Episiotomy Recovery

[Normando91]

I gave birth to my son two weeks ago today. I had to have an emergency forceps delivery which resulted in an episiotomy and a third degree tear into the muscle of my anus (ouch)
I’m just wondering if anyone has had to have the same and if so, during the healing process did it become ridiculously itchy?! The midwife has said this is normal and a sign it is healing but I feel like I’m losing my mind with it. I’m so so uncomfortable and sore, I thought by now I may have some relief. There’s no other signs of an infection but I’m worrying.

The milk is so the oil has something to mix with

I had an episiotomy and a 3rd degree tear as well (3a). The recovery time for me was really quick, I definitely didn’t have any itching like you describe. I took painkillers for a couple of days after the birth and I felt very delicate, but other than that it really was fine very quickly. From reading the replies here I do feel incredibly lucky at how uncomplicated it was for me. I just wanted to give you another perspective. Congratulations on your baby

I had an episiotomy 14 weeks ago and it was around week 8 that I felt more normal, for the first 4/5 weeks I had to sit on a donut ring or I would feel really bruised down below if I sat or stood for too long. It gets easier each week as long as you don’t push yourself the second you start to feel better. Be careful when bending down, try rest when you can and keep the area nice and clean and you’ll heal before you know it! X

I took 11 weeks to heal, but honestly it took about a year until it all felt completely normal down there

Lots of good advice here, but I will add that I was told after my episiotomy to dry off after a bath/shower by patting gently using kitchen roll as towels aren't so hygienic.

Weirdly I didn't get any itchiness but based on the midwife's advice and PPs that sounds like a good thing! It's not easy though

I had a tear & episiotomy with the forceps delivery of my first.
Put your giant maternity pads in the freezer to cool them down, there were special gel ones for this, I forget what they were called
Cool bath to wash your bits and air dry on a towel.
Agree with pp that six weeks is optimistic for healing or at least it's a different definition of healing. Eg it's not bleeding and you can sit down but it's not back to normal.
And congratulations on your baby x

Also sluicing down as you wee to stop it stinging

Thank you for all the advice. I think I’d agree 6 weeks is optimistic 🙈 Not sure why I was told that!
Thankfully there’s no stinging when I wee. I think I was very lucky in that going for a wee was almost completely back to normal within a couple of days, although I did have to drink a hell of a lot of water to get things going properly. I’ve had as easy a weekend as possible and tried to rest loads which has helped massively. I am very pleased to report I have had no itching the past two or three days… my god it was enough to make you want to pull your hair out!! I think I was genuinely just not drying myself enough after every shower.
Hopefully this continues as it’s manageable as it is with ibuprofen and paracetamol- fingers crossed!!

Midwives told me to hand two baths a day with lavender oil - and booked me in for physio at 6 months.....

Exactly the same as you both 3rd degree tear and an episiotomy I used to bath in salt water daily air dry then stick a pad on with witch hazel gel on which I kept in the fridge was the biggest relief going I healed after 3 week

@Normando91 how are you doing now?

Congratulations on your baby. I’m a midwife and had a normal vagibal birth (was a VBAC) and a 3B tear. Itching is normal and will settle. Keep taking the regular paracetamol and ibuprofen, I always tell women to have a shower once a day and Bath once a day. Put some lavender or tea tree oil in Bath, don’t use soap directly on the area, and lie on your bed with legs apart from 10mins after to air dry.
Lots of fluids, fruit and veg. Change pads every couple of hours regardless of how light bleeding may be. Reusable pads are great, much kinder than disposable.

It will get better. I was taking ibuprofen until 12weeks postnatal, and a suture didn’t dissolve until a good 4months which is also normal. Pelvic floor is fucked, but hey I’m working on it.

Just realised this is from a month ago. Hope things have improved OP.

Also the salt baths won’t do anything, you need tons of salt for any effects, lavender and tea tree have soothing effects though.

@starsinyourpies Aw thank you for coming back to ask ☺️ I’m absolutely grand! I woke up about two weeks ago with no pain. It actually took me a good few hours to realise I wasn’t feeling it anymore 😂 I’m still doing my pelvic floor exercises like crazy but I don’t need any further physio!! So happy the worst is over 🎉💛

Get yourself some perineal ice packs.

I had five episiotomies, in the US, where they used to be routine and nurses had a great deal of expertise in after care. The hospitals I delivered in sent women home with chemical 'ice' packs that you snapped to activate. They were great.

Just saw your update and read the date of your OP..

Hope you continue to recover well.