How much discomfort from stitches is normal?

[shutupsteph]

Gave birth on Tuesday and had some stitches - I don't know how many, I'm not even certain where or the severity of the tears they stitched (really bad post delivery care, hoping midwife can clear it up for me)

As far as I know I have a stitch on my perineum and a 'complicated' stitch by my urethra. I feel as though I have a graze or stitch on my labia but not certain.

I'm still feeling uncomfortable down there. I'm very cautious sitting, I feel as though I'm 'tugging' the perineum stitches when I sit, but if I sit forward I'm putting pressure on the urethra/labia? I have a donut cushion but honestly I think that's more uncomfortable.

I wouldn't say it's painful, I'm just very aware of them and can't relax for fear of irritating them. I'm just wondering if this is normal? I don't know what level of discomfort to accept and whether to ask the midwife. I'll mention it in our 5 day checkup just to keep my mind at ease but any advise?

Oh and I'm using Spritz For Bits

Just checked my notes, second degree tear in perineum but the only other thing it says is labia lacerations... I specifically remember them stitching near my urethra, they had to have a doctor come and do it due to the complexity but according to my notes it doesn't even exist 🤷🏼‍♀️

My discomfort lasted for weeks, well after the actual stitches would have dissolved and I'd have just been healing more. I think the pain properly stopped by about three months, although I could sit fairly normally by this point. Stitches tugging usually means they're ready to come out but I'd say so soon after having them maybe they're too tight?
I found sitting on a breastfeeding pillow helped the most, so my thighs were on the pillow but where any stitches were were on the gap so not touching anything. Very loose underwear/boxers worn so whilst the pad was still catching all of the blood it wasn't pressed up against anything.
I also gave birth in the summer and had had a craving for ice poles so had loads left over, I'd sometimes sit in just my underwear and hold the ice pole over the underwear to give some relief (ice pole was then binned not eaten).

Oh and congratulations on your baby!!

I had stitches for an episiotomy and they felt progressively tighter and more painful until about day 7/8 and got slowly better after that as they dissolved.

Mine were very uncomfortable but I figured normal and I was distracted because my dc wasn't doing well and we were taken back into hospital. To cut a long story short nobody checked them until I had a really bad infection and was delirious with a temperature. It was awful and took months to heal and I still have pain now 6 years on. Make them check you or have a look yourself with a hand mirror

Also they told me not to but the only thing that healed it in the end for me was salt baths

As above. Mine were very very sore and the midwife refused to check them at day 5 because "they're meant to be sore". Turns out they were infected and I could barely sit, walk or lie down for weeks. Took a lot odd antibiotics and eventually felt better. Insist someone checks them for you. I had to pester and pester and eventually took myself back in to the hospital and just cried until someone checked them. ("Ah, yes, I see why you're saying it's sore now..." Aaaaargh)

Hi, had stitches with both DC: both 2nd degree. With DC1 I was initially in a lot of pain and uncomfortable for weeks and like you felt like I couldn’t sit or move easily with them. I had to sit on a piles cushion for ages. Also had to shower after no1 and No2 as wooing was excruciating sorry for TMI!!
At my 8week check dr confirmed I wasn’t healing properly and I needed antibiotics.

DC2 much better birth and much more ‘normal’ recovery (if they’d been the other way round I would have known something was wrong as I’d have a comparison) uncomfortable for a week or so but able to wipe myself and sit down without yelping after a few days.

I found witch hazel pads kept in the fridge helped. Look out for odour and just ask the midwives to have a look whenever you have visit. After DC1 I’d had enough of people poking around down there so don’t think I asked to be checked when I should have done.

Also congrats!!!

Oh yes the smell! I didn't even know anything was wrong and was raving on the hospital bed about my baby being dead. Had convinced myself that a pile of baby gros were my baby not breathing (!?) nurse took my temp and got a doctor to come and look at me. My mum walked in at this point and she said the smell was terrible. I don't remember this but I'm mortified at the thought. I was showering twice a day but my dc had pooped on the way out so wonder if that's why.
Years ago they used to check episiotomies religiously. Now they don't seem to bother at all.

My notes say my labour was 20hours. I wouldn't bother with your notes. I went into labour at 6pm on the day and delivered at 6pm on the Monday!!

I wouldn't say my episiotomy and 2 other 2nd degree tears (forceps delivery) was "discomfort", I'd say it was agony for a good 3 weeks.

Arnica tablets, lavender oil in a bath, sitz baths with salts and back to back tramadol and paracetamol every 2 hours got me through it. Take a bottle of warm water (squirty bottle) to the loo with you and squirt when you wee. Do not be ashamed to poo in the bath. This too will pass I promise!! Sending good wishes xx

first had a 3rd degree tear with surgery/stitches. Genuinely could not walk for 2 weeks. Hurt like hell. When everything grows back, its so itchy thats what does you in.

itis normal, my midwife in that case was excellent and had a good look for me and said its normal. I washed only with water (as told) down there, and feltlike i stunk for weeks.

I had an episiotomy and I got an infection which needed 3 rounds of antibiotics to clear up. I found sitting with my legs up and to the side so my weight was more on my hip the most comfortable. When the midwife comes ask her to look, you might need to go back the maternity ward to get the stitches redone.