Tips for healing episiotomy

[Hodge85]

Hi,

I'm just after recommendations for healing an episiotomy, just gave birth this morning and the soreness is starting to kick in. Hoping to be discharged tomorrow so just wondering what I can do to relieve any pain and heal it quicker. Currently got a catheter in too so no idea what weeing will be like.

Thanks in advance x

Congratulations. I had lots of baths (about 3 a day when I could) and I used a tea tree spray on myself after every wee, this stopped stinging and kept it clean. Good luck!

Congratulations! A midwife suggested I mix a few drops of tea tree oil and a few drops of lavender oil in a little milk and pour into a warm shallow bath. It was heaven and smelt lovely! My stitches healed really quickly with no problems at all (although I was a little achy for around 10 weeks) x

Yep the lavender and milk baths helped. My DH would run me one every morning and then take the baby downstairs for 10-15mins. Was a godsend after zero sleep.

I also got some ice packs to sit on.

Word of warning, after about 3 days I thought I was so much better and over did it a bit. I was not better and this set me back a tad. So take it easy and congratulations!

Put maternity pads/sanitary tools in the freezer and then use them to cool the area,

Bath 3 times a day- tea tree in the morning and Lavendar in the evening

Slow steady walking when you can for good blood flow but don't overdo it

One other thing is to get back to doing your pelvic floor exercises as soon as you feel able to!

If you soak the pads in witch hazel then soak them in the fridge it's so cooling and soothing. I had a fourth degree tear and was afraid it would sting but it was bliss.

Witch hazel gel on the pad every time I changed it helped me so much, really cooling instead of painful

After every wee, pour a little lukewarm water with a drop or two of lavender oil in over your nether regions (keep a small jug in the bathroom). Pat dry gently afterwards.

Congratulations

Witch hazel is lovely and soothing too. I didn’t have the time, energy or help to bathe three times a day so I just washed off with the shower head a few times a day (usually after the toilet).

I had a prescription for ponstan for the first few days too.

DS is 9 and I still remember it well! As others have said, tea tree & lavender oil, a couple of drops of each in a like warm bath, and if you can get a rubber ring to sit on that really helps too! Expect it to be uncomfortable for about 10 days and then it'll subside. Congratulations on your new baby!

The weeing with a hug of water didn’t help me at all, I found leaning incredibly far forward on the loo- literally hands on the floor and head below the toilet bowl (grim I know!) so all the wee ran ‘up’ and away from my stitches helped loads.

I slathered sudocrem on on the advice of my midwife and that was blessed relief. Also Vagisil medicated cream completely numbs the area which was needed at times! Make sure your hands are beyond clean when you apply.

Congratulations! It gets better quickly, just make sure you keep everything as clean as possible and try to get lots of air to it.

Drink gallons and gallons of water too. You want your wee to be crystal clear so it doesn't sting.

Pour water over yourself as you pee. I found baths soothing. Also try and have some time without underwear (not easy with the bleeding I know) put an old towel underneath you.
And yes exercise those pelvic floor muscles!

Inflatable rubber ring to sit on.

Yes, agree don’t overdo it with the walking.
We went for a walk over a week after the birth. Normally walk a lot, so I thought I’d be fine. Couldn’t get all the way round our local park - so painful - DH had to go and get the car from the car park and pick me up.
At the start, I used to try to lie down rather than sit on the sofa. When sitting I got two cushions and sat with one bum cheek perched on each, so there was no direct contact!
I seem to remember pelvic floor exercises to increase blood flow to the area.
We made the mistake of allowing too many visitors too early. I couldn’t even sit down and I was standing up, in pain, entertaining not particularly close relatives. Grr. I would just say no in the future.

My Mum & Midwife suggested (and bear in mind this was nearly 30 years ago for my first!); get the thickest sanitary towel - at least a cm thick. Slather with Sudocreme or Nivea & pop into the fridge. Lower yourself into the Cool, Creamy Cushion of Comfort & let your stitches poke through the full depth of towel.

Witch hazel, again cold, was amazing too. Between both pregnancies I had nearly 200 stitches. Both shot out of me like peas from cannons.

I don’t know if the thinner sanitary maternity pads will allow such indulgence!

And wee in the bath. Doctor’s orders (for the first few days)!

Generous few drops Lavender and camomile essential oil into a cereal bowl of cool water or even milk (this was winter!) and soak sanitary pad then press against sore bits.

I sat on my breastfeeding cushion for the first few days so there was no pressure on my stitches. It got far more use for that than for actual feeding as I didn't find it very helpful for positioning baby!

Has anyone tried Spritz for Bitz? Did it help? Thanks xx

Congratulations! I remember this well. I won’t lie it was very painful for me but I think I suffered more than most. At least one bath a day with oils as suggested while dh held the baby. I think day 3-4 were the worst but after a week or so it was much more manageable and got rapidly better after that.

Take one day at a time and enjoy your baby x

Lots of people advise to sit on a rubber ring in this situation - my midwife and HV both warned against this as it puts pressure on the stitches which are left unsupported. See what feels best for you. I sat leaning to my side (legs up), almost on my hip, on a very soft cushion when I wasn't laying down!

An ice pack indirectly on stitches was bliss, as was frequent airing (laying on the bed post shower/bath on a towel). I also froze maternity pads.

Agree with pp that about about 4 days after the birth, I also felt considerably better and overdid it walking. Felt terrible for a few weeks following that. Also had too many visitors when it was uncomfortable to sit on the sofa and I just wanted to go to bed.

The best thing you can do is rest and don't feel pressured by anyone (including yourself!) to do anything else. Stay on top of ibuprofen and paracetamol too.

Congratulations on your new baby

The best advice I was given was to let myself heal properly and not go out for walks for the first fortnight. My DH took baby out in the pram instead and I used the opportunity to snooze for 40 minutes!
I was also told by people to use a rubber ring but found like a pp it just put a massive strain on my stitches so didnt use it.
I recovered well and had a few baths with a prescribed emollient to help healing (can't remember the name of it.)
Oh and support your stitches when you go for your first poo!
To be honest my memories of those first ten days are hazy but I dont remember the healing of the episiotomy being the worst part (I was having far too many issues with bf instead.)
Congratulations on your new bundle!

Yes best avoid a rubber ring apparently as it puts pressure on the stitches - if you’re able to, get a Valley Cushion. I think you can hire them online and I thought it was worth every penny!!

Agree with all the posts about milk/lavender/tea tree baths and also - this sounds obvious - but stay on top of your pain meds. I wrote it all down and set alarms on my phone to take more as I was so sleep deprived I couldn’t remember what I’d taken

thevalleycushion.co.uk/shop/hire/