Do stitches hurt?

[PSL1990]

If you had stitches, what did it feel like? Honesty welcome! Can you request anything stronger than the local aesthetic injection which I've heard isn't that effective. Thanks!

I had some for a second degree tear and honestly they were a complete non event. Admittedly the bar for what was painful was high on that day but you'll be rushing with adrenaline and totally distracted at that point.

They dissolved in the bath 4 weeks later and I had genuinely forgotten all about them so was quite surprised to find the string.

I had a cut on my labia which was minor and not considered a tear which was a lot more painful in a kind of graze feeling way, largely because of having to use the toilet. Stock up on some wet toilet tissue wipes and a bottle of water for squirting as you wee, if you're worried.

I would say honestly that if you've made it though labour without pain relief you likely won't need it for the stitches. And if like me you end up having some, it should tide you over for that bit nicely. The midwife was super quick and they healed fast.

Good luck and congratulations on your impending new born

I was cut from front to back with my last delivery and was fine was a bit sore but that's all . Had no stitches and just a scratch with my dd and that hurt like hell when I went for a wee to me the scratch was a lot more painful than the stitches

OK, you asked for honesty, so I'll tell you that for me, being stitched after DC2 was much worse than the birth itself. It didn't help that I had to wait two hours post delivery to get stitched as there was an emergency in the next room, and the numbness had worn off so the local anaesthetic injections, of which I had a couple, really hurt as well.

I also had stitches after DC1 but didn't feel them thanks to an epidural. No stitches after DC3 thank goodness.

I thought the local anaesthetic would be fine.... it wasn’t! With gas & air as well it was ok though.

Had stitches after DC2. Bloody agony. Much worse than pushing her out. In fact stitching me up after took longer than the pushing bit. But once they were in stitches were no bother and dissolved in time.

Sorry OP...the stitches were worse than giving birth. I had an anaesthetic injection but it didn’t even take the edge off! Plus the midwife and consultant didn’t believe me when said I could feel every stitch and carried on anyway.

I had stitches for a small second degree tear with my first born, honestly didn't feel anything but I had an epidural and local anaesthetic. Afterwards I was so surprised at how they didn't hurt, I was dreading tearing more than anything so it was a huge relief.

The second time I gave birth I had no stitches; both births I had a couple of labial grazes and they are the ones that can really sting; make really sure you are well hydrated so your wee isn't very strong and my mum always suggested weeing in the shower or taking a little jug of water with you. However honestly, they still weren't that bad, they are just much more tender compared to the stitches in my experience!

They were fine for me. They did sting but totally manageable. I had gas and air as well as the local. Holding baby helps distract you too.

Didn't even feel them. I did still have epidural drugs in me though.

Sorry OP but I found the stitches worse than giving birth. I had no pain relief at all during the birth but I had to have gas and air whilst they were stitching me up.

Had no bother with them whilst they were healing though!

I had a local anaesthetic jab down there plus gas and air so didn't feel them and I healed up pretty well. I had them right up to my bum but six weeks/ten years on you'd not know. That area is designed to tear and mend.

I had stitches after both births. First time i had an epidural, so i didnt feel anything
Second time was horrible. Birth itself was under 30mins, the stitching up took much longer! It was a very young doctor and i think he was practicing, because the main dr was there too watching him and shaking his head the whole time.
I was too exhausted to say anything and too overwhelmed with holding the baby, but looking back now i remember the stitching pain more than the actual birth!
Although i have to say, after the first birth my scar never fully recovered and was very tender. It was very uncomfortable to sit and to have sex for the entire 1.5years when my second was born. I had it checked many times and was always told it looks like it healed fine.
After the second birth i recovered fully within an few weeks and i feel no pain or discomfort anymore.
3rd degree tears both time.

I couldn't feel mine, once with epidural and once with local anaesthetic. Recovery - was ok. Holding a pad over stitches for pooing was really helpful.

I had a second degree year and no pain relief during birth. Was offered gas and air for the stitches which I took, because I was a bit anxious about having an injection down there and it was fine. I chatted away to the midwife whilst she was doing it and didn't feel a thing, she even accidentally nicked me at one point and it was fine.

Honestly, absolutely fine. Stinging felt the same as the local going in your gums if you've ever had a filling and mine were pretty much 20mins maybe after birth with 2nd degree tear. Certainly not painful, I had diamorphine as pain relief in labour which was wearing off at that point too. Didn't feel a thing other than that. The area was sore but showering or sitting in a shallow bath a couple of times a day really soothed it and it healed really well. Honestly unless you have a complicated tear which hopefully won't happen I think it's normally fine. Good luck x

I never felt either a tear or stitches. I agree it's the adrenaline.

I would definitely recommend buying a rubber ring for the next day, though, just in case.

Non-event for me. Had no drugs for the pushing stage as they took the gas and air away from me, I felt the local anaesthetic go in for the stitches but it was just a little sting and I was offered the gas and air back, then I felt nothing other than a weird tugging sensation as the actual stitches went in.

I was eating toast and drinking tea whilst I got stitched up.

It was a bit stingy as the local anaesthetic went in but otherwise was a non event. Like others have said was probably a bit high on adrenaline post birth (also really bloody hungry too)

I had G&A (which I’d used in my homebirth) and it was fine).

Not pleasant. Uncomfortable rather than painful. I could feel each one. I'm surprised so many other people on the thread had a similar experience because whoever was sewing me up told me it couldn't possibly hurt because she had used local anesthetic.
But it was over quite quickly and didn't my mentally scar me or anything

I was having quite strong after pains (apparently unusual for a first birth - I did have to have the injection and some pulling to get the placenta out though), so barely noticed the stitches - still had gas and air at that point too.

I had an internal tear from super quick labour (2 hrs constant contractions) ventouse delivery and it was frankly the worst part

I found the itching as it healed was more of a nuisance.

Not bad getting them done, I was so fixated on DD I barely noticed. There were a couple of points where it was like a bad pinch so had a suck on the G&A but could have managed without.

About 3 days after when everything was starting to scab and dry up it was ever so sore, stitches snagging on maternity pads. That was when I discovered witch hazel poured onto I scented, no frills, thick and squidgy maternity pads (NOT SANITARY PADS they are designed to chemically absorb, you do not want that on sensitive stitched up nether regions) and frozen. BLISS!