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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How long did your episiotomy take to heal

53 replies

impatienttobemummy · 01/01/2014 21:00

I'm 3 weeks pp, had an infection in thr wound at day 5 so the skin layer of stitches fell out without the wound healing so now they have said that it needs to heal itself by 'secondary intention'
It's still one and seriously getting me Down. The dr finished by saying 'don't worry if it isn't healed in 3 months or there is a hole we can take you back to theatre and do it again' Hmm great thanks glad I know that I won't worry then!
Please help me to put this in perspective

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Original poster
impatienttobemummy · 01/01/2014 21:00

Open not one

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ToddleWaddle · 01/01/2014 21:04

I had a complete breakdown of mine and infection.
GP, midwives etc gasping in horror on seeing. Pushed to see a consultant you said should be fine but can operate at 6 months.
Surprisingly healed well by 7/8 weeks and pretty much perfect at 6 months.
Fingers crossed yours the same.

DurhamDurham · 01/01/2014 21:05

About six week physically but mentally about six months. Wouldn't let dh anywhere near me for a long time!!

ihaveacrazycat · 01/01/2014 21:09

Mine wasn't infected but I did pull a few stitches open so ended up with a hole too for a while. I was also threatened with surgery if it didn't heal. However by my 6 week check it had pretty much sorted itself out & I just had a flap of scar tissue which was very tender so my doc gave me some cream (fucidern I think) and within 2 weeks all was pretty much sorted.
I know how you feel though, I got really down about mine too. I did find that trying to let the area get some air really helped it! Especially as maternity pads seemed to irritate it & make it worse.
Hope that helps! It will get better!

Dunwhingin · 01/01/2014 21:13

I haven't had an episiotomy but have recently had a severe rectocele repair (.coupled with an anterior repair and trans vag hysterectomy)
The posterior repair included a large perineum cut which has taken 6 weeks so far to repair, I've also had an infection which did take some stiches.
Of the three it is taking the longest because it pulls the most, it is still sensitive but almost all the swelling has gone now. It will hurt for a while I reckon but day on day it is improving.

TheUnstoppableWindmill · 01/01/2014 21:19

Didn't have an infection but the skin layer of stitches all broke after a couple of days so I had a gaping hole that GP/midwife found disturbing! After 3 weeks I still couldn't walk properly but after 7 weeks it felt almost completely healed. If sex is painful for a while once it's healed don't panic. The scar tissue left from mine caused pinching pain for nearly a year and I thought it would never get better- but it did! I have heard that you should try to have sex reasonably soon (once healed) to help the 'elasticity' of the scar tissue, but that was advice from interweb (!) not proper medical opinion!

sapphirestar · 01/01/2014 21:25

I had an infection (stitches were too tight) so was def more than 3 weeks, but was ok by 6 week check up, I think. Mentally about 8 months!!!

MrsSnail · 01/01/2014 21:30

Six to eight weeks to look healed but still tender and sore till about three months.

OneMoreThenNoMore · 01/01/2014 21:33

I had episiotomies during both of my births, and 2nd degree tears both times too.

I was lucky not to get any infections/stitches bursting etc, but it still took about 8 or 9 weeks each time for me to be able to walk long distances etc without aching and soreness. It was about 3 months before we dared dtd, and it did hurt the first few times.

Hope you recover quickly, op. And congratulations! Smile

Chacha23 · 02/01/2014 09:30

3d degree tear here, stitches got infected about 4 weeks in. It hurt to sit and walk until 6-7 weeks, then suddenly got a lot better. Started dtd around 9 weeks, it felt sore and tight but not that painful. Now 11 weeks and feels normal except when going to the bathroom or dtd.

InternationalMuslinMountain · 02/01/2014 09:42

I had an episiotomy which extended into a third degree tear...Hmm It healed surprisingly well despite the little hole that appeared after 2 weeks where it had broken down a bit. That part healed by secondary intention by about 4 weeks and am pain free when moving about - including running. All looked fine at my 12 week check up. Still too traumatised to think about dtd however - much to the surprise of the consultant who said "oh, why not?" Confused Having a 4 month baby who still cluster feeds and then feeds every 2 hours overnight and during the day kind of makes it a bit tricky actually, doctor!!

It will get better Smile I was advised to shower twice a day by a really old school midwife and to be religious about drying the area. I think this really did help it heal. Used to use a babywipe followed by a pat with some toilet tissue after going to the loo too so that it wasn't as sore by you could keep the area properly clean IYKWIM.

Original poster
impatienttobemummy · 02/01/2014 10:29

Thank you all so much for your responses, glad to hear that noone has needed it redone! I am showering twice a day as I think I was showering too much at first. So 6-8 weeks seems to be the norm and my thinking it would be done and dusted by now was optimistic at best!
Went to the GP this morning as it smells bad and have been given more antibiotics :-( but rather that than more brackdown.
Can I ask you, I've been told to 'rest' I am paranoid about pulling it and ruining the healing etc.. How 'active' were you? I have a 2 year old DS and my DH is going back to work on Monday but I'm scared to walk too much or go to the shops etc. do you think I'm being paranoid and I need to man up now?

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DownstairsMixUp · 02/01/2014 10:32

I don't think you need to man up, we are all different! Mine was quite a good one, I was walking round asda about a week after and it felt completely healed at 8 weeks. I think I first had sex around November 2009 and had my DS in september 2009. I was regularly back to it with a new partner from about april 2010. Don't feel that you are not normal though as I had a friend who had one a month before mine and it took her a long time to heal, we are all very different! :)

Chacha23 · 02/01/2014 10:53

Yes, we are all different - I would say, listen to your body. For the first few weeks it was painful to walk for more than 5-10 minutes, and I could tell I was pushing it because it soon started feeling really heaving and dragging down there (weird description, I know...).

That being said I was also told that walking was good for the healing process, as it kept the blood flowing in the area, or something. So it's probably a good idea to walk a little, as long as you're not getting too uncomfortable (your body will let you know if you're doing too much!).

OneMoreThenNoMore · 02/01/2014 16:31

Chacha- "dragging" describes the feeling perfectly- made me wince at the memory! Op, if you start to feel this, you need to stop and rest; as others have said, listen to your body- go for some short walks, gradually build it up. Smile

Don't scrimp on pain relief either, if you're in pain.

Chacha23 · 02/01/2014 16:50

that was meant to be *heavy and dragging! :)

Original poster
impatienttobemummy · 02/01/2014 17:54

Thanks so much, I know exactly what u mean about heavy dragging feelings! I will for my own sanity start taking walks and build it up as you say. Bit down about yet another infection as I know I am fastidiously clean down there but I guess my immunity is pants right now. 3-5 weeks until closure! I hope! Thanks all x

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Original poster
impatienttobemummy · 02/01/2014 17:56

As for pain I'm taking 100mg voltarol once a day which is marvellous... Had a bad few days with the first infection where I nearly passed out I was in so much pain won't let that happen again!

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Original poster
impatienttobemummy · 06/01/2014 14:13

Hi again sorry to revive this thread but I just so upset. I went to the practice nurse today to have a wound review as everytime I go back to the hosp I see a different person so it's difficult to assure me of progress. I've been looking with a mirror and have noticed improvement however... I have been looking standing up with the mirro between my legs.

The nurse got me to look laying down with my legs open. I cried my eyes out its a mess. The top of the wound and the bottom of my vagina is gaping open even now at nearly 4 weeks pp how the hell that is supposed to heal on its own?? I feel so hopeless and despondent. Has anyone else demanded to be restitched this early? I've been told wait 3-6 MONTHS and if still not healed they will do it then. I am getting so depressed I can't stop crying and am obsessed with this

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Elllimam · 06/01/2014 14:23

Mine was similar, episiotomy then infection. Then one of my stitches was too tight and they cut it and it turned out it was one long stitch which totally came out. I had a gapey bit too maybe a couple of cm wide but it did heal up on its own by about 6ish weeks. I was so upset and embarrassed by the whole thing but it did end up healing itself and now is a barely visible line (13 months on). Hope yours heals soon too xx

Original poster
impatienttobemummy · 06/01/2014 14:28

Thanks Elllimam, I had EMCS the first time... A walk in the park compared to this! Thank you for the positive story. While it was healing did you rest a lot of did you get mobile? I'm terrified of making it worse but have 2yr old DS so life needs to go on iykwim

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purplebaubles · 06/01/2014 14:33

Mine took 12 weeks. Of hell.

Nice to hear someone who's had a previous EMCS saying it was a walk in the park compared to this...I simply had friends who'd all had c sections saying I didn't know how easy I had it Hmm

Original poster
impatienttobemummy · 06/01/2014 14:59

Purple baubles its because of all this csection scaremongering I thought that this would be easier! I was driving at 4 weeks last time and out for walks.. I can't even be a passenger without pain Sad

Up until this week I felt like I'd been in a car crash.

Is yours all healed and 'operational' so to speak? Did you sit with your legs together constantly or did you get out and about on with things?

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purplebaubles · 06/01/2014 16:02

Mine technically healed fine (in that it doesn't hurt) but it has left me faecally incontinent. Great eh. I was on the waiting list to see the specialist, and then got pg again (ironically the second time we dtd after having first one!) So now they won't do anything until after this birth.

Really quite worried about this birth now. On the one hand, really don't want another possible forceps/episiotomy and feel like a c would be easier but because this is no2, how on earth would I manage with a baby and a small toddler on my own with a c to recover from?!

I also felt like I'd been in a car crash. Worst pain ever. You have my sympathies!

Original poster
impatienttobemummy · 06/01/2014 17:15

How small will your toddler be purple? I trained to stop needing me to pick him up and carry him etc incase I had another csection. Also get help planned in advance, with an ELCS you can do this, it's no worse it's just different iykwim. Do your research! It's nice to know that sex is possible after this it's hard to believe right now!

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