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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

stitches after episiotomy - how much longer will they be stinging?!

9 replies

TwoJobsOneManOneBump · 08/08/2009 16:16

It's a week since baby's arrival and he's lovely. Big lad with a 37cm circumf head. I had an episiotomy (had written it as a preference in birth plan, which midwives followed brilliantly without needing to clarify at intense moments)

Anyway, the undercarriage still hurts a lot. Stings when I pee, like lemon juice in the eyes. I do try to pour water on the fanjo while peeing, as advised, but forget sometimes (eg at 4am. I compete with the local foxes for howling)

You're going to say this is nothing aren't you. And yes, I did look at the other thread in this topic about them not healing properly and being re-cut months down the line and something called Fentons. But just can someone confirm, reassure me, what is normal please?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
heavenstobetsy · 08/08/2009 16:27

well, mine split after three days and then took about 7 weeks to heal so I can't tell you what's normal for unsplit stitches - but I can tell you that when they're sore soaking a sanitary towel in witchhazel really helps

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 08/08/2009 16:29

Sorry I don't know what is normal as I only had a graze, but I found getting a water bottle with a sports cap and using it to spray on me while peeing was a real relief. Oh, and I also added some lavender oil to the water to aid healing.

TwoJobsOneManOneBump · 08/08/2009 16:31

midwife said they looked ok on the day 5 visit. I haven't done anything strenuous, but equally I'm not brave enough to get a mirror out and look! (DP also doesn't yet have enough curiosity to assess the damage for me...)

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ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 08/08/2009 18:36

I got my dh to look at mine to make sure the stitches looked ok (whatever ok fanjo stitches look like?!)

From memory it still stung when peeing for upto a week, then the area felt a bit tight for a month or so (but not painful)

I'm sure there is a normal, but it probably ranges from weeks to months.

TwoJobsOneManOneBump · 09/08/2009 20:47

oh, well, patience I suppose. Thanks both of you

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McSnail · 10/08/2009 10:27

37 cm?

Am I being stupid, or is that not enormous - ie, bigger than my waist?

anniemac · 10/08/2009 10:43

This reply has been deleted

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sambo2 · 10/08/2009 21:57

I ditto the water bottle with sports cap for squeezing directly whilst peeing! Diluted Calendula works a treat and I swore by a warn bath with dead sea salts and a generous splash of Tea Tree.

GirlsAreLoud · 10/08/2009 22:01

McSnail you are thinking of inches I think.

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