helping to heal after cutting and stitches

[spaceangel1382]

Anyone got any tips on healing after being cut and stitched? Im uncomfortable {which is understandable} but would like to speed up my healing if its possible. obviously need to keep area as clean and dry as possible but wondering if anyoone knows any 'tricks'to ease discomfort and help to mend

Sit in a bath of warm water with lavender oil about 4 times a day. After that direct warm water from shower head at the area.

Diclofenac pain killers to reduce swelling.

Tea tree oil or witch hazel wipes.

Many people have suggested arnica tablets to help with healing.

Rubber ring to sit on as that eases the pressure on your nether regions.

Avoid constipation.

What sh77 said!

I gave birth (second baby) on tuesday and have quite a few stitches after a 2nd degree tear. I am finding the lavender oil in bath really helpful. Also I'd definitely recommend you avoid constipation so have lots of water etc to make it easier when you do go (it's been so much easier for me this time around as I have done this). Other than that I am just making sure I keep my bits superclean and that I'm changing pads frequently. Oh yes, and try and get some air to your stitches too (lying on a towel on bed a couple of times a day)

Midwife told me not tea tree - ouch!

Chamomile and lavender essential oils in baths, or diluted in a little spray bottle for after going to the toilet.

theres so many theories about what to put in your bath post stitches- tea tree, lavender, salt, calendula....main thing is sth antibacterial and which promotes healing. The former 2 are only antibacterial but the latter 2 also promote healing. Personally i found salt the most helpful, i could visibly see a difference in the rate of healing (was examining daily as i had lots of problems with my stitches)

air drying very very imp- and even dry yr bits with a clean hairdryer after loo. And sit airing on a towel as said above, and at night.

Femepad cool gel pads really help with pain.

If u cant get a rubber ring a good substitute is to make a ring by bunching up a towel into a ring shape.

Definitely dont get constipated.

Cocodamol is also good for pain.

Sit in the bath twice a day. I started with a couple of drops of lavender oil in the early days, then stopped when I started feeling a bit thrushy. Dry your bits with the hairdryer on cool afterwards. Change your pads frequently. Ask the community midwife to have a look if you're at all worried about anything. You'll be surprised how quickly it starts to feel better

My GP recommended a tablespoon of salt in the bath. Seemed to help.

She also gave me codeine for the pain - gave me horrific constipation, not to be recommended!

If it's very painful it cd have got infected in which case you will need antibiotics.

what muslimah said. REALLY recommend checking frequently with a mirror (even if it is a bit upsetting at first). Hopefully everything will heal easily and quickly for you with no problems. But if things do get infected or start opening up, if you're checking you'll know what thigns look like and will spot any problems quickly. If things don't look or feel right (e.g. redness, discharge, smell) go and see GP ASAP.

most of this has been said but will repeat!

get hold of some calendula tincture (Neals Yard do it....), you can put it in the bath with salt and also use diluted in water to cleanse things after a 'movement'.

homeopathic arnica and hypericum (200c if you can get it.....Helios Homeopathy supply these) i know there's so much negativity out there about it, but i can honestly say arnica is bloody brilliant and hypericum is esp. for soft tissue damage to nerve rich areas. i used both after a wisdom tooth extraction - it was impacted and i had to have a general...ouch! (a bit different, i know....) but healed up very, very quickly.

When you're going to the loo take a jug or squeezy bottle with warm water and use it to spray your fanjo with whilst you pee.

Also I don't know how good this was but I used baby wipes when I went for a number 2 as toilet paper was just too rough for me. I also used to shower and clean my bum afterwards to keep the wound clean. The warm water also has the benefit of easing the aches down there as well throughout the day.

Also rest rest rest, this more than anything will help the healing more.

Also do your pelvic floor excercises, this will help increase blood flow to the area thus promoting healing.

Thnaks everyone, been to see midwife today and got infections and the skin around stitches is degrading {but not the muscle}. gonna try the baths and air drying. antibiotics for me.

Spaceangel Oh I'm sorry you've got an infection, thats not nice at all. I hope you get better soon.

I used witch hazel (kept in the fridge) on a maternity pad - it helped dry and cool the area. With an infection I bathed in warm bath with salt in it then pad with witch hazel on it. I also used witch hazel to dab the stitch area then left it to air.