Tell me I'm being silly....(poss TMI)

[CVR2012]

I had a episiotomy and 3b tear 11 days ago.

I seemed to be very lucky and had very little discomfort and things seem to be healing well. My lochia became very light quite quickly and had almost disappeared until 2days ago.

It then became much heavier and bright red again. I called maternity assessment who said that this may just be a sign that I had done too much.
It has got lighter over the last day but is still heavier than it had been.

Things feel slightly different down there and im not sure if it's because it's healing or whether I could have burst my stitches/reopened my tear without realising it?

I realise I'm probably just being paranoid but am looking for reassurance!

TIA

Hiya, congratulations on your new baby :)

With your bleeding, are you passing clots or have you noticed a change in odour? If so, that might be a sign of infection which you might want to get checked out.

How differently are you feeling in your lady bits? If the answer is 'tight' or 'itchy' it's possibly a sign that you are healing. 11 days post-partum is still very early days and I remember feeling tight and uncomfortable in my episiotomy site at around day 8.

Of course, it could be that sensation is returning. I believe it's common for the perineum to feel quite numb, even after a normal delivery.

If anything is worrying you though, get it checked out :)

My episiotomy broke down (stitches opened) and I have to say it was excruciatingly painful, pain still there when taking full dose of diclofenac and unbearable if I was late taking it. So....if there isn't a change in pain I'd be hopeful that you haven't burst them and it's starting to feel different because you're healing. Not sure about the change in the lochia but 11 days is very early for it to be tailing off so I wouldn't worry about it going red and heavy.

That said - you should get yourself checked out to put your mind at rest. Please call your midwife on Monday morning or if you start to show signed of infection (funny smell, temperature, pain) then call the post-natal ward (or whatever 24 hr number you've been given) asap and ask their advice.

Thanks for the replies.

No clots or funny smells and I was late taking my diclofenac this morning with no increase in pain so it must just be feeling different as its healing.

MW back to see us tues so will get it checked out then.