pain after episiotomy.

[Christelle2207]

Had my baby after 30 hour labour and epi last Thursday. Pain down below bad to start with but now getting worse and sitting in almost any position very painful as is walking. Obviously affecting my ability to bf and look after baby. MW unsympathetic and checked stitches which are apparently healing well though there is bad bruising.
Anyone else had similar and can reassure that it will get better soon?

Have you got string painkillers? I had to take prescription Voltarol along with paracetamol regularly to stop it hurting!

I wasn't breast feeding though, but I'd definitely ring doctor and ask if you haven't got any painkillers. Over the counter stuff didn't work.

congratulationson baby!

it does get worse before it gets better, typically between 3-5d ays after there tend to be a bit of swelling so stitches will feel "cutting in" and stinging can be quite bad too.

after a wee/pad change clean yourself gently with a wet cloth, then dab it dry with kitchen towel, it's a life saver!
normal toilet rolls "shred" and it's a nightmare to achieve a good wipe with them!

to make sure you won't get an infection buy some pure tea tree oil. fill your bath 1/4 with warm water, use 2-3 drops of tea tree oil and sit in this for 10- 15 mins.
again dry around wound with kitchen towel

painkillers and cool gel packs are also useful.

try avoid walking for more than 5 mins for now, the last thing you want is rubbing your wound as you walk!

and learn to bf (if bf) lying on your side, or get an inflatable rubber to sit on, so no pressure on the wound when you sit down

String painkillers?!? Strong, obviously...

Hope gets better soon

I couldn't sit down properly for about 11-12 days. It does get better though. I couldn't get the hang of bf ds while laid down so i used to do it stood up. Luckily ds wasn't too heavy!

Also I got some stronger painkillers aswell eventhough I was bf so keep on at the mw.

Thanks all. Painkillers not really helping so will ask about stronger ones.
Rubber ring ordered and coming tomorrow.
Am bf but it's a nightmare positioning myself. Discovered the horizontal on my side option earlier today which is by far least painful but no good for night time (finally persuaded dh that formula at night time is necessary)

I was in a world of trouble after my episiotomy. Took a good 3 weeks to be ok and then a further 5 until I was absolutely fine. I was breastfeeding but the hospital gave me codine and something else to alternate, think it was paracetamol. I set an alarm to remind me to take the tablets at the correct time, if I left them too long the pain relief would wear off and take ages to kick in again when I did take them.

It does get better but lots of sympathy in the meantime. And make sure you move around very carefully!

my hospital gave me swabs that had been soaked in witch hazel that had been kept in the fridge. I can't describe how good it felt. Also a bath with some tea tree oil and a few drops of lavender every night.
re bf, laid back breastfeeding position means you recline with baby on top.
hope you feel better soon

Ouch. Episiotomies are bitches. I was very regimented about pain killers for the first week too. i had to stay in hospital for the first week as Ds wasnt well so i luckily had codine on tap.

I seem to remember not being allowed to bathe for a week but when I could I put salt in the bath! I actually got an infection at six weeks in my scar tissue from getting a cold and being in bed in nylon pjs and rubbing issues so beware. Stick to cotton for a few months and don't worry about taking all the pain relief you can. I never thought. I would be asking for drugs as I am normally a reluctant pain killer taker but God do you need them!

Also, I poured a bottle of cold water down there when I weed to counteract stinging and I bought an episiotomy cushion to sit on when it got infected...yes...there is such a thing!

Good luck !

Sympathies. I remember mine got really excruciating, just before they started to get better. Sort of everything tightening up, before they start to dissolve. So hopefully you'll be on the mend soon.

I had an episiotomy and remember the pain and discomfort well.

I bf and found sitting on my hip, with legs to one side. with arm resting on arm of sofa was comfortable.

More painful for me was my coccyx, caused by the birth. That stayed with me for months after episiotomy scar healed.

Hope you get some relief soon

In addition to above- once the lochia reduced a bit, I slept in an old nightie on an old towel with a disposable bed mat underneath to get the air to the scar. I had a bad tear as well as an episiotomy. I found the epi more painful when it was healing fwiw. Hope things get better soon

Best advice I was given was to keep a little jug by the loo and sluice the area after going, then dabbing with tissue. Sweet relief!

If sitting is uncomfortable, try to sit on something firm, like a dining chair rather than a sofa as it better supports your pelvic floor. I used a gel type kneeling pad to sit on, gave a bit of cushioning but wasn't something I sank into. Also use your arms to push yourself back up, I can remember getting up just using my legs and non existant core strength. That was not a comfortable experience.

Did the hospital give you anti-inflammatory tabs as well? I had one diclofenac to take daily for a week which really helped.

Oh I remember the pain so well... If its not getting infected, that's the main thing. My top tips are:

• jug of cool water over your bits EVERY time you use the loo, then pat bone dry
• daily, but v short, bath with sea salt, lavander and tea tree oil and (bizarre, but.. ) a teaspoon of milk - without the milk the oil just sits on top of the water, with it it diffuses (the midwife who delivered DD told me that!)
• hair dryer (on cool setting) the epi dry after bath/shower
• change maternity pads more often than you'd think
• keep stocked on bf safe painkillers
• feed on your side lying down at night - co sleep if easier... (you mentioned formula at night... This soon after starting bf, formula at night really could bugger up your supply as apparently your boobs get most of their "supply cues" from night feeds, so really they're the ones not to drop. That said, with a newborn you just do what you've got to do to manage, don't you, so go for it if that is working for you)

I was much better by 6 weeks, but still had the occasional dull aching for 8-10 weeks.... It will get better though (promise!).

I had an episiotomy (and forceps) delivery for DC1 5 weeks ago. It was beyond painful for the first 2 weeks to the point where I only moved off the sofa to wash and go to the loo becsuse the pain just wasn't worth it and if I forgot to take a dose of pain killers I bloody well knew about it!

I am 38 days postpartum now and not in any pain at all. If I feel around in the shower I can feel the scar still feels hard but swelling has gone completely and it doesn't hurt at all. I am even considering DTD very slowly with lots of lube.

It is feckin painful but it does get much better quite quickly after the initial agony has passed.

Hi Christelle please double check before you use a rubber ring, I was told in hospital they are a bad idea as they add pressure in the wrong places and can do more harm than good to the stitches.

DS is nearly 3 weeks old, and I was truly miserable around days 6-8 - to the extent I was seriously regretting not having a C Section this time.

Luckily I've felt steadily better every day, and just a couple of days later I felt like a new woman.

One thing I did find was the dedicated maternity pads are so thick and lumpy they were massively uncomfortable. As soon as I switched to thin Always type pads, it really helped. Although I did use them up rather fast.

I hope you feel better soon - it can be so demoralizing just when you're trying to adjust to the baby and no sleep, but it will pass and get easier.

This is all so helpful thanks. Was totally unprepared for this and surprised No-one at the Hosp spoke to me about how bad it could be.
Completely agree re the pads-moved onto always today and much better.

I am afraid it was a good 2 weeks before I could sit and move normally but I was much better after that. I would advise to bath regularly, pat dry and let the stitches 'air' as much as you can. I found that sitting with my feet up on the sofa with a pillow underneath to take the pressure off the sore bits helped, and avoid moving as much as possible. Keep the stitches as dry as possible. I was taking ibuprofen and parecetomal but would definatley ask for something stronger from the doctor if you can. I hope you feel better soon and I really sympathise as I know just how painful it is!

I would recommend a round cushion with a hole in like a doughnut or sitting on a breast feeding cushion so no contact is made with the area at all. Then take lots of baths with badedas bubble bath it is so relieving. It took mine 6 weeks before i felt able to sit without pain. Sorry the cushion really does help though and is worth the investment if you don't already have one.

I really feel for you. I remember the episiotomy I had with my first and a few days in I was on the living room floor on my hands and knees crying.

After 2 weeks it was much better, once the swelling reduced and the stitches stopped pulling.

Keep taking the painkillers or ask for stronger ones if you need them.

I used to lie on my side on the sofa and in bed with disposable mats underneath.

I had a jug by the side of the loo and mixed a warm solution of a special gel the MW recommended with water, to pour whilst or after I weed. Make sure you gently pat the area dry.

I didn't use plastic backed maternity pads, just the gauze and wadding ones like hospitals use. They are very soft and using 2 at a time provided nice cushioning.

I was told to shower and not bath the first week. After showering I tried to get plenty of air to the area- not very dignified but I would've done anything.

Sorry you are going through this. Get proper pain relief. I recommend suppositories. If pain doesn't start getting better in a few days, ask for antibiotics (yes, there are ABs you can take while breastfeeding).

I had weeks of agony following DD's birth thanks to a huge episiotomy, totally missing her first weeks. She was three weeks old when I first time I changed her nappy

What worked for me was: Shower, wash episiotomy area with antiseptic solution (Betadine), dry with hair drier (cold) and go back to bed with a towel around my waist (no pads or underwear).