Episiotomy wound breakdown

[Ree91]

Has anyone ever had this?

Following a forceps delivery, the day after the scar was a lovely neat line onto my leg and looked great. A day or two later it became really sore so I braved a look and there was a huge gaping hole which was seeping yellow/green stuff. GP has prescribed antibiotics which haven't cleared it up yet, and midwife checked it over and basically said that the underneath stitches are still held together, it's only effectively my skin which has come apart, keep it clean and dry and it will heal itself.

However, it's extremely painful. I'm struggling to get off the couch, codeine doesn't touch the sides with it, it's constantly leaking gunky stuff, I have to pee standing up to make sure none accidentally gets in it, and it stings constantly.

Anyone had this, how long did it take for yours to heal over? I'm a week post birth now and feeling really sore and upset that I can't do much still!

Here here 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m in the same boat ! I delivered on the 30th June. Had a ventose & episiotomy. 3 after the stitches looked perfect but then a couple of days after it broke down. I’ve seen a GP, midwife & even went back to the hospital. They’ve all assured me that there’s no infection. It’s a massive gaping hole as either end. Held together in the middle. It isn’t as painful as it was but it does get quite sore at times. It is healing very very slowly. I’ve been told the same - it will heal from the inside out. It does look like a car crash though.

@Johnson10 as much as it sucks I'm quite glad I'm not alone! I've got a GP appt later as they want to do a swab to ensure antibiotics are correct for the infection. I only give birth last week, so it fills me with dread that yours was weeks ago and is still healing!!

Mines exactly the same, held together in the middle but it's so open and gappy I wonder how the hell it will close on it's own! Any tips you've found helped ease the sting and general healing of it?

There’s a defo improvement in mine. It is a slow process though. The skin will granulate & pull it together. The midwife said I will be checked at 6 weeks & only then will they re-stitch if necessary ... I’m praying it doesn’t come to that !
I’ve just showered in the morning using nothing but clean water. A quick bath on an evening with tea tree oil, about 3/4 drops in the bath. Always air dry. I’ve been lying on my front on a towel on the bed to dry my bits off. I’ve been lucky my bleeding stopping quite quickly so it’s been easier to keep dry - I think that’s the key. Keep changing your pads on a regular basis. And when it feels like it’s on fire I’ve used a few sprays of spritz for bits on the maternity pad. Try not to sit for too long, very slow walking.
This is worse then the actual labour !! It’s really getting me down as well.

@Johnson10 good to know there's light at the end of the tunnel somewhere! I've been using milton in the bath so hopefully that will start to help soon aswell. Yeah it's the bleeding that makes it worse, in the night it's so much worse because I'm not changing my pad as often as I'm sleeping! I feel you about it being worse than the actual labour, I didn't even know this was a thing! I presumed if my stitches burst they would just restitch and not leaving a gaping hole there!

I had a tear in my second labour that took months to heal. The best advice I got was let it get aired as much as possible. After I started doing that, it healed quite quickly.
So maybe sleep on inco pads rather than wearing knickers and a pad.

I did find nighttime very difficult. A few people have mentioned air getting to it. Defo think I’m going to sleep with no underwear on, see if that helps !

I would suggest lying on the bed three or four times a day for 15 minutes with legs open and a fan pointing in the right place. I know it sounds crazy but it worked a treat for me.

I'm so sorry you're in such pain. I also recommend the air drying, and regular time just letting air get to the wound. I found plain water helped best to heal an infection.

Yeah this happened to me. I bathed several times a day to keep it clean. Took about 3 months to granulate. Having ECS next week! to you

I had this with my first, it was 1cm wide and deep and incredibly painful. I was readmitted to the maternity unit 5 days postpartum to have the stitches removed (with gas and air) and an overnight stay to get the pain under control. They gave me tramadol which really helped.

I had it resutured a week later under general anaesthetic (so it was without stitches for the week, which was horrible!)

If you are suffering, please do go back to your GP/midwife and don't let them fob you off if you need stronger painkillers.

I had a 2nd deg year with first and fair bit of stitches, what midwife recommended and really made difference and helped was a sitz bath every day with maybe 10drops of lavender oil. Made huge difference. Good luck.

Hi there!

This is my current situation I’m currently 6 weeks postpartum and my episiotomy came apart back in week 2. Still have a hole there. How have you recovered? Did it close up in the end? I’m still in a lot of pain but not sure if it’s due to that or my 3rd degree tear.

@girlmumoftwo

Hey!

I'm just over 8 months pp and fully healed! It did take a while, around 3 months before I could comfortably sit down and go to the toilet easily, but I think that's mostly because my infection took so long to heal, which in turn meant my episiotomy couldn't heal until the infection had cleared!

It's such a hard healing process, but the best thing that worked for me was plenty of air, keep it as dry as possible and clean, and shallow milton baths daily to keep it sterile. It will heal, and most people who have experienced this have said around the 3 month mark too. It will get better with each day, hang in there and definitely see your GP asap if you think it's infected x

Thank you for replying!! I have been doing all that. I also had a 3a tear as well which is still painful. So looking forward to feeling better soon.

I’m glad you’re feeling much much better!

You'll get there, is it your first? I found it easier because she was my first and it meant I could let her nap on me and I was able to rest too which helped! Mine was a third degree tear too, but I don't get any pain from it now. Sometimes when I'm on my period it aches but only ever a couple of minutes for the first day, and then I don't notice it again!

It's so hard, but you've got this

It’s my first vaginal delivery. I had an emergency c section with my first. Luckily have support to help with my toddler or else mentally I’d be much worse. Thank you for your well wishes! Glad to hear that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

My midwife suggested drying the area with a hairdryer (at a distance and not on full heat!) after bathing or washing many years ago when I had infected stitches after episiotomy. Seemed to work.

I had similar issues and as you’ve had great advice just wanted to warn you that you are at higher risk of sepsis, so please please take any feelings of unwellness very seriously and get medical attention immediately. I thought I was coming down with a cold as I lost my appetite and started feeling shivery. It was sepsis and I ended up very ill.

I have episiotomy breakdown my doctor restitched it but it open again now the doctor says that my skin is soft and weak it cannot bear the tension of stitches so the doctor says to wait for a month and after a month she stitched it again if required, 1st tym I had an infection but this time it doesn't have any infection, is anyone episiotomy healed without stitches?

I'm so sorry to hear :( I wish you a speedy recovery.

Yes, it eventually did close over and heal but took a really long time. It also doesn't look cosmetically the best but no one really sees. How is your pain and mobility? Mine had extended into a 3rd degree tear so I wasn't able to do anything.

It pain and itch a little not much but yes walking and sitting is uncomfortable right now so I m avoiding walking and sitting. I feel bad for my baby that I m not feeding him properly, it's been a weak since my restitching and I m resting as much a possible.

Is the episiotomy incision on butt area also heal without stitches?

As hard as is it you need to rest as much as possible and avoid moving too much for it to heal well. Healthy and happy mum equals healthy and happy baby :) I would feed my little one laying down most of the time. Do you have support at home?

Yes, it healed from inside up on its own, the wound closed over in about 2-3 months given mine was a 3rd degree yours should be much faster than that. Make sure you keep the area clean and pat dry when you use the toilet/shower etc.

Thankyou very much I was so worried but now talking to someone helps me a lot and yes my in-laws and my husband are taking care of me and the baby.

Oh good, glad that you have help!!

No problem, feel free to message again with any other questions. I just want to say there is light at the end of the tunnel. I was in a dark place when it happened to me but you will heal and it will get better. I promise.