Stitches after child birth

[user1499451561]

I had to be cut in labour has anyone got any advice or tips on how to make this terrible pain any easier in the slightest

Witch hazel pads in the fridge. Get a rubber ring or ring shaped pillow to sit on. Take arnica pills and regular pain relief. It will pass trust me. The first couple of weeks were awful but a couple of months down the line it's like it never happened!!

A glass or bottle in the bathroom- fill it with warm water and poor it between your legs when you pee. Stops the singing and keeps it cleaner. Then sit until you're a bit drier to minimise wiping with tissue. Clean pad pressed from the front when you need to poo to keep stitches from stretching. And drink lots of water!

When did you give birth OP?

I found by the second week it had really turned a corner- I wasn’t bracing myself to sit down anymore and was comfortable walking for longer distances etc. It would have been a bit sooner, but I’d irritated my stitches by using pile cream on day 4 pp.

Agree with pp about showering using only plain water. Keep hydrated and use a poo softener if needed- my midwife gave me some before I left the hospital which made that first poo way less traumatic that I’d been led to believe!

More generally, just try and look after yourself. Get your rest where you can, let DP or family do all the cleaning and running around. Keep eating, watch some shit tv and lie on the sofa or in bed with no knickers on on a towel- airing the wound will make it less itchy.

Shower but don't use shower gel or anything anywhere near the stitches.
Hair dryer (on cool) to dry down there after shower
Take lactulose everyday - I used to split the dose across the day
Hold a clean pad on top of stitches area firmly when you need to poo (sorry tmi)

Ice worked well for me. I was told not to use a ring as it can make you bulge and break your stitches

Keep an eye on your temperature and seek medical help if you get a fever or feel generally unwell. Infections are common.

You have my total sympathy. I've never experienced pain like it.
Feet up, relax and rest.
I put my pads in the freezer and had a warm not hot shallow bath every night.
And don't stop the pain relief. Even if you think it's getting better, just keep it topped up!