week or so but after the first maybe 24 hours I wouldn’t have described it as pain, more just discomfort. I was aware of it but I wasn’t anywhere close to tears in pain and didn’t stop me doing anything, I took paracetamol & ibuprofen for 3 days ish and didn’t feel I needed it after that as the pain really wasn’t bad so definitely get checked over to see if everything is okay x

LolaJ87 · 09/10/2024 11:37

I would also recommend getting it checked. I had a second degree tear and nothing as painful as what you're describing. Discomfort if I moved in certain ways and maybe mild soreness if I sat funny but nothing like what you're describing and I am a wimp with pain.

TeaButInAPot · 09/10/2024 11:39

Go back and get checked. I was fobbed off for 2 weeks, with people saying "it's meant to be sore, it's healing" etc, until it reached the point I went back and basically said "I need someone to look at my stitches NOW, because otherwise I'm going to just take my trousers off here in reception and wait until someone will look at them". Nobody would even look at them until I insisted. Then it transpired I had a really awful infection, and they had to try 3 different antibiotics before it was sorted. Absolutely hideous pain. I couldn't sit, walk, lie down, use the toilet. It was grim. Worst pain I've ever experienced. Far worse than the birth!

I had another baby 18 months after the hideous stitches birth, and that one was presumably how things are meant to be, as the stitches were a bit sore but absolutely nothing like the first lot of stitches. I hate that they wouldn't believe me that the pain was so bad - it's horrible being made to feel like you're just making a fuss about nothing.

Yours sounds far from normal, so go and get checked. I hope for your sake they heal properly soon. Sorry for your pain 😔

gamerchick · 09/10/2024 12:00

Get them checked. Sometimes they can get a bit tight. Your midwife might be able to make you more comfortable.

My first baby I had to get them taken out after 5 days because they weren't the dissolving ones. The relief!

StainlessSeal · 09/10/2024 12:16

Sounds infected to me!

ginasevern · 09/10/2024 12:48

Yes, my stitches were painful but not as bad as you describe. Get them checked.

Snowdrops17 · 09/10/2024 12:55

I had a second degree tear and stitches and didn't even feel them , you need to get checked x

OhTediosity · 09/10/2024 12:58

Another one urging you to have this checked by a midwife. Hopefully you are still under the community midwife and have a direct number to call? I don't want to scare you but I had an infection in my episiotomy stitches which got very nasty indeed.

Emmacb82 · 09/10/2024 13:00

You are still under midwife and baby should be having 5 day bloods today so get them to check the stitches for you. Sometimes stitches can feel tighter and like they are pulling when the wounds are healing but it shouldn’t be so painful that you can barely move. You can use ibuprofen too in between the paracetamol.

jellybe · 09/10/2024 17:09

Get them checked aOP if they are getting worse they could be infected.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page