3rd degree tearing and stitches

[margherita76]

I have had lots of good advice re looking after my war-torn undercarriage ( 3rd degree tear, epistomy (sp) 7 days ago)but I am worried that the stitches aren't holding the skin together properly. But at the same time I have no idea what this sort of thing should look like and am a rather anxious sort anyway. how do you know if stitches are opening up it looks like there is gaping skin in parts but no heavy bleeding and not THAT SORE, though this may change as the day progresses...

The bit that I am worried about is nt on the inside but the bit that you would get if you were having a bikini wax - the tearing sort of veers to the side. Because of this I find it hard not to put pressure by sitting on it. Also what happens if they do open up? Should I just not look?!
ps no dp to check and will ask if mf can have a look when she comes in a couple of days.

do you have symptoms of opening up? as it sounds as though you are worrying about it as a possibility, not that anything has actually happened to cause you to believe your stitches have actually opened up....in which case don't worry, just look after the wound and keep an eye on its healing.

i wouldn't look unless you have to. feel it and see if it feels like somethings opened? if you are concerned they have actually opened up, ie genuine concern rather than just because youre worried, i think you should ask your midwife to come earlier.

i presume you're washing regularly after every loo?

sitting on it shouldn't cause it open up. but if its uncomfortable to sit on,then get a swimming ring or if you dont have one and cant send anyone out,then place some towels in a ring and sit int that. it puts less pressure on the area.

it is normal for the stiching to jut out to one side, a common episiotomy cut is to the right as this helps avoid damadge to the rectum.

also try salt baths and regular airing (sit on bed, legs open, no undies and an old towel under you to catch your bleeding).

oh and if in a couple of days its gets really uncomfortble (usually around day 10 it feels like burning,prepare yourself for that,its the skin tightening and the stitches falling out as they should) femipads or cool gel pads work wonders.

muslimah, what would the symptoms be?

at this stage the main symptom is that you can feel or see it. but i wouldn't recfommend looking at it, so feel it gently, you'll know if something's not right.

you may feel some general pain in the area, soreness, this would be a sign of infection.,

also, i was thinking, when my stitches opened up, i phoned labour ward, was told to wait til the next day when someone was comning to visit me.

the thing is that they won't actually treat it just yet if they have opened, and they definitely wont' re stitch at this stage. so you could just wait til the MW comes in 2 days, as actually nothing will change. but if you are in pain, then there is a chance there is an infection, and in this case then it is worth pushing for an earlier visit as they may give you antibiotics.

let me know here what happens, if they have oipened up there is a very good thread about this but i won't tell you the link just yet as if it hasn't happened to you (and hopefully that is the case) it may worry you to read it.

it feels lumpy and like a valley and is painful but then so is everything at the moment. I felt a bit panicked like - do I need to sort this out now? - but the tube strike means the stretched midwives definitely won't come today and as you say, they probably won't do anything anyway. I'll just go and sit in the (salty) bath. again

I am already on antibiotics so they can't give me anymore -can they.

Part of the problem I think is that the painkillers (or the antibiotics? something) gave me really loose bowels so I have been on the loo constantly. Which perhaps put to much pressure on them? Would I have seen the stitches if they had come out?

I will let you know - thanks so much for your help

Oh this brings back so many memories. I'm afraid cosmetically it won;t be the same as before. Yes it looks wonky hence the valley feeling. Some 16 years later it is still wonky but not black and blue with all the bruising thank goodness.

My tip as had been said before, lots of salt baths and invest in a rubber swimming rim. It was a godsend when it came to feeding.

I had my undercarriage (love that expression) examined every day for the 10 days I was in hosp. You could ask the midwife to check them out if you have been discharged.

Have they given you laxatives/stool softeners so you don't strain when doing a poo? Definitely worth asking as I was scared stiff I would rip to pieces if I pushed too hard.