Due to have repair work - advice please

[MamaMaiasaura]

Due to be repaired following episiotomony in December which healed with a ridge. Means being cut and stitched open in day surgery. Chosen to have local aneastchtic as bfing and want to be out asap. Anyone had a repair job and how long take to heal? Do i need to take arnica tablets before?

I had this done last year under GA when DS 9 months old. Incredibly painful for 2 weeks, then gradually got better after that. Was able to have sex again 2 months later and fully recovered now so definitely worth it. I definitely needed a lot of help looking after DS as couldn't move very easily or walk very far for 2 weeks.

I didn't need maternity pads, just sanitary pads for a few days. Chocolate definitely helps!!

Good, one thing less for you to worry about. And it will be healing for you to be able to cuddle the baby.

You won't need maternity pads, but will probably need some pads. There shouldn't be much blood. Make sure you get something like Kotex, which have the very soft papery/cottony covers. Don't get Always - their covers are plasticky and too rough for post-surgery (at least they were when I last used them a few years ago). Make sure you change the pads every few hours, even if they're not soaked - which they're not likely to be. A few drops of tea-tree oil or lavender oil in the bath is also good for healing.

Ask if you can have G&A to self-supplement the local, if necessary.

Awen, i am probably way too late with this, but i had this done when dd was 4 months old (i think exactly same thing) and compared to the stitches after the birth it was a complete walk in the park. no bruising or swelling just some neat stitching with minimal bleeding. dh took the day off the next day and i stayed in bed all day- i think it was the most restful day i had since giving birth! the next day i was fine, took it a bit easy for a couple more days but no bed rest or anything like that. and after 2 weeks i was completely back to my old self, no problems at all.

we waited till 4 or 5 weeks after op to have sex and to my enormous relief everything was just fine- compared to the nightmare it had been up to then, i felt a different woman.

now 2 years later i am about to have my second baby and the consultant who examined me told me that if hadn't told her about it she could never have guessed.

so, good luck, fingers crossed, and let us know how you get on!

ps i had mine under ga- my choice as i just didn't want to know anything about it and was v nervous. in at 2pm, back home at 8.30 pm. dd also bfed at the time but she had ebm and then a massive feed when i got home.

Get some arnica tablets, it works really well. And teatree oil in a little bowl of warm watter, patted onto the wound after you have been to the toilet each time.

My friend had this and it took a long time to heal (she didn't do hte above things). She was due to have a C-section this week for her second baby as the doctors didn't want to risk it happening again as so bad last time. But in the end she went early, gave it a go and out popped the baby - not a scratch on her! So, it does heal, and function as it should. Try not to worry too much - Arnica will help you with that side of things too.

How did it go, Awen?

Yes - hope it went well.

IT went very well thanks was very scared but much better than episiotomony. dp taken week off and is looking after me still sore but not unbearable

Oh am so glad it went well.

Good.

Enjoy the holidays.