internal stiches

[violet59]

I can understand how you might tear along the vaginal walls, but I occassionally see women talk about internal stitches. Do they mean internal as in 'muscle layer' stitches that are done before 'skin layer' ones? Or do they mean higher up in the vagina, say close to the cervix for example? How is it possible for someone to be able to manouver their hands and instruments and be able to see what they are doing inside a vagina? I may have the wrong end of the stick! Anyone know how this works? Any midwives out there?

I had internal stitches, which in my case meant higher up in the vagina. Remember a rather large baby came out of there a few minutes earlier so doubt getting a hand up is going to be too tricky!

I had internal stitches (inside my vagina) and my gp (who specialises in childbirth and stiches etc) did them. dh sat in the corner of the room cuddling dd as I was on the gas and air. He was sitting in such a way that he could see everything - his comment... "you were wiiiide!" He was quite traumatised to discover how wided it can get - snapped back though and I think it's probably tighter than before.