Episiotomy - healing times

[Empusa]

How long did it take for your episiotomy to heal?

It's been 5 weeks and mine is still sore

Mine was all healed by six week check up, but had never really been all that sore to start off with.

I stayed in for 5 nights to get feeding properly established and I do wonder if just resting for all that time helped, mind.

Probably not what you want to hear, but several months to be honest . However, I did have a big cut (forceps) and also a v large amount of second degree tearing (internal and external) on top and millions of stitches. I found the scarred area felt very 'tight', though not as if I'd been stitched too tight IYSWIM? We first had sex after 8 weeks, which was v uncomfy. By about 6 months things weren't so bad, but still not normal. I wondered if massaging the area with oil might help, like perineal massage?

Anyway, memory a bit hazy now, as this was after DC1 and am now pregnant with DC4. Suffice to say that before DC2 was conceived sex life got back on track fine and no similar problems after either of the other two, despite a bit of minor tearing second time .

Give yourself a little time, 5 weeks is nothing.

Actually that's just what I want to hear! Means I don't need to worry! I'm not sure how big the cut was, but it was a ventouse delivery so I suspect it was fairly bad.

Months for me too.

I had a ventouse delivery as well and lots and lots of stitches. To be honest I think the midwives etc made it worse than it was as I had terrible piles (tmi sorry) and they cut through some of them so I ended up with some keloid scarring which I sought later help for through a specialist) but the pain itself went after about 4-5 months I think..It was 8 years ago so memory not good!!

Hope you feel better soon.

OP, mine was linked to a ventouse delivery, too, though I didn't have any internal tearing to go with it so I might just have been really lucky, but to me, if there weren't any other complications such as those described above, maybe it's time to get it checked out, IMO. No point being in needless pain!

I assume you still get a 6-week postnatal check-up, if you haven't had it yet maybe you could raise it then?

I had an episiotomy and ventouse delivery for DD1 3 years ago and I agree with Penguin, it took several months to feel totally 'right' again. I believe I had 12 external stitches, but was very, very bruised as I'd been pushing my little lovely for 2 hours before intervention was given.

I was numb down below and only noticed extreme discomfort when we first tried to have sex again about 2 months later. We had to find other ways to be intimate for another 12 weeks or so because penatrative sex was just too painful for me. A part of it though, was that I needed to relax: I anticipated pain, tensed up, which made it more painful. So, DH just had to be gentle and extra-lovely and by 5 months post-partum, we were having just slightly uncomfortable full-sex ... By 7 months, I had forgotten I'd ever been cut (hooray!).

And we have just had DD2!! (ELCS this time). Congratulations on your new baby!

Wanted to add that ELCS was nowt to do with my prior episiotomy. Didn't want to worry you or anything x

I had 12 stitches after forceps delivery and was sore for a pretty long time. 5 weeks is still early on, so give it time. Due to problems with scar tissue it was about 10 months before all issues had been resolved and I was fully pain free. HTH

If in any doubt perhaps you or your dp could have a quick look just to make sure everything looks ok, and if in any doubt get a hcp to see you? I'm sure at this stage you'd know if there was anything to worry about, but I had an experience where I would have saved myself a lot of grief if someone had taken a look sooner. 17 months on and I find that it still hurts quite frequently in a dull achy kind of way. Massage is a good idea as someone else suggested - I was given some lidocaine cream to numb things first which really helped, as do good old pelvic floor exercises. Vaginal dilators can also help if you're open to that - and help to test the waters! Mine was also an episiotomy with ventouse btw.

Stopped being sore in a week, I was given a mini tub to put on the toiled to soak in with warm water and salt...and was given an antiseptic ointment to put on after every toilet visit...i did it religously ...by 6 weeks it was easily healed but didnt want my hubby near me till 3 months and have to say i thought i was tighter than my first time and sex hurt for at least 3 months...

Just wanted to say that this has been so helpful - i gave birth on 3rd May after a labour lasting over 50 hours which ended in a forceps birth. I had an episiotomy and they tore me and have been in a lot of pain since. Good to know that actually this is pretty normal! Thanks so much ladies.