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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Stitches - a rough timescale for healing

12 replies

cookingfat · 18/02/2011 00:36

gave birth to dc1 last week -today is day 6. interventions, but did have 2nd degree tear. Each day they feel a little better, but i'm still hobbling around the house, and find sitting down (the action- once I'm down I'm ok!) getting up again uncomfortable. Weeing also still stings.
My question is, does this sound about right? I'm not expecting to be able to leap around just yet, but will day to day stuff soon start to get easier?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Mahraih · 18/02/2011 06:22

About 2 - 3 weeks according to MW, but verify this as she was not always 100% correct!

I had a 1st degree and was feeling better in three days or so, but while I had the stinging, MW recommended getting a squeezy water bottle full of lukewarm water, and squeezing it over the 'area' while weeing. It took a bit of coordination, but really helped. Worth a try?

Hope you feel better soon!

iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 18/02/2011 06:37

I had a second degree tear, and it took about 4 to 6 weeks, horrid as it sounds myself and dh tried resuming, ahem, maritals, at 7 weeks,just before my check op, and all was ok, its a big trauma your body has been through

Have you tried lavender oil in the bath to help bruising etc, I alternated this with tea tree oil, both really helped, I think the worst bit was when the stitches were obviously healing and drying out... pulling and itchy! I upper the baths per day then!

PukeyMummy · 18/02/2011 07:15

I agree with the tea tree oil in the bath. Also try taking Arnica tablets/Arnica cream - worked a treat for me.

Metalhead · 18/02/2011 07:30

I felt almost no improvement for the first week, then it got a bit better every day during the second week, and then it seemed to take a long time again until things got markedly better... all in all it took 6 months.

Everyone's different, but a week is most certainly still very early days, and I'm sure you will feel better over the next few weeks! (Lavender oil baths, jug of warm water when peeing, ice packs and valley cushion all helped me. And lots of painkillers!)

cinnamongreyhound · 18/02/2011 09:59

I used lavander oil in the bath twice a day and took arnica. By the second week I was feeling much more myself and 4 weeks after felt pretty much healed. Dh and I had sex 4 weeks after ds1 and was fine. Try leaning forward when you wee and it hoepfully won't touch the stitches.

babynelly2010 · 18/02/2011 13:10

I had 2nd degree stitches, I am about 2 weeks post birth now, first 6 days or so were horrid but now I feel pretty much fineallthough still healing. I did take antibiotic for some other complication so I am not sure if it contributed to the quicker recovery. I also do pelvic floor exercises regularly and during the first week after I went to the toilet I got into the shower right after as well every time. Now I do it every other time. If it stings, weeing in the shower with the shower head spraying down there really helps. Additionally if your stitch on your perineum when you go #2 holding a paper towel or pad to the area really helps too.
I hope this helps and you feel relieved soon :)

naturalbaby · 18/02/2011 13:24

my mw said 14 days but give your body 6 weeks to rest and recover properly. i remember feeling shattered after ds1 (just had ds3 and not had the chance to rest!) i put tea tree oil and lavender oil in the bath every day for at least 2 weeks.

Zoedee · 18/02/2011 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maxpower · 18/02/2011 21:56

I've recently got over a 2nd degree tear (DS is almost 9 weeks old). 1st week I felt pretty ok - I was lucky as I never had the stinging when you wee thing. 2nd week I was very sore/stingy and found I had to sit in a warm bath about 4 times a day. 3rd week things really improved. 4th week I just had an ache in my perineum if I stood up/walked for a long time - not sure if that was related to the tear/stitches or the birth though!

Jojay · 18/02/2011 22:03

I had a second degree tear with DS2, and it was comfortable again after 3 weeks, though horse riding would have been out of the question!

I wasn't too sore initially, but I think I overdid it in the first few days, walking too much etc, and it got worse before it got better.

It also stung like buggery when I had a wee -it was awful, but I found that leaning right forward with my head on my knees and sticking my bum out behind me was the best way to avoid the stitches! Sorry if TMI Blush

Take it easy for now and I'm sure you'll be feeling fine very soon Smile

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 18/02/2011 22:14

I had 2nd degree, and although I was ok after about 3 weeks, I'd say it took more like 4-5 months to fully heal.

In the first few days, I always took a jug of warm water to the loo with me, and poured it over myself while I did a wee - diluted the wee so it didn't sting!

DingALongCow · 19/02/2011 15:30

With DD I had a second degree tear and I got the midwife to remove my stitches on day 7 as they were pulling and catching and that was causing pain and discomfort. It wasnt very comfortable having them out but it improved immensely without having all those little bits of thread sticking out of me (disclaimer I was healing well and the midwife was happy to do it at home). Was back to normal by day 10, no more discomfort.

With DS I went to the doctor on day 8 to have them removed as I forgot to ask the midwife. She was happy to do it and again, I was back to normal with everything by day 14. Having them out was a bit uncomfortable the second time around but I literally skipped (well hobbled jauntily- DS was in the sling and he was 9lb 6) home afterwards.

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