Episiotomy open and infected

[Mississippilessly]

Anyone else had this? I am 5 days post partum and so upset.

Thanks goodness for emergency doctors, and for antibiotics. You’re on the road to recovery now (but keep on being gentle with yourself)

Feeling a lot less sore now, im up and about but taking it easy.
Pooing is still an issue, took me 40 mins this morning and it was awful. Im hoping the extra iron is now out of my system so can begin to get on an even keel...

Hooray! So glad you’re on the up. The absence of crippling pain is such a strange sensation at first, isn’t it?

Iron-constipation and perineum injury is the absolute pits. Was genuinely worse than childbirth for me (and I delivered a back-to-back 10lb9oz chunk, so that’s quite a statement!). Drink loads of water and stop any iron you’re on totally til it’s less awful!

(My gp advised to stop my iron until I’d totally sorted the constipation even though I lost 3 pints of blood, and said it was fine for a few days, which is all it took. Obviously check with yours if you’re unsure.)

Maybe get some lactulose from the chemist to help soften the poo. If you're taking co codamol that will bung you up. I bloody hope you are taking co codamol. They are so crap at giving you pain relief.

I swear if men got this type of injury they would be sedated until it was healed fully.

Men would not recovery from this type of injury. They’d die from whingeing in about 2 days.

Lactoluse is great, and despite my initial fears does not make you shit yourself either.

They said i couldnt have co-codamol so im just on paracetamol and ibruprofen.
I od'd on lactulose and prunes so i am now shitting water and have stomach cramps but I will take it over poo fear.
See the doc on wednesday. I so hope this heals cleanly and quickly. Im also now a bit worried that i am going to be v loose downstairs.
The positive is i havent cried about it since friday and i can pick my baby up at night without wincing in pain

Well you're all cleared out so you can just have normal poo now.
You won't be too loose I promise. Pelvic floor exercises do help and the scar will heal up nicely.
No crying is great. Pick up without pain wince is great.

All positive. Keep it up!

All good OP (though sorry about the stomach cramps). Lifting baby comfortably is a real milestone and cancelled out my no-crying milestone as I think I wept with relief!!

Me again.
Bad news: DS has thrush because of my ABs so we are both on meds which is a PITA especially during night feeds.
I fear i am developing a coldsore and DH has a cold so i have become hyper germ aware and anxious to boot. Oh and DS decided sleeping in unecessary unless it is in the daytime and on me.

Good news:
Had a review this morning. Wound has gone from 1cm deep to 0.5. Infection has cleared so when i finish the ABs (tomorrow) hopefully his thrush will go so i can stop meds.
Doc has also given me tablets for the coldsore to hopefully stop it appearing
They have booked me another appt for 2 weeks time and will decide if they are going to resuture or not.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

All crossed here - genuinely good news on the healing front even if everything else is shite!

I took some probiotic capsules after my antibiotics, and stuffed myself with live yoghurt/kefir. God knows if it actually helped, but we avoided thrush so it could be worth a try.

Excellent news, fingers and toes all crossed for you!

I don't think they'll re-suture with the excellent healing you are doing. Well done body.

When you are daytime nap space just lie there and enjoy. Get a good box set on.

Thrush will be away in no time. Very common for babies to get oral thrush too.

You are doing marvellous!!

Thanks so much everyone, this thread has been so helpful.
I am getting more thrush symptoms which is upsetting as I know it can get really painful. Im going down the shops and getting some probiotics and shed loads of yoghurt. Verbena i wish i had thought of that - would be so useful if drs said that.

I think they don’t because the evidence isn’t clear that it helps. Definitely can’t do any harm though.

Also my friend had awful nipple thrush and found boobs out in bright sunshine helped, so if you’ve a reasonably private garden that might be worth a go.

I did that this afternoon. It was nit a good look but definitely helped!

I lost the capacity to give any fucks about whether I ever achieve ‘a good look’ at the same time I became a mum. It’s liberating. Leaves more energy for caring about important things. Like cake.

I struggled with thrush and ABs after my infection.

Instillagel helped numb the area so I could poo without too much fear.

www.clinimed.co.uk/urology-continence-care/products/urology-products/instillagel

If you’re using reusable breast pads you can microwave / iron them to sterilise them. Same for nappy liners / your knicker gussets.

I found canesten internal cream much more soothing than the pessaries. I ended up needing a 30-day cream pessary course to clear it.

You may need to treat your nipples & vagina as well as DS’ nappy area and mouth.

I wish I’d bought these three years before I did. When I sold them I did so for nearly as much as they cost.

www.earthmother.ie/breast-angels-silver-healing-cups-natural-breastfeeding-support.html

I take these for cold sores but don’t know if they are OK when BF.

www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-l-arginine-capsules-500mg-60000090

Good luck. I felt like it would never heal at 2 weeks. At 6 weeks it was almost painless.

If you can get through the thrush and continue to BF it will be worth it long term.

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

I also found letting the milk flow from the none feeding breast helped. So instead of pads I’d pop a towel under and let it flow. Fresh air and not sitting in warm, damp, sugary surroundings (ideal conditions for the thrush fungus)

nearly you sound like my medical twin!

I am still using disposable pads for underwear and my bra and im changing them regularly. The silverette shields are very interesting - thank you.
I am having a quick lavender and tea tree bath every morning, i will make sure to keep the bath as cool as possible. I will cut out as many biscuits as i can. I sat in the garden topless this afternoon which really helped.

Hey @Mississippilessly not sure if you are still on here but wondering how you are by now. Years later lol. I have recently gone through the same thing am am very scared. A lot of the lovely ladies on here have offered me reasurance via PM. Its such a shock and scary time. Thanks x