Episiotomy

[Bmarie]

Hi everyone,

4 days postpartum currently after a long a difficult birth I have ended up with an episiotomy and internal & external tearing with god knows how many dissolvable stitches! DP runs his own company and has been amazing over the past few days helping me to get up and carry baby etc changing for me as I'm breast feeding but he really needs to get back to work etc

Really struggling with the pain and feeling very tender, bleeding etc slowed massively but the area where the stitches are is extremely swollen and painful

I'm am trying lavender & tea tree baths as per midwife, cold compresses and regular doses of paracetamol & ibruprofen, nothing seems to be easing it off and as I start to feel better the pain starts again (particularly bad during the night & when getting up and down etc) does anyone have any tips for pain relief and quick healing of the stitches?

Thanks everyone ❤️

I had to get my H to call the Labour ward as I was in bits an desperate.
They advised witch hazel and Arnica..Both are amazing and made me feel much more comfortable within a few days.
I was never into this herbal stuff but if we have another I am definitely getting Arnica again.

There is arnica in arnica cream and gel. Yes, very effective, fabulous stuff.

There is no arnica in "arnica" pills. They are homeopathic, not herbal, as there is no herb or herb extract whatsoever in them.

CoteDAzur.. I think we get you don't like Arnica...

It's not a question of liking or not liking. We are not talking about favourite colours.

Arnica cream or gel is very effective but OP shouldn't use it on the episiotomy wound. Homeopathic "arnica" pills are objectively, theoretically, and provably worthless as they are nothing but sugar pills.

Thank you so much everyone for your help and tips!!! ❤️❤️❤️

I will give these a go and see how I get on hopefully won't take too long to heal, I've had a few check ups and I did have a blood blister where the episiotomy was done however the midwife examined again today and it has now gone

Thanks again

Knowledge and best practice in wound care is advancing all the time. So definitely listen to your consultant's specific recommendations for you. When I had stitches after birth at the end of last year, my medical team advised wash in the shower with plain water once daily, pat dry gently with towel. In between, use a water bottle to our lukewarm water over the wound after every toilet use, again pat dry. They also advised as much exposure to the air as possible (tricky when bleeding) but aim for a few spells of 10-15 minutes throughout the day when laying down with a towel under you. Don't use pads with any plastic in them - the big traditional green pads were strongly advised. You can also try sitting on an ice pack or frozen peas wrapped in a towel (not directly on skin) for the swelling.

For pelvic floor recovery more generally, I was advised for the first six weeks to try to fit in regular spells of even just five minutes laying down as this takes the pressure off the pelvic floor.

I should say this should also combine with trying to stay active and mobile - which seems impossible to reconcile but is vitally important for avoiding a blood clot developing in your legs. You are at greater risk for DVT in the first six weeks so if you are sitting awkwardly or have been still for a prolonged time, make sure to get up and walk about for a spell to get blood flowing properly through your legs. All the breastfeeding advice will talk about cluster feeding for hours but never mention the importance of mobilising.

Oh and talk to a doctor (not a midwife) about getting too quality pain relief. You should not be suffering like this.

Im 6 weeks pp and my stitches started coming out at 10 days.

Definitely check with midwife or gp its not infected- can easily happen and slow the healing down.

I was told too to avoid baths for a couple of weeks so just showered. I then aired myself twice a day to help.

You have to be really rigorous with paracetamol/ibuprofen taken. I thought it was a joke at first that that was all you could take but if you dtay on top of it then it does work. Keep them by your bed at night if thats when its worse and take them before you go to bed, whenever you get up etc.

Try and keep movement to a minimum. Keep yohr legs together as much as possible to give the skin the opportunity to heal. Take it easy for as long as you need to.

It DOES get better. I was in a terrible state at the start but am so much better/more mobile now.

Please get to a Dr and ask for stronger pain relief, paracetamol and ibuprofen taken rigorously did not work for me either. I'd started on diclofenac and needed it for 2 months when my episiotomy broke down.

I felt dismayed and abandoned at midwives recommending quackery of essential oils and witch hazel paid for out of my own pocket when I had a gaping wound and nausea inducing pain.

The towel- seat thing is tricky too as it can make the area bulge and blood pool. I found lying not sitting more effective. Not great for breastfeeding but that was already going wrong anyway.

I couldn't do the frozen sani pad as they are stiff and don't fit down there! I did double layer the thick pads for cushion and changed them frequently to ward off infection.

It's a horrible time and one women are kept in the dark about until they find themselves going through it and having little access to effective help and information (in the UK anyway). Good luck and

Try filling a condom with water and freezing that. Put it under the pad (not in direct contact) for 20 mins at a time.