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Childbirth

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Original poster

Should my stitches have dissolved by now?

17 replies

purplepolo · 16/12/2019 22:45

I remember when my midwife came out on day 10 she said my stiches should have dissolved by now. Just had a look now (im 3 weeks postpartum) and i can see a long bit of "thread" (?) At the entrance, and then a bit sticking out of my perinium. Is that normal? The long bit is just really weird its not even like its holding anything together, it just comes out from some skin, theres about 1cm of it, and then goes back into a bit of skin. Sorry gross i know lol.

I had a 2nd degree tear, mainly internal so i dont really know if its healed as i cannot see it. The bit on the outside looks healed to me, but its just this stitch thats bugging me!

OP posts:
TheClausSeason · 16/12/2019 22:52

You're braver than I! I didn't look for months. Maybe the bit that's not in the wound is taking longer to dissolve? Unless they didn't actually use dissolving thread. I'd get your GP or other HCP to take a look.

Freshnewus · 16/12/2019 22:54

What happens if you gently pull on the stitch?

I had one that stuck out for a few weeks. Used some tweezers and just gently pulled. It didn't hurt, or I would have stopped. It just kind of fell out with just a little tug

Fortheloveofscience · 16/12/2019 22:57

Don’t pull it yet! It was a good 5 weeks before the last of my stitches disappeared, and I had problem-free healing of a second degree tear. When the bit that goes into the skin dissolves completely the bit sticking out will drop off. If the internal bit hasn’t completely dissolved and you pull at it you could do some damage!

Original poster
purplepolo · 17/12/2019 00:17

TheClausSeason i thought it couldnt have looked worse than it did with my first so i braved it haha! Will speak to my gp at the 6 week app, hopfully its gone by then.

Freshnewus i did gently pull to see if it was just a loose bit of string but its defo still attached to something, it wouldnt come out easily so i dont want to pull any harder Blush

Fortheloveofscience ah thank you! Wont be pulling any more, its just i can feel it even when sitting its bloody annoying, hopfully just another couple of weeks to go like yours were

OP posts:
justilou1 · 17/12/2019 00:30

Just ask her. Don’t pull it, though. (Am having dreadful images of you tearing yourself!!!)

superslipper · 17/12/2019 00:41

I've been told 30 days

SE13Mummy · 17/12/2019 00:43

If it's not uncomfortable, I'd leave it as it may work its way out as whatever it's attached to heals. If it is uncomfortable,you may need to see if a midwife will have a look for you.

Unfortunately, soluble stitches don't tend to dissolve in me. They work their way to the surface and solidify into what felt like barbed wire. Not ideal after extensive surgery for third degree tears! In my case, it happened every few months for the first year and a bit which was awkward because I wasn't under a midwife, the practice nurse didn't have the right kind of lights or tweezers and as it wasn't an emergency, A&E wasn't appropriate. In the end, I had them removed each time by the lovely staff on the labour ward who took pity on me; one would remove the offending stitch and another would happily cuddle DD2.

Bluerussian · 17/12/2019 01:25

Funny, I posted to someone else about stitches a little while ago. Mine were supposed to dissolve but didn't and were removed by the midwife.

Indella · 17/12/2019 01:39

Don’t pull it!

The stitches in contact with tissue dissolve a lot faster than those that are not. It will take a bit longer but it will dissolve, just leave well alone providing no pain and no signs of infection.

TheClausSeason · 17/12/2019 05:39

Its just i can feel it even when sitting its bloody annoying

You could trim the excess a bit so it sticks out less? Sterilise your scissors first though if you plan on that.

TowelStripes · 17/12/2019 06:00

I have the same thing - although it's only been 2 and a half weeks for me. Glad to know it's normal. I haven't looked - too scared - but can feel the long thread and also doesn't come out with a gentle tug!

BigusBumus · 17/12/2019 06:20

Mine were the same but eventually came out when I washed in the bath at about 3.5 weeks. They just kind of fell off.

justilou1 · 17/12/2019 07:07

Maybe a sitz bath of warm, salty water might hurry things up a bit if they are annoying you.

Original poster
purplepolo · 18/12/2019 00:42

Soo strange piece of solid thread came out when wiping, rather gross sorry. Didnt come out painfully so i do think it was just kind of sat there, but there was a bit of fresh blood, is that normal??

OP posts:
TheClausSeason · 18/12/2019 05:49

No idea, sorry, I always patted rather than wiped for the first month or so. I'd have thought it'd be ok though. Do check with a HCP.

justilou1 · 18/12/2019 09:52

Fresh blood is okay, OP. Don’t stress. Just don’t go poking at the area or wiping at it. Keep it clean, fingers away from it and make sure if you’re checking your hands are fastidiously washed before you do.

Mummyme87 · 21/12/2019 09:53

Stitches dissolve from the inside out and start around day 10. They definitely shouldn’t be dissolved by then. It’s can take a good 6weeks. Just leave them. It will still be healing.

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