Episiotomy

[watermelonsugar99]

Hi, just wanting a bit of advice.
I had my baby on Tuesday (6 days ago) after an hour of pushing in labour I was rushed to surgery for forceps and an episiotomy. I was discharged the day after with iron tablets as I lost quite a lot of blood.

I know it's early days but I'm still struggling so much with the pain, I take paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly and try to keep the area as clean as I can. I still can't walk properly without pain nor can I sit down, even if I try sitting on my side. I asked the midwife to check my stitches and she said they seem okay but she can't see them inside so she doesn't know how they're healing there. I'm really struggling as my partner is back at work next week & I don't think I'm going to be able to cope on my own, since getting out of hospital I've been crying constantly and feeling guilty. I can't even get up during the night to get baby as it takes me about 10 minutes to try get out of bed. Did anyone else have a similar experience? How was everyone's recovery with an episiotomy as I've heard so many horror stories which is not helping my anxiety!!

Any tips for a faster recovery? Using a peri bottle every time I go to the toilet and spritz for bits on my pad every time it gets changed

@Johnson10 that's great news! I'm not completely pain free yet, can still only walk for a little bit & still can't sit normally but GP said I'm definitely healed just still sore as there's still scar tissue in a certain place and that'll be what's causing it, maybe that's what you've still got as it sounds like the same spot mine is? Mines basically going towards the inside that's sore! Have been advised to give it a massage once a day and apparently that helps the scar tissue.
She gave me the go ahead to do everything normal now like work out etc, also said I can do the deed but not sure I can brave that yet! Maybe I'll give it a few more weeks and then have a glass of wine or two before doing it 😂x

@Yellowcakestand do you not have granulation tissue I think it's called? That can cause a pain during sex etc for a long long time! It's crazy to think that it can still give you pain for that long. You poor thing!

@watermelonsugar99 such good news that you're healed! Really does feel like it will last a life time when you're in the thick of it though doesn't it! Hopefully another couple of weeks and you will be pain free. Mine doesn't hurt anymore to sit on so think I've touched lucky with scar tissue! How is little one doing on his milk xx

@Ree91 yeah it really does! That's so lucky that yours doesn't hurt when you sit, I can sometimes just go sit down on the sofa as normal but majority of the time I'm still having to sit on my side.. I'll get there eventually!

He's vomiting so much on it but every other symptom has cleared up. I still haven't been to sleep yet because he keeps choking on his sick and I'm so scared in case I fall into a deep sleep while he's lying there choking!! DP has just woke up and is going to take over so I can try get a few hours in. I did mention it to the GP but because he is gaining weight and is in the healthy range they're not interested.. baffled as to how he's gaining weight when it seems like over half the milk comes back up but at least he's still healthyXx

@watermelonsugar99 if it's not one thing it's another, really feel sorry for you!! At least most of his symptoms have gone, but I completely get why you can't sleep, think we would all be the same! It could potentially be one of the symptoms that is just taking a little bit longer to settle down than the others have? Xx

Congratulations on your new arrival!

Apologies if I repeat advice above, I haven't time to read it all.

I've had two episiotomies - the first was accompanied with ventouse and was painful for about 2 weeks and healed really well. I was given advice from a midwife to not use toilet paper but keep a jug and lavender oil by the loo and wash the area with lukewarm lavender water each time. It worked really well.

The second wasn't so good. Like you I had forceps with this delivery and lost lots of blood. After about 7 days of following the advice above I ended up with an infection - also I was also battling pneumonia which could have had a bearing - and to be honest I didn't realise how bad it was until the infection had spread. If you're not sure I recommend booking in with your GP and having the stitches checked regularly or requesting antibiotics as a precaution. I took nearly 6 weeks for the second lot to heal for me and I could barely walk for 4 of them.

Good luck with your recovery, hopefully you'll start to feel better soon.

@Ree91 yeah it could be! I'm not sure if he needs something to thicken the milk up as it's so much more watery than the Cow&Gate formula he was on.. it makes me feel guilty I couldn't breastfeed now as we may not have been having these problems if I did 😩xx

@Minerva00 thank you so much! Your first recovery story sounds like it was amazing haha. It seems to be common with people who have forceps and episiotomies to loose a lot of blood!

I did have an infection so had 2 courses of antibiotics but didn't take the infection away, they didn't give me a third course as when they took a urine test the bacteria wasn't multiplying so they just left it. I'm 7w PP and the stitches are all healed now, I had them checked a few days ago by the doctor who said I'd healed over absolutely great which is a relief! Now just trying to get the scar tissue down as I seem to have a lot of it and that's why I'm still getting quite a bit of pain/soreness from the area! Not sure if you have any advice for scar tissue? Thank you for replying x

I had my follow up appt on Friday! They checked my pelvic floor muscles and talked me through the exercises that i have to do 3 times a day (i always forget 🤦🏼‍♀️) The good news is the tear has fully healed and that thing i thought was a prolapse is apparently more prominent as i'm breastfeeding but nothing to worry about 😍

Hope you're ok!! Xx

@watermelonsugar99

PS they still don't know why i have a stinging sensation when i wee but think it could be down to grazing? Still early days i guess!

@Oldestchild90s You've just reminded me to start doing them haha! Ooops.. I'm so happy you've healed and it's not a prolapse! I remember you being so worried about that. Great news! Yeah it could be due to that, I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere that grazes take longer to heal than tears do so fingers crossed you're on the way to recovery in regards to that!

I'm good thank you:) still having my first period, I'm on day 16 (not that I'm counting😂) no idea if that's normal or not but I'm rolling with it. Fingers crossed it decides to leave me alone soonxx

You have my sympathy. The pain is truly awful. I was not prepared for how sore it would be all the time. Then you're looking after your baby and moving makes it worse etc. Hard to see now, but it will pass. It will. Take each day and don't feel guilty about needing your husband's help. I did too. Take care

@watermelonsugar99 how you getting on xx

@Someone1987 yeah I wasn't prepared either, it's awful but it is starting to pass thankfully DP has helped out so much, I don't think I could have done it without him! X

@Ree91 Good thank you! Going out pretty much every day for long walks with little one & can now do a full clean of the house without crying in pain😂 scar tissue is still causing me problems, can't wear anything tight or sit down certain ways but at least I'm starting to feel better in myself. Haven't took any pain killers for 2 weeks now. How are you doing? Xx

@watermelonsugar99 ahh I'm pleased! Give scar tissue a little bit of time, it may very well settle down and if it you can look into getting it taken off and hopefully that will settle? How is your little man doing with his milk?

I'm feeling good! I've definitely healed and my scar has closed over, it's not painful now and I forget it's there actually. I still haven't braved sex yet though haha...wonder will I ever pluck the courage up xx

@Ree91 yeah I'm hoping it does, I'm still having a period so I don't know if it's hurting more because of that! He's had another milk change as was still vomiting loads on the other, he's only been on this one for 3 days but so far no change. Yesterday when DP was on his way home he choked on his sick, it was coming out his nose and mouth & he was going a red/purple colour. I was just about to ring 999 when he finally caught his breath. He's been pretty much glued to us since. It was the worst thing I've ever experienced😢

Ahh I'm so glad you're doing good now!! I'm sure you will pluck up the courage eventually haha, I haven't braved it either so you're not the only one! Xx

@watermelonsugar99 Jesus you're still on a period?! You should get that checked out, surely that can't be normal? Mine lasted 4 days I think!

Oh the poor boy, that sounds terrifying glad he's okay now though!

Haha I know, think I'll need a few stiff vodkas beforehand xx

@Ree91 unfortunately! I've been twice and they've just said it's normal, I've got to go back on the 20th for blood tests as I'm showing signs of low iron again, they've made me wait just over 3 weeks for an appointment

Yeah I'd definitely have a few before hand, that's my plan as well haha xx

Hi girls. I’m now 14w pp. I’ve recently done the deed! Haha. Honestly wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. A bit uncomfortable but not horrifically painful. 2nd time better then the first ... just to give you both some hope! X

@Johnson10 ahh lucky you haha! I'm glad it wasn't as bad as you thought though, definitely reassured me a lot! Xx

@Johnson10 haha thank you for the heads up! Glad it wasn't as bad as lots make it out to be x

It wasn’t exactly brilliant but bareable 😂 I was really scared, but thought I’m better off getting it over & done with. I think it will get better over time. All of my friends were back at it like 6 weeks after birth. 13 weeks for me! But what we’ve been threw is awful. X

How are you doing now @watermelonsugar99? I hope you are feeling better now :)

@VioletSunset Ah I'm doing a lot better thank you for asking!! I've still got scar tissue that is really painful but as far as being able to move around I feel 1000X better than I did a few weeks ago x