I think my stitches came off -TMI

[babynelly2010]

Hello,
I gave birth five days ago and had 2nd degree tear in my pernial. Today in the shower I was washing off and felt something right below my viginal opening. I dared to look with the mirror and it looks like that the stitches partially came off near the opening and there is a piece of tissue sticking out.
I don't know what to do! I really felt better and thought I was recovering.
Anyone with experience on restitching, where do you go for that?

if it doesn't hurt and isn't bleeding don't worry. When I was stitched up after DS's birth - 2nd degree tear too - they used dissolvable stitches which I think is pretty standard. They dissolve into the skin after about a week and the bit of the stitiches on the outside comes off. I recall mine coming off over about 2 days in the bath. If you are concerned ring the community midwife.

GP and referral to a gynae if you think it is opening up. Or just contact the delivery unit and go back. Don't just let your MW fob you off, they are not doctors and discharge you from their care after a couple of weeks. Watch out for infection - don't wait for it to smell to say it is infected, get a swab done and antibiotics if necessary. I am not sure that disolvable stitches go that quickly. I don't mean to alarm you, but better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the comments. I went to the hospital triage. Turned out the piece of tissue sticking out was a beginning of a very large membrane piece that got retained after birth. I had a scan to see if anything is still there, the scan was inconclusive. I am now on antibiotics waiting to have another scan next week. Doctors said I was smart by coming in because I was on a way to have a very bad infection. On another note... my stitches are healing well, one came off but they said it is not a problem..

oh yeah, the membrane piece that came out was a size of my hand. I am not joking...

Well done for going in and hope that all is well at the scan next week.

CRIKEY!!!!! Good luck and welldone for going in! BTW second breatheslowly re not letting MW fob you off. Mine cheerfully told me that my wound was not infected at all - four courses of antibiotics later..... .

woo, that sounds very scary but you sound like you're taking it in your stride. at least the stitches are more or less ok. just keep an eye on things, if you feel like things are not right make sure you get medical attention again.