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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Episiotomy - is this pain normal?

37 replies

Urglewurgle · 17/09/2017 21:01

So my lovely DD rushed into the world on Wednesday morning (woke up 6:30am with back pain, got to hospital at 9:30am and she was here at 10:43am) had to have an episiotomy as she was getting distressed.

Now, the pain seems to be getting worse. It feels so, so, so sore. Really stinging and it's almost impossible to move and sit. Rolling over in bed is horrific.
It's been made worse by me having a cold and coughing and sneezing - I honestly think I'd rather give birth again!

Is this normal? How can I help myself heal? I think I'll contact the midwife or doctors in the morning as I literally can't live like this. I'm currently in an Epsom salt bath, I rinse with water after I pee. Please tell me this gets easier?

OP posts:
NotAQueef · 17/09/2017 21:06

It will certainly improve, but might be worth asking midwife to have a check on their next visit? Did you get stitches? Did you tear as well? Did you have instrumental delivery which could be causing internal bruising? A cold pack of blow up cushion might help.
Congratulations on your DD, hope you heal quickly xx

NotAQueef · 17/09/2017 21:07

I think you can take ibuprofen even if bf so don't take if you need it

Original poster
Urglewurgle · 17/09/2017 21:08

Thanks!

No instruments but there is an almighty bruise and stitches. I know it's early days but this is seriously putting me off having any more!

OP posts:
Original poster
Urglewurgle · 17/09/2017 21:09

I can't take ibuprofen, just been on paracetamol which does nothing for the sting!

Rather apt username you have there too queef! Grin

OP posts:
ElizabethShaw · 17/09/2017 21:09

I've had episiotomies twice and haven't experienced pain like that - could it be infected?

Steamedapple1 · 17/09/2017 21:09

When I had mine I remember feeling like this it was so so painful and it did take a couple weeks before it improved. I found the more it bruised the more painful it felt. Sit on a cushion lots of keeping down below clean and I found freezing a sanitary towel and popping that down below helped

Original poster
Urglewurgle · 17/09/2017 21:10

Elizabeth that's kind of what I'm worried about.

Would I go to the doctors or call the midwife or the maternity unit?

I'm not sure I could actually get to the doctors tbh.

OP posts:
SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 17/09/2017 21:10

Congratulations Flowers

If the pain is getting worse I would get it checked to make sure there isn't an infection or anything else going on.

oliversax · 17/09/2017 21:11

Def ask your midwife but just for reassurance I found the pain peaked after a few days rather than getting better so was surprised too. It feels like a catalogue of various pains in the first few days. Hope gets better soon. Congrats on your new baby.

ElizabethShaw · 17/09/2017 21:12

I would call your midwife first thing, it doesn't sound right to me at all especially if it is worsening.

outofmymind2 · 17/09/2017 21:14

Hey OP. It will get easier I promise!
At 3 days postpartum I moved in bed BFing DS & my episiotomy stitches burst. About 80% came out and I developed an infection, doctors same day said couldn't stitch up as it would stitch the infection in. For about 6 weeks I was in total agony - this is obviously an extreme case though. (In my eyes it is anyway!)

What helped was holding the shower head near the area and letting it clean it on a low setting. Keep up with your pain killers every 4 hours. Get a rubber ring to sit on (seriously this helps. Looks hilarious but helps!) the only way I could hold my body before the rubber ring was to kneel down with my legs a bit spread so I wasn't pressing on anything!
Put damn sanitary towels in the fridge for a couple hours then put them in your knicks. Feels glorious!
Keep up with healing creams if you've been advised to.
Shallow lavender baths.
I cried every day and it hurt so much to lay down/sit/stand without a constant pulsating aching/stinging feeling.

Sorry if that's really muddled just wrote down what I could remember off the top of my head xx

Bananamama1213 · 17/09/2017 21:15

My pain wasn't pleasant at all. They do check your stitches on one of the early home visits they do.

Mine were infected both times (I've had two). But both times I knew they were because I did the whole crouching over a mirror thing.

It does get better! I had the episiotomy with my first. With my second, she tore the exact spot I had it. And I'm expecting this baby to do the same when they evacuate!

Dangermouse1 · 17/09/2017 21:15

Sounds like it could be infected. I would go to drs personally if you possibly can as midwife totally missed the signs of mine, and you'll need a prescription anyway if it is. If not, the frozen sanitary towel thing is a great tip x

outofmymind2 · 17/09/2017 21:15

Damp not damn!*

RubyGoat · 17/09/2017 21:16

I had an episiotomy with my DD. And yes, the first few days were extremely sore whenever I moved, coughed, anything really. Walking, getting up or sitting down again was a real trial. I put a thick pillow under me, even on the sofa, whenever I sat down. If you have more than one type of painkiller available (paracetamol & ibuprofen for example,) try to stagger them, & time the doses so you're not in pain at bedtime, if you're going out etc.

Definitely get your stitches checked out, & make sure your midwife /HV is aware you're struggling with the pain. They may be able to prescribe additional painkillers. It will get better when the stiches are removed, or when they dissolve if they are the self-dissolving type.

Frazzled2207 · 17/09/2017 21:20

I would get your mw to check but I had similar -
IME it was worst around day 5-6 but slowly got better after that. It took me completely by surprise too, was awful.
A warm bath every day with tee tree oil helped.

Original poster
Urglewurgle · 17/09/2017 22:03

Thanks ladies. I'm really upset about it tbh, besides the pain, as it's stopping me looking after DD as I would want to. Not sure what I'll do it it's still like this when DP goes back to work.

Bath seems to have helped, used the hairdryer too which actually felt amazing!

I also have bad piles (MW commented on them, said she felt sorry for me), so I reckon I was on a one way Road to infection here anyway.

OP posts:
PastysPrincess · 17/09/2017 22:08

I was in agony after my episiotomy; it's always best to be checked regardless of anyone else's experience though. I found ice was particularly soothing. When I was discharged the midwife gave me some saline packets about the size of a frozen ice lolly. They were kept in the freezer, Wrapped in some kitchen roll a few times and strategically placed was heaven.

twinone · 17/09/2017 22:10

I had my baby on a Sunday and the Wednesday after was the worst day for pain. I had to crawl to answer the phone and promptly burst into tears when my mother said hello.
The midwife said it was normal, though she didn't look at the stitches because I couldn't bear to undress due to the pain.
After that, and a few salt baths along the way, it healed up fine.

PrincessLuna · 17/09/2017 22:15

My stitches were unbearably painful around possibly days 3-5. They weren't infected. (Or at least that's what I was told). I think the midwife explained it as the skin knitting itself together...

My husband drove miles to get me one of those rings to sit on which was a lifesaver. Think we hired it from nct?

Worth getting it checked out though.

Hekabe · 17/09/2017 22:16

I had one this summer- it did get worse before not got better.. but not quite the pain you're describing.

Tips: double up your pads. Have one on top of the other. Get a bottle of distilled witch hazel. Sprinkle on your pads.

I was horrified at the thought as thought it might sting... but god it was amazing. Cools, soothes and reduced the inflammation. I also took arnica tablets.

It did tug though! Best of luck!

oliversax · 17/09/2017 22:26

Lots of good advice. I remember telling a friend who had stitches but not episiotomy that it was feeling worse and she said call midwife because she def felt better each day. I didn't, it got worse then better. Regardless you should be looked at and treated. Wishing you luck.

strawberrypenguin · 17/09/2017 22:31

I've had 2 and neither hurt that much, both manageable with a couple of days of ibuprofen. I'd definitely get the stitches checked. Hope it feels better soon and congratulations on your new DD

Bue · 18/09/2017 05:02

Can you have a look yourself? When is your next home visit from the MW?

My episiotomy was incredibly painful about a week after the birth. Moving around on the bed to BF was agony. Lots of short baths, cold compresses and adequate pain relief helped.

Why can't you take ibuprofen? Can you take any NSAIDs? Paracetamol alone isn't necessarily enough after a large epis.

kikibo · 18/09/2017 14:50

No stinging here, though a ventouse delivery and massive haemorrhoids, but I think 3-5 days post birth was the worst. Felt like everything was falling out down there (sorry if TMI). Couldn't sit on my right buttock for love nor money and had to either lie down or sit on my left one only. Cue back pain from bad posture lol.
Things improved massively once I got past 10 days though. Almost overnight.

My midwife (I'm in Germany) told me before the birth it wasn't necessary to rinse in any particular way or do anything to the stitches, so I haven't and they've healed great.
Though I'd go to the GP or call the midwife if they're weeping or in any other way start itching or something.

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