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Childbirth

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

Original poster

3rd degree tear & very bad piles, recovery advice?

40 replies

RunningGuerita · 09/04/2012 14:12

Hi,
I had a baby girl a week ago (DD2). And after a very calm first stage (arrived at hospital fully dillated), baby's head didn't descend for several hours. When it finally started to, her heartrate dropped and they decided she had to come out immediately. Cue controlled panic, a brutal birth, ventouse, episiotomy and third degree tear for mum. Thankfully baby is well (her cord was too short and around her neck so she couldn't descend but she was only distressed for a short amount of time).

I feel bruised and battered and apparently my piles are the worst thing about my undercarriage at the minute (masking the three stitches from the tear and the bruising). I can't sit. And am uncomfortable just about all the time. Have seen the GP at an emergency clinic today for some prescription strength piles cream. She wasn't convinced they will shrink on their own and was worried about infection.

Any advice/words of encouragement? I seem to read conflicting things about baths (with tea tree oil) or sticking to showers.

Fortunately I have help at the moment but do need to regain mobility to look after my baby properly and my 18 month old.

Thanks, RG

OP posts:
Trizelda · 09/04/2012 14:15

I think arnica tablets helped with my healing (not on your scale!) but you could maybe give them a go. My friend is also convinced that her c section wound which was going a bit funny was helped by them. Perhaps check with health visitor first if breast feeding? Good luck. Also..I sat on one of those horseshoe shaped breast feeding pillows as I could sit over the hole if you know what I mean!

first1 · 09/04/2012 14:17

Wait, you only had three stitches for a 3rd degree tear?!

Original poster
RunningGuerita · 09/04/2012 14:32

Yes first1. Unless I didn't understand the doctor correctly. He had a strong accent. But that doesn't make a lot of sense now that I think about it, they were at it for 35mn in theatre.

OP posts:
first1 · 09/04/2012 14:46

Hmm I have to say I doubt it. I had a third degree tear stitched in theatre and had dozens. A few stitches seems to suggest a minor cut.

Original poster
RunningGuerita · 09/04/2012 14:51

It is definitely third degree. That is in writing on my discharge papers. I clearly misunderstood the number.

OP posts:
Flisspaps · 09/04/2012 14:55

Running you might not have misunderstood. I had a 3a, and asked how many stitches I had - I was told 1 as 'its just one long continuous stitch' (ie too many separate in and out stitches to actually count!) Perhaps yours is 3 separate 'sections' of thread instead of one massively long thread Wink?

first1 · 09/04/2012 14:58

Exactly. Mine was 3a as well. Look at your discharge notes to see whether yours was classes as 3a, b or c the severity increases in that order.

Original poster
RunningGuerita · 09/04/2012 15:30

It's 3a.

OP posts:
Original poster
RunningGuerita · 09/04/2012 15:54

Any advice for the piles? They are bad.

OP posts:
Lac365 · 09/04/2012 16:03

Gosh, your story is much like mine. Very Traumatic and the psycological effects lasted much longer than the physical pain, which was bad enough.

As for piles and going to the toilet - Fybogel. You can get it over the counter at the chemist. Surprised the dr didn't suggest it. Makes your poo soft and easier to pass. This should help with the piles. Stops the straining.

Are you sure that it's piles and not a fisure in the anus?

HangingGarden · 09/04/2012 16:04

Ask your doc whether Anusol HC (Hydrocortizone) suppositories may help. Suppositories get to the 'source' of the problem more 'readily' (you can't get cream where it needs to be!) and the steroid content means it is prescription only, I think.

Teladi · 09/04/2012 16:09

You poor thing. I had piles too and a fissure. I used Germoloids cream which I found to help. You may be able to hire a Valley Cushion from your local NCT but failing that, a rolled up bath towel curved into a U shape may help with the sitting down.

Teladi · 09/04/2012 16:10

Oh, and I didn't have any baths until I was a bit more healed. I felt weak generally and was worried about getting out of the bath though.

happydaysahead · 09/04/2012 16:15

Ouch - poor you - I had this with dc1 - I had lots of salt baths about 2-3 times a day and it all healed very well and kept clean and without infection. For the piles make sure you don't get constipated - eat lots of dried fruits and drink lots of water.
That was 10 years ago now though so maybe it is not the 'done' thing now! Worked though!

pigsmightnevercease · 09/04/2012 16:24

For the piles, fill a condom with water and pop it in the freezer until frozen. Then wrap in a flannel and pop it down below. Makes sitting a bit more comfy. (Sounds a bit Shock and Hmm but it does numb things a bit.)

Then get ye to your GP for industrial-strength pile cream, suppositories and lactulose ;)

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
RunningGuerita · 09/04/2012 16:50

Thank you ladies. I have been a bit shell shocked but am trying not to feel too sorry for myself. DD is OK which given the cord situation is a blessing. I have asked for a debrief at the hospital though so I can close this chapter and get any niggling questions answered.
As for the piles, I am already on lactulose and fibrogel. And the GP today precribed stronger topical cream, she didn't think suppositories would help given they are external. And she did suggest salt baths. Also said to return to my usual GP in a week so guess I just have to give it time.

OP posts:
CherryBlossom27 · 09/04/2012 17:46

I had a second degree tear and piles, but I had suppositories for the piles and they worked really well.

With the stitches, I was told to wash my bits after I went to the toilet each time ( I sprayed the shower hose), and dry off thoroughly. My midwife also told me to lie on my bed a couple of time a day and "air" my bits, I just stripped off and covered myself with a sheet. I really think this helped me to heal up.

Hope you recover soon

Zimbah · 09/04/2012 20:40

Everyone else has has good advice, the only thing I would add is to take as much help as you can from family and friends, you really need to rest to let yourself recover, which must be very difficult with an 18 month old as well as the new baby.

HappyHugs · 09/04/2012 21:14

I could have written your post this time last year RunningH. Two things to say; a) you will make a full recovery in time and b) throw everything at it! I sat b'feeding on a bag of peas wrapped in a pillowcase and kept replacing it as it warmed up. I also had two baths a day using tea tree oil and witch hazel pads in pants when not sitting. I also did use suppositories even though mine were external too. I didn't hardly feel my stitches such was the agony of the piles...

Goodluck with it all, it will get better in time but I know how it takes the shine off your happy time, just remember there'll be someone else going through the same thing right now. You're not alone!

molejazz · 10/04/2012 03:11

I'm so sorry you had such a traumatic time Running, do take a bit of time to feel sorry for yourself if you need to - it's completely okay even to feel upset about how things went even though you are happy your DD is well.

I had a 3a tear and found recovery took quite a while - was still feeling a bit 'weak' pushing the pram around 8 weeks later. So take it easy on yourself. No experience with piles, sorry, but about the baths vs showers thing - I was told 'showers is the new advice, to avoid infection and the stitches getting too wet'. I suspect HCP have their own opinions, but that's the rationale I was given IFSWIM?

Best of luck and congratulations on your baby :)

piprabbit · 10/04/2012 03:21

Hire a Valley cushion from the NCT

I hope you are sitting comfortably again very soon.

MerryMarigold · 10/04/2012 04:24

Hopefully this isn't too graphic, but I found applying KY jelly before going to toilet really helped everything to ermmm slip out with less pain. Only discovered that second time around.

I had a third degree tear and it did take a long time to get well. They recommended showers after every trip to toilet (inc wee), which was difficult as I didn't have a shower. My Mum told me to sit in a bowl of salt water (she bought me one of those plastic bowls), but I think sitting in the bowl stretched my stitches as I they almost pulled out, so don't try that one!

Also, to dry area with a hair dryer afterwards so it wasn't damp.

Took me a long time to heal, but everyone is different. Sitting was fine for me, but going to the loo took about 3-4 months before there was no pain/ blood. However, I never struggled with incontinence so that was definitely a blessing.

Rillyrillygoodlooking · 10/04/2012 05:01

I had third degree tear but not sure if a, b, or c. I took arnica tabs and that massively helped the bruising. Apparently I looked like a gorilla down there according to the mw.
I didn't get off the sofa for at least two weeks and sat at an angle to not agitate the stitches. I got an infection which was the worst pain I have ever felt.
The arnica might take the bruising out of the equation. I would agree that soft poo will be better. I was prescribed lactulose. In the first week I would wee in the bath with the shower on it.
Get better soon

Original poster
RunningGuerita · 10/04/2012 10:17

Thanks again, some really good advice and encouragement. It is hard to feel like I will be normal again. I had wondered about needing to "air my bits", I will do that. Fortunately my mum is here for another three weeks and my 18 month old goes to nursery two days a week. Hope that by the end of the month I feel like I can handle both babes on my own.

OP posts:
Lac365 · 10/04/2012 12:02

Are you breastfeeding?
I had such a hard job with my daughter.
Read later that loss of blood and transfusion can cause problems with feeding. We persisted and although it was hard at the time it was really worth it.

Something to think about though.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.