Still very sore after birth, any advice ?

[Lizzyyy98]

I had a natural birth ten days ago, and had to have a perineal stitch, which the midwife looked at today and it is healing very well as well as the overall area down below. However, I am in severe pain (sorry for tmi) but around my clitoris and top end of vagina feels so swollen and feels so sensitive and I can barely even wipe when I go to the toilet its that sore or walk, should I not be getting better rather than worse ? It feels like when I walk I have a ball between my legs. There is also some itching down there to but my midwife ruled out thrush... and due to the current circumstances regarding coronavirus it is virtually impossible to get a doctor or a 2nd opinion but this pain is awful, I am not bleeding anymore but just have some mild smelling yellowish discharge now. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I can do to ease the pain, I've tried tea tree baths twice a day, witch hazel gel I am just so fed up now.

Is it definitely not an infection? I’d try and get a phone appointment because it should be getting better I would have thought.

It does sound like you need an appointment OP - please keep trying for a phone consultation at least.

I didn’t use loo roll for a couple of weeks after birth, I used flannels instead to gently wash & pat dry, then washed them at a high temp. That was for a second defeee tear, not sure how many stitches I had. The pain was gone after a few days & the tenderness after about ten days. It does sound like it might be infected.

Hi OP it does sound irritated, I would also keep trying for a phone appointment (could you call your health visitor or midwife to come back and look again) but in the meantime have some lukewarm salt or tea tree/aloe baths and stay naked for a while to get some air to it. If it’s any consolation I also had one stitch after a normal birth and I couldn’t sit down for nearly three weeks, some people just take longer to heal. It could also be the pads you are using if you’ve stuck to one brand, you could try switching to a softer brand? For example I always get a rash with always sanitary towels but body form are fine. Hope it feels better soon and congratulations on your baby

I had the same issues OP. I tried to not wear pads as much as I could. I bought some period pants and tried to let air around. Although it did end up being thrush, a few days of canesten cream and it was gone. Obviously your midwife has ruled that out but keep it in mind.

Agree with pp for trying to get midwife to come check again but I used lavender oil in the bath and took arnica tablets which helped me after my stitches.
I used to always nap naked too so I could air it out.

I feel your pain!
I used witch hazel liquid kept it in the fridge soaked gauze in it then put them on my pads. Pure relief! (Can just put it on the pad if u don’t have gauze or a water wipe)
Even sitting on the bed with nothing on for a few mins every night was helpful to let air around everything down there.
Feel better soon x

I’m in the same boat OP- did you ever get better? Please help :(