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Childbirth

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

Original poster

episiotomy healing question

32 replies

nightowlmostly · 17/04/2012 09:41

Hi, I gave birth to my first DC 4 days ago. I had an episiotomy but no forceps or anything. When the community midwife looked at it 2 days ago to see if it looked ok she was horrified at the bruising, she thinks they may have cut a blood vessel and that's what caused the really black bruise down one side.

I thought the pain I was having was the bruising, but as it's getting better the pain is getting a lot worse, I think the episiotomy itself is the problem. It's getting excruciatingly painful, I can barely walk and can't imagine even going to the fridge or doing things like changing the baby or anything. Luckily DH is here and doing it all, and I have an appt at the GP in a bit. Hopefully it's not infected, I really need some painkillers for it, but I'm trying to breastfeed so not sure what I can take.

I'm sure I'll get help from the GP, but in the meantime has anyone got any advice on whether this sounds normal? It's just one bit of it that hurts so much, most of it feels ok, that's why I don't feel it's right. It's getting worse not better!

Thanks

OP posts:
nannyl · 17/04/2012 10:02

no idea about episiotomys, sorry, but you can take paracetamol and ibuporfen when breast feeding.

Sounds nasty, I hope it feels better soon

I had a very tiny tear and my midwife told me to bath with a 10 drops of lavender and 2 drops of tea tree oil, mixed in with perhaps and egg cup full of milk, to aid healing.

Original poster
nightowlmostly · 17/04/2012 10:19

Thanks, I am dosing up on paracetamol and ibuprofen already! I tried to get lavender oil the other day, will have another look.

OP posts:
belindarose · 17/04/2012 10:50

I had worsening pain after mine. Turned out (after 10 days of agony) that it was an infection. Get it checked out. I did get stronger painkillers - diclofenac I think.

Original poster
nightowlmostly · 17/04/2012 13:11

Hi again, went to GP, she says it's healing ok, the pain is probably coming from the wound knitting together beside the bruised area. She gave me some hardcore ibuprofen type stuff, so hopefully it'll get better soon! I have to go back for a follow-up appt on Thursday just to make sure it's ok.

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
nannyl · 17/04/2012 14:42

hope the new tablet help Smile

cravingcake · 17/04/2012 19:21

Arnica is good for bruising and can be taken while breastfeeding.

I had an episiotomy (along with forceps & 4th degree tear). One tip I was told was to try drying your bits with a hairdryer after a bath/shower rather than a towel.

If its still as painful when you go back for your follow-up then it may be worth asking about a course of antibiotics (i was given two different ones and had two courses) as the area is hard to keep clean and an infection is very painful.

issimma · 17/04/2012 19:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wolfiefan · 17/04/2012 19:25

Stupid question. Can you somehow ice the em area? I found frequent rinsing with shower then pat dry with clean kitchen towel helps. Can you manage to do pelvic floor exercises? Do they help? ( I was told it would increase blood flow and promote healing. )
So sorry to hear you are suffering but congrats on the LO.

Original poster
nightowlmostly · 18/04/2012 04:00

The new painkillers are helping a lot, I feel much better now. Hopefully this will be me on the mend, thanks again!

OP posts:
Oeisha · 18/04/2012 11:44

You could try pre-soaking pads in tea-tree/water mix, or adding tea-tree oils to your bath. I did tea tree and bath salts after 4 days.
Yes, pelvic floor exercises will help. It keeps the perineum mobile, helping prevent your stitches from healing uncomfortably.

MummyPigandDaddyPig · 18/04/2012 19:29

I had terrible bruising down there after my second episotomy birth, got the shock of my life when I dared to have a look, I was absolutly black and blue! I did get an infection in the end and the stitches came undone but a quick visit back to hospital and a big dose of antibiotics and I was all sorted. Baby no 3 on the way now.....

annalovesmrbates · 19/04/2012 10:53

I had a episiotomy and a nasty 3rd drgree tear. It was all very painful for a couple of weeks and then seemed to get a lot better quickly. It did seem help trying to be as mobile as possible.

Original poster
nightowlmostly · 22/04/2012 18:47

Hello, I'm back! So, the painkillers have helped enormously, I can function almost normally, even went out to the supermarket, our first family excursion. Knackered me out, but apart from that it was ok.

The trouble now is that the bottom of the episiotomy is coming apart I think. I had it checked last Thursday and the GP said it was ok but it doesn't look ok to me today! It doesn't hurt but maybe that's because of the painkillers I'm on. It doesn't look infected but it is quite near my bum, so I'm making sure I have a bath after I go to the loo.

I have an appt to check it again on Tuesday, but maybe I should go tomorrow? It isn't bleeding really I don't think, it is just the top layer of skin that doesn't seem to be stitched together. I'm not sure if I should wait till Tuesday if I keep an eye on it and it doesn't look infected or whether I should go asap.

If anyone has experience please let me know what you think. I realise it's hard to tell without seeing it but in general are these things worth getting it seen to sooner rather than later?

Thanks!

OP posts:
spanky2 · 22/04/2012 18:56

Exactly the same kind of thing when I had one with ds1. When the midwife snipped me the local anasthetic hadn't started to numb me. I was so swollen downstairs that I felt like I was sitting on a blue egg. I sat on my leg for a while. I can't remember exactly as it was 8 years ago. I did 5 drops of tea tree oil in the bath and washed with the shower after a wee as it was stinging agony. I also weed in the bath and cleaned the bath after as it was so painful. the scar was painful during certain sex positions for just over a year. I couldn't entertain the idea of sex for a long time as the scar was so sore. I don't think I was stitched together that well, as the midwives commented that they would make things tidier down there with ds2! I didn't need one with ds2 so there is hope for you MummyPig. I would go to see the nurse tomorrow even if it just puts your mind at rest.

LittleCircus · 23/04/2012 14:57

I can sympathise, my episiotomy took 6 months to completely heal. I had a little skin flap at the top end of the scar that I thought I might have to have an operation for but thankfully all cleared up now. I have a second child on the way so this time around I'll ask for a valley cushion (didn't know one existed before!) if I'm unlucky enough to have to be cut again. Good luck with the healing process, it can take longer than you expect.

thunksheadontable · 23/04/2012 19:27

I had an episiotomy too and thought the first few weeks were excruciating. Good pain relief, as you've found, is a must. I also used ice packs, tried to pee while pouring warm on the area, used witch hazel drops on a maternity pad (lovely) and tried not to sit on it too much just laid on my side in the bed having lots of skin to skin with my little man. It did take time to heal but it all came back to normal eventually thank God, and I think if I am unlucky to have one again just knowing this would make everything seem much more manageable. It's a bit more scary feeling like you'll never be okay down there again.

Boggler · 24/04/2012 08:32

Massive sympathies I had an episiotomy on my ds - worst thing ever so painful for weeks made me wish I'd had a Caesarian - at least they could sit down! I found that the Fempad from Mothercare helped massively. Basically it's a cool pad that you keep in the fridge and place in your pants for twenty minutes or so at a time. It comes with disposable covers and it helps to reduce the swelling and ease the pain - I had mine a few years ago so not sure if they still sell them - if not try a flexible cool pack - but don't freeze it just cool in the fridge. Hope you feel better soon xxx

CoteDAzur · 24/04/2012 08:40

It sounds like you have an infection. Rather than mask the pain with painkillers, you need to be on antibiotics - there are ABs you can take even if you are breastfeeding a newborn.

I suffered for weeks with a huge, swollen, and apparently bruised (I never had the courage to look) episiotomy. I couldn't walk, I couldn't sit, even with a ring cushion. Breastfed DD standing up and crying from the pain. Then I got antibiotics and felt much better within two days.

Next baby was born with elCS. Just one day of moderate pain. I didn't know what people were talking about when they say "Ooh, with CS you can't do anything for weeks".

FlipFantasia · 24/04/2012 10:27

I agree with cote that it sounds like an infection. Pain like that shouldn't be normal. I had an episiotomy just over 4 weeks ago and within a few days it was unnoticeable, as long as I poured water over myself when I wee-ed. I didn't do anything special in terms of add witch hazel to pads or anything (I did have one bath with a few drops of lavender oil in but that's it!). I have been doing pelvic floor exercises as much as I can though. I had bruising but I think that's normal after labour (I had bruising after my first DC and I delivered via EMCS). Now the stitches have dissolved it looks normal down there now.

Having had an EMCS and a vaginal delivery with an episiotomy I'd go for the episiotomy every time - I healed well with both but with the EMCS walking/sitting/turning over in bed/turning my head was painful, then uncomfy, for weeks.

Original poster
nightowlmostly · 25/04/2012 11:30

Hi again, I went to the GP yesterday and she put me on anti biotics. She said she wasn't sure if it's infected, but it isn't healing very well, so it's best to be safe. She took swabs and is testing the samples to see what's what. The painkillers she gave me were magic, Diclofenac.

I'm a bit concerned now about scar tissue, I felt the scar in the bath today and just at the top of the wound by my vaginal opening it feels hard. I'm worried it will heal like that and cause problems with sex and stuff. Sorry if TMI!

Hopefully it will be ok eventually, but it is a worry, the idea of having permanent problems down there is upsetting!

OP posts:
Pastabee · 25/04/2012 17:47

nightowl I do sympathise as I also felt hard scar tissue and was very worried about long term effects. This was all coupled with a painful attempt at sex after 6 weeks. I too needed ABs for mine.

Once the wound had closed I massaged a little bio oil in daily and by 12 weeks sex wasn't painful. I hope it's the same for you.... Just give yourself time to heal and try not to worry about it.

Original poster
nightowlmostly · 25/04/2012 18:11

Thanks pastabee, I'm sure time will fix it!

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 25/04/2012 21:14

nightowl - re scar tissue:

You need Contractubex - scar cream specific to genital areas. My episiotomy scar was painful six months after the birth. Two weeks of rubbing this in morning and evening, I was pain-free.

Woodifer · 26/04/2012 10:19

coteDAzur did you get contratubex on prescription?

cravingcake · 26/04/2012 10:42

I'm 6 months on from my episiotomy (& 4th degree tear).

Nightowl, remember that the area will change and the swelling reduce over the coming weeks/months. I've found some sex positions painful, but found new ones which are managable. (I'm happy with managable for now as my 'injury's' were a lot more than just episiotomy)

Cote where do you get contratubex from?