Stitches

[hiss42]

I had a forceps delivery in theatre three weeks ago. No one 'debreifed' me after the birth (did not even realise I'd had a forceps delivery until I was discharged 4 days later!)

The swellings gone down enough now and I felt today that not only do I have a lot of stitches to my perenium, but also inside? Is that even possible? It seems as though a lot of the muscle inside has been stitched! I don't see how a doctor would be able to reach that far inside, and how they would of cut it during my episiotomy? Has anyone heard of internal stitching?

Sounds a lot like my delivery, I even had my cervix stitched because it was torn by the forceps. Hurt like hell for three weeks and I had a blood transfusion too. That pfb is 14 now though and everything is in good working order, so don't worry. See your GP if things don't seem right.

I did not have internal stitching but I've heard of it. I would either ask your midwife to have a look when she next comes to visit, or pop down to the GP and get them to have a look for you.

You didn't know they used forceps They are supposed to gain your consent before performing any kind of action on your body.

Apart from that, lots of people have internal tears. You might have been torn by the forceps or your episiotomy may have extended and left you with a second or third degree tear, but again, this should have been discussed with you.

Definitely request a debrief to make sure you know exactly what happened.

FWIW, I didn't know they used forceps on me either until after. I knew they were using ventouse though because we went through the consent for that prior. Looking back I am really pleased they didn't mention the forceps until after.

I had internal stitching after DC1 was born. She had hands around her head for the birth and fingernails and hands did the damage. Had to be stitched in theatre with an anaesthetic, so I was well aware!

But they did try to stitch me just with gas and air for pain relief, feet in stirrups.

It healed up fine and I didn't have a repeat with DC2, just superficial stitches.

Take Arnica tablets, and make sure you have lots of warm baths with drops of tea tree and lavender oil. Neal's Yard do a Seaweed and Arnica bath foam.

And....pelvic floor exercises! I had to resort to Tena pads during second pregnancy as mine was shot from all that pushing.

I had internal stitches - haven't really bothered me that much

Apart from when she was doing the stitching

I had a forceps delivery and a second degree tear as a result. If you've had a big tear they have to do internal stitches - they can't just stitch up the outside - have to do several 'layers' to make sure you stay intact (so says my sister in law who is a surgeon). I gave birth 4 months ago and for 2 months literally thought I'd never walk properly (let alone anything else!) again. But I'm completely fine now. Doing the pelvis floor exercises whenever I remember and sex was a bit scary for the first couple of times but it is fine now. Will definitely get better soon!

I had a third degree tear and lots of internal stitches. They used disolvables so now 4 months on I can just feel the scar.

Good to hear others have gone on to birth dc2 without further tearing.

I had a big 2nd with dd and just had a small2nd with ds and both times needed some internal stiches. As someone else said it's all the layers.

I had forceps deliver 2 weeks ago and was stitched back together after. I said to my midwife when she visited me at home about the stitches, and she said there's little point her looking as they are all inside anyway. I was surprised they were inside but obviously trust her knowledge.

Funny you should say that firsttimer, with dd they checked them, this time they haven't.