Episiotomy infected ?

[Bubba1208]

3 weeks ago I had a episiotomy after delivering my DS & have been uncomfortable ever since ( the joys of giving birth )

I had them checked last Monday by the HV who said it was fine
The last couple of days I've been in some pain - enough for me to take tablets & this is always a lash straw for me as I'm a wimp for taking tablets
( originally prescribed morphine for the pain but decided not to use it unless in agony due to it making me woozy )

I've just checked in the mirror & the stitches are gone ( from what I can see so I'm assuming healed ? ) except for a hole probably the size of a 5p coin at the top with some discharge coming out.
A white colour / watery texture

I'm waiting for the HV to ring me back as she's in a meeting atm but does this sound healthy / right / or possibly a infection ?

I would call GP and ask for it to be seen.

I'm 8 months pp now, but my episiotomy broke down on day 3 as I had an infection and the stitches disappeared leaving me with a huge hole too!

Not to scare you, but it took me about 11 courses of antibiotics to clear the infections, and just over 3 months before I could sit down for a wee! So painful

But it has completely healed now, despite me thinking it never would. Shallow baths with milton in twice a day, knickers off loads to allow the air to get to it, and always air dry after a shower massively helped my recovery!

The GP basically explained to me, that the underneath layers were still stitched, but the top had come apart due to the infection, they wouldn't restitch as they didn't want to trap the infection in there. I had many swabs and trips to the GP for different antibiotics to combat it, so if you haven't already, please get an appt with your GP to check infection. It will heal once the infection has been cleared.

Hope you're okay, I know how horrible they can be! X

@OverTheRainbow88 @Ree91 thank you ladies
HV has rang back & has advised me to book a appointment with the gp so I'm on the phone to them now

Fingers crossed it's nothing too bad 🤞🏼

@Bubba1208 how did you get on? Hope you're feeling a little better! X

@Ree91 I had a telephone appointment with the nurse who asked a bunch of questions , asked me describe stuff etc & agreed I had a infection
I'm on antibiotics , but if it doesn't clear in a couple of days I'm to make a appointment to see her

I haven't had a look in a couple of days but the pain has gone right down - I no longer take morphine for the pain & have been bathing a lot more instead of showers

So hopefully this is doing the trick 🤞🏼

@Bubba1208 amazing, glad you're starting to feel better and the pain isn't as bad!

Agreed, if it doesn't feel like it's getting better ask for it to be swabbed so the right antibiotics can be prescribed, mine eventually healed with the right ones! X

I was told to go to A&E to be seen because I was just a few days post partum and I was able to be seen on the delivery ward by the perineal specialist, definitely push to get it checked out as soon as poss.