Episiotomy open wound

[staceymarieox]

Hi!
So I had a forceps delivery 7 weeks ago! So had an episiotomy. Probably about a week after delivery I was having a little feel of the site in the shower and realised something felt wrong so had a midwife come and check and all my stitches had either dissolved early or come out. So sent back to postnatal where they checked me out took a swab and gave me a week of antibiotics.

I've had two swabs altogether since that first visit and have been going back weekly up until Monday just gone when baby was 6weeks plus 1. Swabs have always come back with a 'colonised bacteria growth' which isn't making me ill so they won't treat with antibiotics unless things got worse.

Now it's a small hole left which I believe it just about closing but I'm having some discomfort and an occasional sting. Don't get me wrong even the sting is like pain level 1 it doesn't bother me but I can feel it! One midwife said it would feel like a graze while healing, which this kind of does!

The area doesn't hurt to touch, very small amount of discharge comes from it (which it has the whole time and has no smell and is what they swabbed so I know they were okay with it) and I'm not unwell in myself but just curious if others had had this stinging pain here and there! I had a look at the wound on and off over the weekend and Friday it looked red but while I was cleaning it so think I just knocked fresh or granulation tissue as it was just a few spots of blood, it did look very red after the bleed but calmed down later and more so by the next morning and that's when I noticed it looked more filled in than previously!

I believe the blood was from healing as I've even had sex twice over the last week and a half and I don't get any blood or pain ect when dtd, it's usually just from cleaning if I'm a bit heavy handed or sometimes catch it with loo roll when wiping!

Sorry for the long ramble just trying to paint the best picture possible 🤦‍♀️🤣

I don't think it's a good idea to be having sex until its fully healed op, a risk of introducing bacteria not to mention the friction which will irritate it all and damage delicate newly forming tissue. My scar took a long time to heal and had a small are that wouldn't heal, at 9 wks pp the gp gave me some steroid cream which sorted it out within a week.

If you’re still worried and they won’t see you in postnatal go to A&E to be seen by gynaecology - they caused the wound, fair enough for them to look. I had difficulties with mine and they gave me some oestrogen cream which really helped.

Thank you for your responses! The stinging hasn't been there today at all and had nothing come away from the wound while cleaning today! I will likely go and see my GP either this week or next week just for them to check it over anyway, but as I'm not hugely concerned and no signs of infection I don't think it's urgent! I will definitely see a gyne if I feel the doctors are fobbing me off and I'm not happy!

Just to clarify I did ask the last doctor I saw about dtd and they said as the hole is no longer a gape, if I felt okay for sex it was fine, but obviously just usual keeping an eye for any changes or pain, I do clean before and after and make sure DH has washed beforehand aswell! I know it may not stop all bacteria but i do what I can to minimise! As I'm not back on any protection yet either it's more of a few cheeky pokes and then leave it situation at the moment 🤣🤣

My little girl is 10 weeks old now & mins is still open. I keep checking it as I’m paranoid it’s not going to heal. But don’t know if I’m making it worse by pulling it a bit to check.ive had two lots of antibiotics & been referred back to the hospital but apparently it could be up to a year that i’ll be seen ! Did yours eventually heal by itself? I hope so

Currently 5 months PP and it's still open! It has healed a lot don't get me wrong but still not fully! I have had 4 sets of antibiotics so far! Some have been for other things at the same time! I can DTD and most things as normal though! Dr finally referred me back to gynae a week or so ago but like you it's up to 12 months for an appointment however last month I had an operation to remove a 30cm cyst from my abdomen and have the ovary it came from removed so hoping I may be quicker in the line as I'm supposed to have a follow up with gynae anyway soon! I really hope it's no too long for you! I would say just don't stress! Keep it clean and as dry as possible! Also some bepanthen or any nappy cream in os great if you have a lot of vaginal or wound discharge as sometimes irritation from that is worse than the wound discomfort! +Paracetamol and ibuprofen help it along too! Just get your GP practise nurse to give it a look every few weeks but it took over my life and it was hell 🤣

Oh you poor thing !! Yes I’ve it’s crazy how long it takes to be seen isn’t it ?! My dr referred me as ‘ urgent ‘ but when I rang they said up to a year too. Awww I’m sorry you’ve had to have another op too! But fingers crossed when you go back if you ask, they will help you a bit quicker !
I really don’t see how it’s going to close on its own?! I’ve got some granulation tissue there now too.

tmi but it’s so had to keep dry as it’s on the inside of my foof so I can’t really keep it dry. I’m using peri bottle again and patting dry. Yes I’m getting a lot of discharge, I think it’s from the wound because it’s not like my usual discharge. I might ask my nurse to look at my babies next jab appointment.

thank you for replying & I really hope you’re is healed soon for you! 5 months is such a long time 😩 x