advice for bruising after episiotomy

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I gave birth to my beautiful DD 3 days ago. After a long labour and vontouse with episiotomy delivery I am feeling very bruised. I can hardly walk cant sit/lie down for long.

I love my daughter but other than feed her I cant do much.
My DH is doing changes etc, and I just sit here and cry as I feel so useless.

Does any one have any idea how to deal with bruising, or how long it will take me just to be able to move without crying?

Poor you. The bruising and piles were the worst thing after my forceps delivery. I had a valley cushion to sit on which I recommend highly. I was fully recovered by two weeks & able to attend a wedding reception for a dance, so hang in there. & congratulations!

Can they up your painkillers? You should have codeine. Also it is textbook that you are feeling really down in day 3/4. It is a natural point for your hormones to make you feel like this, and especially after a traumatic birth. You are doing REALLY well! It's excellent that you are feeding your daughter, and be reassured your nether region will recover. Congratulations on your baby, let your DH help, and use lots of cushions .

You poor thing. Agree with a PP that day 3 is when you start crying (we even have a word for it in Dutch: 'kraamtranen').

I also had an episiotomy and then an emergency operation to stop post-partum bleeding, apparently I had some really impressive bruises which the nurses kept commenting on but I really couldn't bear to look!

The crying is different for everybody but it usually lasts at least a day or two.

Congratulations on your new baby and on getting the two of you through what sounds like a pretty rough birth experience. Give it time, you have just done one of the most difficult things in the world (and the most amazing!)

I had my DD on Thursday, and spent all of yesterday sobbing for no reason, and I'm not even in that much pain. Pretty sure it's hormonal, as today I really can't remember what I was in such a tiz about! DH is doing a lot here too, which makes me feel guilty, but he seems to be loving having a purpose, so I'm trying to just let him and rest. I am promised by friends that the swelling and pain significantly improve after a week or so, so we just have to hang on in there I think...

Hang in there. I had an episiotomy 6 months ago, it is hell for the first week but then mine seemed to heal really quickly. Having lots of baths, lots of painkillers and wearing thin pads seemed to help alot.

I felt the same. I remember when my DS was three weeks old suddenly feeling normal so it does pass. I feel for you though, it's grim!

Witchhazel on a maternity pad or sanitary pad. My midwife recommended it and I thought "No, that will sting too much" but it didn't. It was bloody heaven!

In the first couple of weeks your only job is to feed your baby so get as much support around you as possible. Get someone to drive you to bf support groups if there's one locally.

Crying is perfectly normal - I found chocolate cake and a small glass of wine in the evenings made everything much better.

Welcome to motherhood - it's an amazing journey. x

Lots of pain killers!
Arnica tablets
Regular, but quick dips in a bath with lavender oil from Boots.
Feeding lying down or sitting on birthing ball still.

Lots of tlc and sympathy from dh helped the most.

I cried buckets both times. Be kind to yourself, it's very early days. Your main purpose it to recover and bond with baby. Everything else can take a back seat.

I didn't have an episiotomy but was quite bruised and second the arnica tablets along with regular painkillers (I took paracetamol and ibuprofen together which seemed to help). I was up and about within a few days, albeit still a bit tender.

I came here to say soak a pad with witch hazel. Keep a few in the fridge, it's the most blissfully cooling thing for your poor bits.

I had an episiotomy and ventouse with my first and can totally appreciate the pain.
A cup of milk in the bath and lavender oil.
Arnica cream and arnica tablets.
Have you got a Boppy/breastfeeding cushion? If so, sit on it instead of on your poor bits! If not, get one! It'll act like a doughnut cushion.

Thank you for all the advice, its made me cry again.
Realistically I know it wont last forever, but its so nice to hear from people who have been though it that I wont be a walking bruise forever.

Again thank you all for commenting.

3 days is a long time when you are in pain. Hopefully resting up will help you heal quicker.

You poor thing! I had a forceps delivery with my DD, and it was the bruising that was the worst! Please make sure you have painkillers...co-codamol finally helped take the edge off. Speak to your GP and they should get your a prescription asap. And I agree with everyone else...your job for the first few weeks is just to feed and recover. You're doing a wonderful job!

You have my full sympathy, it hurts like hell. If you're still in as much pain or if it gets worse over the next few days ask your midwife to take a look. I thought what I was experiencing was normal and I should suck it up, turns out I had a massive infection and needed antibiotics. 24 hours later I started to feel more human. Rest up and look after yourself.

Hugs, day 3 is pants. Hopefully you'll be feeling better soon.

I'll seconed the lavender baths and witch hazel on sanitary pads was so soothing. I even used it second time round when I didn't have much bruising.

Feeding lying down on your side is great also if your feeling to sore.

Firstly, you're doing brilliantly & exactly what you should be doing (i.e. nothing but feeding your baby). Secondly, I agree with PPs about arnica tablets and lavender baths. It took me 11 days until I could walk comfortably, and I wouldn't recommend driving either, I tried at 5 days and ended up going most of short distance to supermarket in second gear because it was so uncomfortable. Was much better by day 8. Hang on in there!

Yep, I remember day 3 being the worst too.

Can I suggest a bag of peas Seriously - wrapped in a tea towel or two and held against you. Seems to help a bit.

Again thank you all. I am trying the baths and arnica tablets, and will get co-codomol. Bag of peas sounds brilliant!

I remember I cried because I thought I'd never feel normal again but I did! Healing is surprisingly fast, hang in there and get as much help as possible. Congrats on baby and feeding!

Get some pain killers. Diclofenac is amazing. I felt the same as you then got some of the above and felt a million times better just the next day!

If the frozen peas help, try part filling a condom with water and freezing it - the curved shaped fits against your body when you sit on it

Diclofenac better than codine. More anti imflammatory and less constipation.

Congratulations.
I'm three weeks after an episiotomy and it's a lot better now. Yes to all the above advice but also depending on where you were cut consider lactulose to keep you regular so poos are not painful as that can make stitches sore especially if you're in certain painkillers.
I also put calendula oil in my bath water and tried to air dry as much as possible. I also found some pads rubbed the stitches so worked around that too.
Good luck.

I forgot that I used to lie and air dry as much as possible. Definitely helps the healing. I used to lie on the pampers mats you get for night training your kids.