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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my under carriage has been stitched too tight?

22 replies

Mabel80 · 22/02/2016 17:37

I may be freaking out here but after a very traumatic birth with ds1 I ended up with an awful stich up job that became undone and infected. It was never re done and I was always unhappy with the result. The consultant wrote in my notes that any sutures must be done by a senior midwife or consultant, but the midwife who delivered convinced me to let her do it. She said she was 'putting an extra one in' near the entrance.

Since being home the first poo was okay but as the week has worn on (now 9 days post partum) it has become sheer agony, it feels like my rectum is too tight, however it was a second degree tear so no stiches in that area.Could too tight stiching cause this as I am terrified of needing it redone.

As a side note I am also having pain urinating which shoots up the urethra .

Help......

OP posts:
gBean · 22/02/2016 17:38

I'd go to your GP or midwife ASAP. Poor you Flowers

monkeysox · 22/02/2016 17:38

Sounds like an infection. Go get it checked out. Ouch FlowersCakeBrew and painkillers

vodkaredbull · 22/02/2016 17:40

Call your GP. I'm in the same position as you but 14 days pp. Finally got checked today (haven't been OK with being checked after traumatic birth) and my stitches had been mangled. So please get checked and get sorted. You don't have to be in pain!

Original poster
Mabel80 · 22/02/2016 17:47

Vodkarebull, what will they do to sort that for you?

I was just left last time and was hoping to come off healed better than last time as the tear was along the scar tissue.

I also have tenderness in lower abdomen and I am not sure that should still be the case at all. Feel really low as if I am not getting better.

OP posts:
vodkaredbull · 22/02/2016 17:56

I've got no infection so they're not willing to do anything right now. At my 6 week check gp is going to "revisit" the issue. I should say a student stitched me and it took a fair few tries to get it done.

If you have an infection it'll be easily treated and you will get better very, very soon.

clockbuscanada · 22/02/2016 17:58

Go back to your GP or MW for a check and some reassurance. I had to with my repair and it was pretty sore for a good couple of weeks (sorry). I had some retained placenta as well, it was all a bit of a disaster area for a while but it did get better. Also it took me probably about 18 months for the feeling of "too tightness" to go away, with about a year of physio. I was holding my muscles too tightly all the time and had to learn how to relax them (which can feel counter-intuitive after years of PF exercises!)

MotherofPearl · 22/02/2016 19:18

It does sound like an infection, unfortunately. I had this after DD, and even after infection cleared by antibiotics the feeling of tightness persisted. Turned out I'd been much too tightly and thoroughly stitched up, to the point where sex was not actually physically possible, even 6 months after the birth. Ended up having Fenton's procedure to have it sorted out, and all was fine after that. Hope it doesn't come to that for you OP, but just to say I think you should see your GP. I'm sure it will resolve with antibiotics.

grannytomine · 22/02/2016 20:05

You might be bruised with some swelling. I had a traumatic delivery with forceps and thought I was never going to be able to poo again. I ended up being readmitted and begging for an enema, not something I could have imagined! It did settle down.

Community midwife was most upset that I was readmitted but I had told them repeatedly I was in agony, she said if she had realised she could have sorted it. Not sure what more I could have done other than giving her a poke in the eye with a blunt stick.

LidikaLikes · 22/02/2016 20:28

Poor you, OP. Though congratulations on your baby.

I had similar after my DC1. Had granulation scar tissue - Google it if you dare - basically the wound got infected and broke down, though part of it healed and scarred and manky tissue was mixed in with healthy tissue. Took lots of appts with different doctors and referral for surgery, then Praise God, after 7 months just before surgery it sorted itself out!

With DC2 my notes outlined from Consultant that I should have episiotomy (sorry for bad spelling!) to avoid it tearing again.

All fine now, kids are 6 & 3 years old.

Fourarmsv2 · 22/02/2016 21:00

At the 6 week check I though mine would never be the same. At 6 months it was barely noticeable.

It is early days. I used instillagel for a long time when going for a poo. Blush

WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo · 22/02/2016 21:06

I'm surprised no one has picked up on the 'extra stitch' Google 'husband stitch'
The husband stitch is an "extra" stitch in the perenium after a woman gives birth and either tears or is cut (episiotomy). The extra stitch is designed to make the vagina tighter and please her partner, thus the name, "the husband stitch"

Some say that the husband stitch is a myth, but sadly it isn't. Many women have had the ugly privilege of living it, and can tell you without a doubt that it is, in fact, real
See your GP straight away OP.

SalemSaberhagen · 22/02/2016 21:06

I had emergency forceps and an episiotomy (plus a small tear). My stitches were also very tight, and about 4 burst open. Very very painful, but after a couple of months it was ok (sex was very painful for 6-9 months though). Go to the doctor tomorrow, you poor thing. It will get better though, I promise. Mine felt like they weren't healing at all for a while, but then seemed to completely heal all at once.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 22/02/2016 21:09

Are you on iron tablets by any chance? As that makes it awful. Would recommend Lactulose to make it all a bit easier.

But agree with the others - you need to see a doctor / midwife.

elQuintoConyo · 22/02/2016 21:12

I was stitched too tightly. I had surgery to fix it when DS just turned 1, on 23rd December. That was a FUN Christmas Hmm

It does sound like you have an infection, though.

Flowers for your fanjo and congratulations Flowers

BeautyIsTruth · 22/02/2016 21:16

The tenderness in the abdomen would make me think possible womb infection. You could also have an infection in your stitches or a UTI or all 3. Or it could be caused by a haematoma which would need treatment. Have you had any rectal bleeding? It could be due to prolapsed piles. Either way, you really, really need to get someone to look at your stitches and examine your abdomen tomorrow - either ask your community midwife or your GP.
I would definitely not wait to get this looked at. You shouldn't be in this much pain and if you do have a womb infection you could become quite poorly. Also, you may already know but wash your hands before going to the toilet as you can pass bacteria up the vagina that way. Hope you feel better soon.

selsigfach · 22/02/2016 21:18

Stitched too tightly here too. Baby is 15 months and I can't have sex or use my mooncup. Have been refused corrective surgery and am waiting for another referral to the fanny physio team, whatever the technical term may be. It's pretty depressing to think my sex life is over. Seek help quickly!

Original poster
Mabel80 · 22/02/2016 21:25

Thanks ladies - no rectal bleeding which is making me think it's not piles but I did wonder about a fissure? I text the midwife and she said she will come tomorrow. Because last time was so bad - I have no idea what normal healing after birth feels like but I feel like I should be improving wicker than this and I am terrified that placenta has been left behind or the stiches are bad again. Who would be a woman 😱

OP posts:
Original poster
Mabel80 · 22/02/2016 21:27

I can't believe you have been refused corrective surgery sells! That is awful.

Also how do midwives know if the stiches are infected, just by looking at them presumably?

OP posts:
newmumwithquestions · 22/02/2016 21:39

Def get it checked straight away - midwife or gp - whoever you are more comfortable with, but maybe gp as you are getting other pain. Sounds like an infection, maybe one in area of stitches and maybe one UTI.
I had stiches with both labours, first time they got infected, second time I was religious about cleaning and they didn't. But I got haemorrhoids 2nd time which caused pain so there is a chance you could have them too (isn't labour glamorous!) Just get it checked - please. I know it's the last thing you want to do at the moment but it could stop problems later down the line.
Also they tell you only to clean with water but there are some soap free antibacterial washes you can use - I was prescribed some by my gp after my stiches got infected after labour 1 and used the same stuff with no 2 - I think it helped keep it clean.

Finally if the checks are ok but it still doesn't feel right once recovered don't ignore it. I did after labour 1 and when the midwife for labour 2 saw me she said the scar tissue hadn't healed correctly die to the infection - it was causing a bit of pain but I hadn't realised I could do much about it. She advised to go to see a gynaecologist if it is still the same after I recover from labour 2.
And I agree to take laxatives and try to stay hydrated so you are as comfortable as possible when you go to the toilet. Good luck. Flowers

Original poster
Mabel80 · 22/02/2016 23:16

Thanks so much, I really hope it's just a UTI and piles rather than the stiches being infected but knowing my luck recently it will likely be all three .

OP posts:
WhoWants2Know · 22/02/2016 23:40

TMI alert: With both of my kids, the midwives checked for infection by appearance and (wince) smell of the stitches.

I was stitched up too tight after DD1 and sex was very uncomfortable. Thankfully DD2 fixed that for me by tearing just enough to undo what those extra stitches had done.

GeminiRising · 23/02/2016 11:45

I had an episiotomy during the birth of DD1 and I'm positive they put an extra stitch in.

Sex was really quite uncomfortable until I had DD2 - I tore naturally and healed without stitches. I didn't get it checked and I wish I had done.

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