19 days after the birth ... is it normal for my perineal wound to keep opening up when I have a poo?

[ejt1764]

Gave birth 19 days ago, and had a 2nd degree tear ... which appears to be healing really well ... except that the 1cm or so nearest to my anus opens up every time I have a poo, and bleeds ... is this normal, or should I go and see somebody - and who should I see?

ooooh.. don;t know about normal, per se, but it is going to slow the healing down if it keeps reopening... are you having to strain to open your bowels? has the MW discharged you yet? if not, get her to have a look.. if she has, then call her anyway ! or see GP...

I would agree with lulu, and make sure you drink lots of water and eat fruit and fibre [you know]

was it stitched or left to heal ?

I am having to strain a bit - but having been taking lactulose - which doesn't seem to be helping all that much!

I am still putting a cloth against my stitches when I poo, but that's not holding things together either ...

I'm being sooo careful about keeping the area clean - rinsing myself with a jug of warm water with a drop of tea-tree in it several times a day.

MW hasn't discharged me yet - but she's not coming to see me now until 27th ... nobody has asked about my stitches at all!

Sorry ... it was stitched ... and I am eating so much fruit and fibre that I'm in danger of turning into a fruit bowl!

i would suggest you call the number you have been given and ask a MW to come and have a look, explaining why

did no-one examine your perineum after you were discharged?

no, nobody's looked at it at all since it was stitched - were they supposed to?

I shall phone the midwives ...

thank you lulu and twit ... didn't want to appear a numpty to the midwives ...

yes, your tear/ epi or c.s site should all be checked after birth ...

I'd def get someone to check that, ejt. I had my wound checked by mw each day for 10 days following birth. Quite right of you to phone and ask for this

Well, I've phoned, and have been told to keep an eye on it (my little hand mirror will be getting a bit more use over the weekend!), and if it's still doing it in a couple of days, to phone back and they'll get somebody to have a look at it ... as long as it's pink (it is), and not weeping (it isn't), they don't seem to be too concerned.

Thanks for your help all ...

do I win the prize for the most graphic thread title on MN today?

no one's ever looked at it though?

hmm. Make sure you phone on Monday if you're at all not happy with it

and yes, I really swithered about opening up this thread

Hi, I was told to hold a pad against my wound when having a poo, to give it a bit of support. agree you should get some help if having to strain. my MW told me about enemas they can give to help things through - not the nicest thought but good if it can take the pressure off the wound... but yes, prob a good idea to get checked.

Had a similar problem up to about 4 weeks after giving birth, the midwife referred to it as a buttonhole (v. cutesy way of saying they had made a pig's ear of it!). I wasn't convinced it was right and got the midwife to check and the doctor to check at my 6 week check.

ejt - im surprised that they haven't checked this - i had 2nd degree tear with my ds2 ( tmi but nearly lost a flap!) and my midwifes came every other day to check and didn't discharge me for 4 weeks! - i would maybe going to gp or practice nurse!