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Postnatal health

As with all health-related issues, please seek advice from a RL health professional if you're worried about anything.

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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!?! 🙈

OP posts:

Oneofeachclub · 14/07/2021 00:04

I developed cellulitis after an episiotomy. Make sure you're seen tomorrow, it could be very serious.

Original poster

Shmerlock · 14/07/2021 00:17

@Oneofeachclub I'm so sorry, that sounds awful! I will, definitely!

OP posts:

Newmumfeb2021 · 14/07/2021 08:02

Hello! I’m 20 weeks pp and my internal stitches have not yet healed. I got a gynaecologist appointment after 12 weeks of asking my gp and having loads of antibiotics. Gyn appointment was last week and he told me to soak in salt water. Since I’ve been doing that I’m bleeding again and also with a lot of pelvic pain. I don’t know what to do. It’s affecting my mental health.

Original poster

Shmerlock · 14/07/2021 09:29

@Newmumfeb2021 I'm so sorry to hear that and sending big hugs! What has the gynaecologist said? Hopefully that's a sign it's being flushed out and cleaned? I wish I'd known more about episiotomy and the after effects of having one! It's horrendous and I feel as though a lot of people are dismissive of it

OP posts:

Newmumfeb2021 · 14/07/2021 14:31

The gynaecologist was dismissive sure. All he said was this looks like an infection since it’s not healed yet so have antibiotics and soak in salt water. I’m wondering if there could be another reason why it’s not healed e.g., not stitched properly. Or the stitches came out or something. It’s not usual to bleed every other day/ every 3-4 days sometimes since almost 5 months! 🙁

Holothane · 14/07/2021 14:32

I’d like to see how men could cope with a sore, weeping hole or infection for weeks months on end, it just wouldn’t happen,

Original poster

Shmerlock · 14/07/2021 16:49

@Holothane you're so right, no way would they be fobbed off and left to deal with it - the whole birth process would be completely different if it were men!!

OP posts:

kittlesticks · 14/07/2021 16:57

I had this and also terrible pain. I went back to the labour ward and they saw me immediately, I had an infection and needed antibiotics and my stitches sorted out.

HowManyMoreTimes · 14/07/2021 17:08

How long are you sitting in the sitz baths for?
I was so desperate to ease my aching muscles that I used to have a bath very evening. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough brain power to connect that my dissolvable stitches (2nd degree tear) might do just that!
I asked the midwife to check on about day 9 or 10 as everything felt a bit strange and her words were 'Oh yes, it is gaping somewhat' My stitches had dissolved before I'd healed up.
For what it's worth, it's not caused any problems.
Obviously, do get checked out to exclude infection etc

Original poster

Shmerlock · 14/07/2021 18:14

@HowManyMoreTimes oh no!! This sounds like my issue 🙈 I've tried to spend no more than 15 mins a time in the bath, although I nearly nodded off in it the other night!!

OP posts:

IDontDrinkTea · 14/07/2021 18:19

I’d agreed with the previous poster, it sounds like you’ve dissolved the dissolvable stitches by spending so long in water. I’d call your postnatal ward and get them to look at it - I’d recommend a proper obstetrician seeing it rather than a GP

HowManyMoreTimes · 14/07/2021 18:31

Shmerlock I was soaking for ages each time (an hour or more!) so don't panic-it might not be that at all!

And if it is, it's not necessarily something to worry about, honestly. The only issue was in my head to begin with, nobody wants to hear 'that' word used about their foof, but it hasn't caused any problems, sex is fine and I've had no other issues since.

I asked about having it re-sutured, but apparently it wasn't an option - even privately, so please don't worry. Just check it's not an infection or something else that does need to be treated.

Johnson10 · 14/07/2021 20:49

Ahhh yes the old episiotomy! I feel for you. I had one when I had my son over a year ago & I actually thought I was dying at one point. I had issues with my stitches & a gaping hole. The pain was horrendous!! I would choose labour contractions over postpartum healing any day. I will never forget the day I looked & saw the absolute car crash that was down there. Scared for life …
Happy to report it’s all good now. No problems whats so ever. I know it’s hard to see light at the end of the tunnel but you will heal.

Original poster

Shmerlock · 14/07/2021 22:21

@howmanymoretimes that's good to know! I'm glad you've made a full recovery - I hope mine is the same! The midwife is here tomorrow morning for the 14 day check up so she'll have a look and let me know what's going on, I don't think I'm brave enough to look again!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Shmerlock · 14/07/2021 22:23

@Johnson10 oh god, I'm in full agreement with you on that one!!! I was not prepared for what I'd see when I looked down there...!! And now I don't dare look again!!! That's so reassuring though to know things are all okay now, hopefully it'll be the same for me! X

OP posts:

stairway · 14/07/2021 22:38

I had terrible problems healing from an episiotomy. Stitches fell out too soon and it looked a mess for weeks and then one day I looked and it completely healed, don’t even know where the scar is. I would recommend putting some anti scar cream on once it’s healed up to avoid bad scars forming.

Emimummy · 14/07/2021 22:57

@Shmerlock sorry to hear you are in so much pain, I was in your situation about 10 months ago and I was convinced I'd never heal. I couldn't sit down for weeks and had to just balance on one side. I had just about every Dr and midwife check my episiotomy out as mine was also gaping open, I felt like I had a second bum hole! I had about 3 lots of antibiotics and the drs wouldn't sew the hole up, they basically told me when I close my legs the skin is naturally pressed together and will heal. I think by week 6/7 I was fully healed and didn't give it a second thought. I think my issue was having 3 baths a day in the first few days caused the stitching to come away at I'd find bits of black string like stuff in the bath. Do keep getting it checked until you feel comfortable that it is healing. Best of luck!

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