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Original poster

Episiotomy - getting worse!

42 replies

Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 21:20

I'm coming up to 13 days PP now after giving birth on the 1st July - birth ended in forceps and an extended episiotomy which also tore, horrendous!! Since leaving hospital I had felt as though it was healing relatively well, but in the last couple of days it is so, so painful!! Particularly at night, it seems to become unbearable to put any weight on it. It's particularly sore on the right hand side as I think this is where it tore, towards the right.

I haven't been able to bring myself to look, however decided to brave it before my sitz bath tonight. It looks like a gaping hole!!!! (Apologies if TMI!!) This has freaked me out and I'm now really worried I've torn the stitches and opened myself up to an infection!? I can't see any puss or signs of infection, but it is so sore that I'm concerned there's one starting.

I've been trying to keep up with my paracetamol and ibuprofen, having a salt sitz bath each night and using spritz for bits on a maternity pad. But it has really freaked me out now that I've actually seen it 😳.

Any previous experiences on this? Is this all a normal part of the healing process? Will my bits ever look less frightening!?! 🙈

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PairOfPears · 13/07/2021 21:37

Get it checked out, your midwife will be able to take a look. It can be a long healing process but my experience was that it did improve steadily.

In the meantime make sure you dry it really thoroughly after a bath and air it out as much as poss - my midwife recommended a hairdryer on a cool setting or a fan which really helped.

MooseyGoose90 · 13/07/2021 21:40

I had a knot and a tight stitch in my episiotomy, which gradually got worse like yourself. I can remember the immediate relief when the midwife snipped it.

Definitely air it out as much as possible. As PP the hair dryer on cold will really help

Three0fivepointfour · 13/07/2021 21:44

Yes. I remember it well. Ouch.
Get to the midwife or GP. You may need antibiotics.

I went to my lovely GP who said “please sit down” and I had to tell him the issue was that I couldn’t!

Original poster
Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 22:55

@Three0fivepointfour oh dear, not helpful!!! 🙈 I'm going to call the postnatal ward tomorrow and hopefully get the midwife round!

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Original poster
Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 22:56

@MooseyGoose90 eek that sounds very painful!! Was it a knot in your stitches?? I couldn't see the stitches when I looked earlier, but I haven't noticed any fallen out in my underwear either - I'm confused as to where they've gone!

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Original poster
Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 22:57

@PairOfPears will definitely start using the hairdryer! Thanks for the tip! Before I left the hospital I asked for advice on caring for my episiotomy but they didn't give me anything, just said to keep on top of pain meds!

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JaquiMcquacky · 13/07/2021 23:02

Please ask your midwife to check for you. I had a huge epi and a tear also, mine got infected and took ages to heal. It was truly dreadful and really impacted my ability to care for my baby, and my mental health.

Bless you, I did a clench for you, get some lactulose in ready for poos…

Suzi888 · 13/07/2021 23:03

I advised someone to use a hairdryer once (it worked for me on c sec wound and a doctor told me it was fine but- just saying!) a poster told me off as the advice has changed and it spreads infection.

Rainallnight · 13/07/2021 23:03

Blimey, OP, I’m so sorry. I’ve never had this (adopted our DC, so no vaginal involvement whatsoever) but this sounds so awful I just wanted to offer a handhold. I hope you have support looking after your new baby on top of all this pain.

Yellow85 · 13/07/2021 23:04

I second the hairdryer on cool setting. Godsend. I remember thinking the same thing with mine, that maybe I had torn the stitches, but I think it was just what it was supposed to be like once the stitches naturally dissolved. I didn’t get the midwife to check mind.

Thelazydog · 13/07/2021 23:10

I was told "it gets more sore as it heals", by some incompetent fool when I went back in, in agony. They refused to even look. A week later I was back in on antibiotics (took 4 lots in the end), for an infection that had well and truly set in by that point.

Learn from my mistakes! Please INSIST someone checks, and don't get fobbed off. I assumed it was normal pain. I had only had a c section previously, so had nothing to compare it to. After 2 more births (one of which was another episiotomy), I realised what normal was meant to feel like, and how bad I'd been that first episiotomy. Please get checked!

Oatsamazing · 13/07/2021 23:21

I felt that mine was a lot less painful and started healing better once I got a doughnut cushion 4 days after giving birth. The cold hair dryer setting also gave me a lot of relief. I was told not to have baths as it might cause the stitches to dissolve, just to shower with no soap. I poured salty water over the area after each wee then dried with the hair dryer. It was a horrible pain though, I hope yours gets better soon Thanks

Original poster
Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 23:27

@Yellow85 how did yours heal in the end? Please tell me the hole sorts itself out!?

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Original poster
Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 23:28

@Rainallnight thank you so much lovely! It was a very traumatic birth, but booked in for a debrief to go through everything in 6 weeks. Hopefully it'll heal as time goes on!! Just hoping I haven't got an infection!!

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Original poster
Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 23:28

@Thelazydog that's terrible!!! I'll bear that in mind!!

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Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 23:31

@JaquiMcquacky thank you! That's my worry too, I'm already finding it difficult doing the night feeds with my little one due to the pain - don't want it to get any worse. I'll ring the postnatal ward tomorrow and ask for someone to have a look. We've also the midwife visiting us on Thursday for the 14 day check up so will ask then tol

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Yellow85 · 13/07/2021 23:31

Yes it did. I mean obvs there’s still a scar but no long term issues!

Yellow85 · 13/07/2021 23:33

Also pour warm water on yourself as you are weeing. Neutralises it and stops the stinging! Also don’t go near pads with plastic backings. They retain moisture and are not your friend!

Onemorefortheroad · 13/07/2021 23:35

You poor soul - I had the same at 10 days, needed antibiotics.
Remember having to check I could take them when breastfeeding so maybe worth bearing in mind! I can't actually remember now if that had any impact as it was a few years ago now 🙈 hope it heals soon ❤️

Missreginafalange · 13/07/2021 23:37

@Yellow85

Also pour warm water on yourself as you are weeing. Neutralises it and stops the stinging! Also don’t go near pads with plastic backings. They retain moisture and are not your friend!

I did this too, kept a jug in the toilet and really helped take the sting out of peeing.

I found liquid TPC baths and airing it for a bit after helped and also the pain got worse before it got better as it started to heal.

But if it's really that painful would definitely get a midwife to check it out.

Missreginafalange · 13/07/2021 23:38

Liquid TCP*

SunshineThroughTheFog · 13/07/2021 23:45

I had to have mine cleaned by a gyno a few times plus antibiotics plus lots lots of pain killers. I couldn't walk properly until 8 WEEKS pp. please go see a midwife or GP!

Holothane · 13/07/2021 23:54

You poor lot I’ve not had this had sore buttocks for years finally cracked it with some wonderful nappy cream mentioned on here, the difference was unbelievable it stopped the scratching cycle, yep I’ve used the warm water trick as well, as the soreness was everywhere.

Original poster
Shmerlock · 13/07/2021 23:59

@Missreginafalange I hadn't heard of liquid TCP before! Sounds amazing, I'm going to nip to Boots for some tomorrow!

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Original poster
Shmerlock · 14/07/2021 00:00

@Onemorefortheroad I didn't even think of that, will make sure to check if I end up with antibiotics!

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