Episiotomy healing

Itsmeitscathyivecomehome · 2023-02-07T18:24:42+00:00

Had an episiotomy 4 days ago. It is so painful. I’m taking paracetamol - is there anything else I can do to aid healing/pain relief

Scramble1805 · 07/02/2023 20:13

Oh I'm sorry, I remember it being so painful for 2 weeks, then eased a little bit up to 3 weeks.

Alternate paracetamol and nurofen, overlap slightly if needed.
Bathe it daily if possible, with a bath using 2 drops of tea tree and 10 drops of lavender, and a splash of milk to break up the oils.

I also had my husband put the tiniest about of Deep freeze next to the stitches (not touching them, that really stings!). It numbed enough of the area around it to make walking a little bit easier.

Mumandscrewed · 07/02/2023 20:15

I found the frida mum foam and wipes were amazing - if you can get them do it! Also definitely get a peri bottle if you haven’t already.

also recommend the Abena maternity pads - they were much bigger and didn’t irritate the stitches as much as the others I tried.

Chans11 · 10/02/2023 22:48

Hi, sorry to read this. I had a dreadful time after mine and was given no advice by professionals. The things that helped me were:

try to get as much air to area as possible (lay on bed with towel underneath)
adult nappies (only for a week or so)
bath with epsom salts
avoiding toilet paper and using a peri bottle
sitting on a cushion if on hard seat etc/laying down whenever possible

It takes time but will get better. I done most of the above for approx 4M to ensure it was healed as much as possible.

bluebird3 · 10/02/2023 22:56

These helped me:

Peri bottle
Spritz for bits
Ice pack to the area
Sitting on a pillow
Not walking around too much
Paracetamol

Burgerqueenbee · 10/02/2023 23:01

In addition to the above I would add try not to squat down and kneel instead if possible, and keep your legs together when maneuvering on and off bed/sofa etc. Sounds obvious but no-one told me this and I could have saved myself a lot of unnecessary pain!

Once it is a bit more healed (and lochia slowed down) I found it more comfortable to use wingless pads as they didn't seem to irritate the stitches/scar/open part where stitches had come open.

Mumtumtastic · 10/02/2023 23:14

Mumandscrewed · 07/02/2023 20:15

I found the frida mum foam and wipes were amazing - if you can get them do it! Also definitely get a peri bottle if you haven’t already.

also recommend the Abena maternity pads - they were much bigger and didn’t irritate the stitches as much as the others I tried.

Totally agree, Frida mum pad liners and perineal bottle were my lifesavers (I had the Boots one which was v good, has an upside down nozzle so you can have a warm water comfort wash on the loo) also Paracetamol.

The Valley Cushion is excellent to relieve pain vaginal, perineal and/ or pile pain. Pricey but worth it

Mumtumtastic · 10/02/2023 23:15

It’s this new one: thevalleycushion.co.uk

NameChangeFor2023 · 10/02/2023 23:27

Bath made mine infected and caused a lot of pain, so be weary.

Paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine. Not sitting on it where possible.

Rolling towels and putting like train tracks to sit legs on (advice from physio - better than a ring cushion due to blood flow) but I prefer a ring.

Pat, don't wipe and keep as clean as possible.

Good luck. I've had two and, whilst still awful, my second is currently better than my first, due to the infection and maybe the size.

TellMeDinosaurFacts · 10/02/2023 23:33

Bare backside, lying on towel (if it's not too cold). Don't feel any pressure to be up and about. I remember using the loo was agony after my stitches burst and the only thing that worked was either weeing in the shower or sort of weeing into loo paper so that it soaked up immediately. It was awful but almost overnight suddenlt stopped hurting after about 10 days. Hang on in there!

stockpilingallthecheese · 11/02/2023 03:19

OP I'm currently going through this (10 days pp) and really sympathise as it's bloody awful. I had to go to the drs this week as was in absolute agony. I've been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen alternating with the codeine plus antibiotics. The Frida witch hazel pad liners are great as well.

I don't know about you but I'm finding it hugely frustrating as in every other day I feel great and desperate to get out and about but feel trapped and housebound with this pain.

thebloodycatwontstopmeowing · 11/02/2023 03:26

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Tabitha888 · 11/02/2023 03:33

NameChangeFor2023 · 10/02/2023 23:27

Bath made mine infected and caused a lot of pain, so be weary.

Paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine. Not sitting on it where possible.

Rolling towels and putting like train tracks to sit legs on (advice from physio - better than a ring cushion due to blood flow) but I prefer a ring.

Pat, don't wipe and keep as clean as possible.

Good luck. I've had two and, whilst still awful, my second is currently better than my first, due to the infection and maybe the size.

This is the best advise. Do t be putting oils or anything on it. Mine burst open due to an infection so please pay and dry and don't go crazy with the washing.... tbh e medicine stated is the best. Get your midwife to check the stitches. If it's throbbing as for them to be checked. Also a ring cushion helped me. I'm so sorry it's hurting I hope you get better soon and recovery is going well.

Congratulations on the birth of your baby xxx

Scramble1805 · 11/02/2023 05:22

Scramble1805 · 07/02/2023 20:13

Oh I'm sorry, I remember it being so painful for 2 weeks, then eased a little bit up to 3 weeks.

Alternate paracetamol and nurofen, overlap slightly if needed.
Bathe it daily if possible, with a bath using 2 drops of tea tree and 10 drops of lavender, and a splash of milk to break up the oils.

I also had my husband put the tiniest about of Deep freeze next to the stitches (not touching them, that really stings!). It numbed enough of the area around it to make walking a little bit easier.

Just to clarify, it was the midwife that visited me on the first day home that advised tea tree and lavender baths.
And I did have an infection that didn't get picked up on due to delayed test results but by the time the doctor phoned me I was starting to feel better by what I was doing, and she said best to avoid antibiotics in that case as they might make me feel weaker than I already did.

Orangesare · 11/02/2023 06:49

Take ibuprofen as well as the area is probably quite swollen mine was. I found mine healed quite quickly although it did go through a weird stabbing phase for a few days where it felt like the stitches were poking in.
I know it’s really uncomfortable but mine healed fine after a few weeks and I’ve got normal feeling and everything down there now which is more that can be said for the cs scar

Mummyme87 · 11/02/2023 06:55

Hey, hopefully it’s starting to feel better now. I’m a midwife and always recommends, round the clock ibuprofen and paracetamol, shower and bath every day, no soap, tea tree oil or lavender in the bath, lie on your bed with legs apart from 10mins after to air dry, change pads very frequently, take it easy. I don’t recommend to cushions with holes in as often the pressure pulls at the stitches and can cause more issues.

get your midwife to check them when you see her/him.

euff · 11/02/2023 07:05

I had a couple of baths a day with arnica oil and lavender. I mixed those in a couple of tablespoons of milk which I know people will find manky but it was soothing. I guess oats would be good and gentle like with chicken pox. I had the baths to soothe but also as I was worried about keeping everything clean and infection free in a gentle way.

Tamtam86 · 11/02/2023 07:10

I sprayed maternity pads with spritz for bitz and put them in the freezer to make cooling pads for soothing the area, and I found lying down pantless legs akimbo and letting the air get to the stitches also helped! Congratulations on your new baby and hope it starts to feel better soon

NameChangeFor2023 · 11/02/2023 10:04

The reason they say not to use a ring is that it can stop blood flow, going to the area or something like that so be cautious not to sit on one for too long.

I was specifically told not to use any of the perineum sprays you could buy.

If really sore, put a maternity pad in the freezer and wear between two pairs of underwear. I can't personally vouch for that, but just sharing Advice.

Herbie0987 · 11/02/2023 10:11

When I had DD1 in the days when you stayed in hospital, had salt bidet couple of time a day, healed very quickly and had stitches taken out after 5 days. With DD2 times had changed and washed myself using a flannel and salted warm water and dried with a hairdryer, again on the advice of midwife, healed quickly again.

NameChangeFor2023 · 11/02/2023 10:17

Herbie0987 · 11/02/2023 10:11

When I had DD1 in the days when you stayed in hospital, had salt bidet couple of time a day, healed very quickly and had stitches taken out after 5 days. With DD2 times had changed and washed myself using a flannel and salted warm water and dried with a hairdryer, again on the advice of midwife, healed quickly again.

The reason mine got infected from the bath was because they use dissolvable stitches now so the bath water sped up the dissolving and really messed me up.