Episiotomy Recovery

[Chatterbug85]

Hi Everyone,

I am nearly 3 weeks after birth and I had to have an episiotomy during the birth as DD’s heart rate was dropping and spiking so for her safety it was done.

I was just wondering how the wound is suppose to look/heal as I am not really in any pain and I am up and walking around well. I am doing 5/10 minute walks with DD and my dog and I’m not really bleeding.

I don’t want to go to the GP/midwife if things are healing right... I personally can not see where the cut was to be honest... I did have one course of anti biotics 1 week after as the midwife said it looked a little inflamed and those sorted out the swelling nearly overnight.

I sometimes have a little tightness but it doesn’t last and seems to ease if I move around a little and I am not really bleeding anymore.

I just wanted a little advise on what I should be seeing etc... as I was only brave enough to look today so I have no idea how it looked after they stitched me up initially.

Cheers.

Did your midwife examine you when she visited after the birth? I had my stitches checked a couple of times at home. I've never looked at them so I've no idea what it looks like but I think the pain had gone after three weeks. I remember I took dd on a train journey when she was four days old.

You should have a six week check with a gp so you can ask then if you're still worried.

Yeah the midwife checked at day 5 and had a doctor check a day later. It’s just because it’s my first child and not knowing how things are suppose to heal and look, but I am assuming as long as there is no pain and no nasty discharge then things are probably fine. I might see if I can get to my midwife sooner than my 6 week checkup just have things double checked :)

So you have no pain, no discharge, no high temperature, and the stitches have presumably dissolved?

Lucky you. Sounds like it is healing just fine.

Yeah hopefully, there is an ever so slightly different smell down there but no other symptoms and the smell is not “offensive” as the midwifes always ask.

When is it safe to start using no perfume soap down there? As it feels wrong not being able to clean down there.

But sort from that I haven’t been on pain killers for over a week and a half now so just try to move a little more everyday to help things not be tight :)

The smell is the smell of "lochia" (the blood and discharge that you get for several weeks after birth. As you say, it can be different than you are used to and is distinctive but it's not offensive.

It sounds like you are healing fine. There is no need to do anything. Tbh though I don't think anyone should be using perfumed soap ever... there really is no need.

Thanks for all the responses, they are really appreciated.

It’s just nice to have responses that confirm what I was thinking, u read so many horror stories and I guess they got the better of me.

Thanks again ladies :)

One more quick question, when is a good time to switch from maternity pads to something thinner as I think the mat pads are causing some irritation along the tops of my thighs from rubbing.

Also is there any recommendations on what to swap to?

I did lavender and milk baths for almost 3 weeks, twice a day and my episiotomy healed nicely. I swapped to slim maternity pads once the bleeding wasn't so heavy and I was in less/no pain. Right at the end I just used normal sanitary towels for a week or so. My baby boy is 7 weeks on Wednesday.

I had an episiotomy last Wednesday, I also have a 2nd degree tear on the inside. This thread is giving me hope that the pain will go away eventually and hopefully heal.

My mum bought me some epsom salts with lavender to put in a bath but the idea of lowering myself into a salty bath with this pain is really off putting, did anyone else use it?

I did salt baths. It doesn't sting. Also witch Hazel on maternity pads.