Episiotomy - advice and help

[TheLuckDragon]

Hi all, I had my son last Thursday (so 5 days ago) and ended up with an episiotomy and forceps after pushing for 2.5 hours and him being in distress.

I am on paracetamol and ibuprofen every 6 hours but today and yesterday have been horrible in terms of pain from my episiotomy.

It feels constantly burny/stingy and when I sit down/stand up/roll over in bed/move in general it causes a pinching pain that makes me gasp.

Is this normal? Is it just the stitches tightening as they heal?

Also I haven't had a poo since Saturday because it hurts to push, even when holding a pad to my stitches.

Can anyone help reassure me?

Docusate works really well. Works well overnight like senna too. Do you know the type of episiotomy you had? Just keep an eye on it, any more changes or problems get it checked :-)

Thanks all! I am pleased to report that the docusate worked and I just had the most satisfying poo of my life! I am now airing out on the bed after a shower. Still paranoid about getting poo in the wound though.

There was no infection present when he examined me today but he gave me antibiotics just in case. A weeks worth of amoxiclav(sp?)

These things take time but I feel so useless, like I can't even look after my own baby properly because I can't move. My lovely husband is doing everything

McBassy it was one that went off to the side - into my butt cheek? It was 3 layers and very long

Congrats on the poo

I only managed one with an episiotomy in the bath. My DH sat there with a a sieve retrieving poo from the water.
That's love.

Your consultant should have given you stronger meds. I'm on your behalf. I was on tramadol.

I bet the relief you felt outweighed the embarrassment though Somerville! Our husbands are good to us aren't they?

The doctor said he didn't want to give me anything stronger because increase in pain is one of the signs to look out for and if my pain was totally masked then I wouldn't know if the pain has gotten any worse

Fuck sake - that pain masking advice is rubbish.

I bet he would take more pills than paracetamol and ibuprofen if his perineum was split in two.

I'd phone your GP. Honestly, there are so many good painkillers out there, it's appalling that you're only being offered the same as if you had a headache.

Or send DH out to at least buy co-codamol for you. (Remember to take that instead of paracetamol, not as well as.)

Somerville co-codamol is out if breastfeeding though (sadly).

Glad you managed to poo OP!

Just Googled and you're right, milpool. I was definitely on codein after my first child, but that was nearly 15 years ago - they know a lot more now than they did then.

It's tramadol that is recommended while breastfeeding these days. www.drugs.com/breastfeeding/tramadol.html

I had an episiotomy and can say it was uncomfortable for about 14 days and then began to feel bearable- but still not 'right' continue taking your pain medication and also ask your midwife for some wound gel. Mine provided me with some to help stop infection - you just apply a little to your maternity pad and it sits on the wound.
(Also keep it in the fridge and it's quit soothing!)
I would ask your midwife to check when you see her for any signs of infection just incase, but continue to be cautious with hygiene and rest!

I cant recommend witch hazel enough, had my son 2 weeks ago and I've stopped taking pain killers now. I wipe the wound with cotton wall dipped in witch hazel and put some on my pad. Midwife said it was OK to use aswell. I also use my babies all in one wash in the shower, it's far more gentle than normal shower gel.

The best advice I had was to use a few drops of lavender oil in a jug of luke warm water and pour it over the area whilst urinating, then pat dry. Lavender oil has fantastic natural healing qualities and the warm water eases the discomfort, as well a cleaning the urine away at the same time. I wish I'd had this advice from the beginning!

Really annoys me how they play down the recovery involved for more serious tears and episiotomy. The baby books all refer to it as a 'small cut'. Makes it sound like a bloody paper cut instead of a cut into not just skin but also muscle and needs suturing. No wonder new mum's are left in shock when sent home with a newborn to look after and advice that you will be 'a bit sore' and to take a coupe of paracetamol!!

I made sure to ask all the uncomfortable questions in my antenatal class - I don't care if it scared some people but better to be prepared than believing the old VB = easy recovery and just glazing over the detail. Instructor finally had to admit average recovery for VB with episiotomy is 4 weeks vs 6 weeks for cesarean. I'd rather expect a 4 week recovery and be pleasantly surprised if it's quicker (because it is for a lucky some!) than expecting it to be just 'a bit sore'

Sorry for the rant but I think they are doing us all a disservice by not giving us the whole truth!

When I had mine with my first I used the hairdrier set on cold after a bath to help dry them out. It's not a good look but oddly soothing.

I'm also because my episiotomy took about twelve weeks to heal and I was made to feel like a freak when it didn't heal within the time it 'should have' according to the HCPs. Then another 6 months before it was established I also needed physio to fix the remaining problems.

Just to say that the hairdryer idea, while it sounds good, can introduce all sorts of nasties to an open wound so best to air dry instead.

Just found this thread again, 15 months on!

Took a very long time for me to feel ok again.

I had a few follow up appointments with the specialist as I was still in pain and it turned out I had over granulation of the scar tissue where the split had healed.

So 6 months after he was born (end of January 2017) they said I should go and get the scar tissue cut out. I asked if they could try silver nitrate first which they did and I can happily report it worked!

I didn't pluck up the courage to have sex for the first time until March but it was fine and there was no pain thankfully.

However, I still can't wipe after going for a wee (I have to dab) as it actually hurts to do so where the scar is. I can't bring myself to look at it these days but I'm just happy I'm feeling something close to normal now