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Original poster

Episiotomy gaping wound - healing time?

16 replies

AlisonWhite · 18/08/2021 19:52

Hey all,
I had a 'sideways' cut made for baby girl last week. My skin stitches have all come out so I have a gaping wound now. It feels and looks horrendous and I can't sit or anything as it stings so much.
I have been told it will take about 8-12 weeks to heal but am wondering if there is a point before this where the pain does lessen enough to feel a little more 'normal' or at least not as agonising? It makes me sad as I feel like I can't look after my nee baby properly but I don't want to wish the time away :(
Xxx

OP posts:
Marmitemarinaded · 18/08/2021 19:54

Get yourself back ASAP to be re stitched!!!

Somuddled · 18/08/2021 19:56

Sideways? You need to be seen again if the wound is still open and stitches have come out.

Noorandapples · 18/08/2021 19:56

It might be worth calling the midwives and asking for some stitches. GPs tend to minimise things like this, imagine a man having a gaping wound in his penis and being told ah well it will take a few weeks. My GP told me I was "barely hanging together" and to just wait in bed for a week, like you say it's hard to do that with a newborn. Have you got any help at home?

Original poster
AlisonWhite · 18/08/2021 20:10

Sideways as in not vagina to bottom but the other way they do it. I have been told they rarely re stitch and I am on antibiotics but I just want to know how long it will take to feel even a little better :( x

OP posts:
Blackopal · 18/08/2021 20:17

My episiotomy stitches burst after a couple of days. They would not restitch as it was policy not too.
I felt better after a couple of weeks and all good now.

Congratulations on your baby, please be careful though as burst stitches can be a sign you are doing too much. You need to rest as much as possible.

RosesandPumpkins · 18/08/2021 20:18

When is your next check up? Definitely get seen by someone.

Incywinceyspider · 18/08/2021 20:23

This happened to me. They wouldn't restitution but I did need antibiotics. I would say that I was in agony for about a week, uncomfortable for another week and then ok after that, although it took a while to heal fully. I managed to have sex at about 8 weeks without pain.

Original poster
AlisonWhite · 18/08/2021 20:25

Thank you that is so helpful to know... xxx

OP posts:
Fashionesta · 18/08/2021 20:30

I had this. Was super painful and I had three courses of antibiotics before infection went. I could barely get out of bed. I borrowed one of those rings to sit in from NCT which helped and generally gritted my teeth until it got better. With antibiotics it should heal.

ShotgunShack · 18/08/2021 20:33

Get it checked and definitely take antibiotics. I had this and they brushed me off when I was worried it wasn’t healing after a couple of weeks. I was in hospital 6 months later having surgery to fix it and remove scar granulation.

GP’s will ignore you unless you make a fuss.

CrabbyCat · 18/08/2021 20:41

Mine was quite a deep wound which fully reopened and they did restitch. I found they were very dismissive and I was repeatedly told they don't restitch - but as soon as the GP finally looked at it they called the hospital and insisted they looked at me, and as soon as the registrar on hospital looked at it they immediately told me they would be restitching. The midwives were actually more dismissive about anything being done. While you are still under the midwives, you can still get referred back to labour ward for check up if needed rather than needing to be referred to gynaecology and dealing with wait lists - so don't let the midwives discharge you until you are clearly getting better.

Johnson10 · 20/08/2021 20:17

My stitches broken down 4 days after episiotomy.
They won’t re-stitch. Your left to heal by secondary intention (so inside to outside). The pain was horrific - worse then labour! But I promise it gets better . It did take months to heal completely. My son is now 14m old & I have no problems at all.

Original poster
AlisonWhite · 02/10/2021 23:47

@Johnson10 sorry to late reply. It has been 8 weeks now. The infection pain has gone but the wound still feels open and it pretty raw. The very outer part is healed up a little but the part near the opening of my V still looks like an open wound and feels so weird. When you said months to heal... can you remember how long? I have seen a few other that say their opened but sometimes it is just the skin layer and they seem to have healed whiting 6-8 weeks but I am nowhere near that!! Xxx

OP posts:
Temp7854 · 02/10/2021 23:53

I had this - granulation tissue that I had cauterised. The relief was immediate!

Beck28 · 07/01/2022 01:54

@AlisonWhite I had the same when my girl was born 6 weeks ago. It still feels sore down there, ended up at A&E the other day as my v looks bigger than what it should. I was told that the stitches had come out whilst it was healing hence why it looks the way it does and it should heal itself with time. I've already had one course of antibiotics. How long did it take for you to start to feel normal down there again? I've spoke with my GP surgery about it a few times and feel as though I'm being brushed off

immersivereader · 07/01/2022 02:03

Go back to the doctors. Insist on being seen. Absolutely ridiculous what women have to suffer through.

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