3rd degree tear....please come and help me!

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

Just need some solitary. I had my little boy naturally two weeks ago. Ended in a 3b tear front to back with a load of stitches in theatre. It’s still so fucking sore. It hurts all the time. I have no relief as having to wear pads 24hrs a day because I’m still bleeding so no ‘air’. 3 baths a day frantically trying to keep it clean. Just been told there is a mild bacterial infection. I’m absolutely gutted feel like I’ve failed looking after it. Hoping GP will prescribe antibiotics. I’m shattered and sitting hurts. Walking hurts. I’m miserable with it. Please tell me it gets better...soon.

Update.

Thanks for all advice. I would say mine is getting better. Showers instead of baths and air drying as much as possible. Third round of antibiotics seems to have done the trick!

Good to hear - glad you are on the mend OP.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled is such a hideous thing to have to get over. I can relate! Had large episiotomy wound that got infected and re-opened. It does get better and really sounds like you’ve turned a corner though :)

Oh you poor poor thing! All memories of my last delivery just came flooding back! Thinking I might ring tomorrow and book in for a c section this time round, remembering the horrors that you're currently going through! Nothing is worse than that feeling of trying to walk/ sit/ lie down with infected stitches...at least a c section scar isn't right where you have to sit on, if that gets infected...

Glad you’re getting better OP. I also had a 3b tear and episiotomy and also got a mild infection. That was despite some pretty full on IV antibiotics in hospital and more at home. I’d been trying so hard to keep it clean and dry as well. The GP told me it’s very common because of the location; it’s hard to avoid really. My wound also started gaping with the infection. I thought it would never get better.
5 months on and I’m totally fine.
Spritz for bits helped, as did putting maternity pads in the freezer. I hired something called a “valley cushion” - a gutter cushion effectively - from NCT. They probably don’t do that now due to Covid, but you can approximate one by sitting on two rolled up towels - like a gutter basically. You can also buy one from Amazon but they’re very pricey.
Definitely don’t overdo the walks or standing (I did) and try some pelvic floor exercises as soon as you can - just use something like the NHS Squeezy app. You may not feel much to start with, but it gets blood flow to the area, which helps with healing. As others have said, try not to get constipated - I was on both Movicol and Lactulose for a while, as well as drinking lots of water. I also took paracetamol with ibuprofen three times a day for ages.
And yes yes yes to a women’s physio in a couple of months.
It was such a miserable time, but it absolutely does get better!!