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Original poster

Episiotomy breakdown not healing

43 replies

Fayeandarlie · 03/12/2024 06:31

Hi ladies, I hope you’re all okay.
I gave birth 8 weeks ago and my episiotomy doesn’t seem to be healing ( more on the inside of my foof ) ive been back and forth to the drs, had it looked at numerous times. They have just said ‘ it should heal on its own ‘ I’ve been on antibiotics twice incase of infection. The smell isn’t that nice. They have referred me back to obstetricians, who have said it could be up to a year before I’m seen.

has anyone else had similar ? If so did it heal? And how long did it take please ? X

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WhatDaHell · 03/12/2024 07:17

Ouch - sorry you're going through this, OP.

Mine was also not healing as quickly as I would have liked, I think I was about 3 months post delivery that it wasn't as noticeable and maybe a month after that I wasn't concerned anymore. Even about 6 months in I still felt the odd twinge.

I had the same thing with the smell and I was almost scared to shower down there (not sure why, didn't want to make it worse) went to the doctor's a few times and told it was fine and wasn't given any antibiotics. It isn't nice at all and hopefully it'll ease up for you soon 🤞🤞

netflixfan · 03/12/2024 07:21

It takes a while to heal but you will be fine. In my experience doctors are not interested that you're not "perfect" as you were before, "you've had a child". But eventually you'll forget about it.

TheFutureFreaksMeOut · 03/12/2024 07:29

Poor you, it's miserable isn't it. Mine broke down and I would say it was around 4 months before it had healed to where there wasn't an open wound anymore.

However, I then had over granulation of the scar tissue which needed to be burnt away with silver nitrate (which didn't hurt by the way - the over granulation itself was way more painful). Hopefully that doesn't happen to you but just wanted to make you aware as I'd never heard of it before it happened to me.

It was 8 months before I even attempted to have sex again (and it wasn't painful at all so I was glad I waited) and it was a good 18 months before I could sit on anything hard without pain but I got there in the end.

renthead · 03/12/2024 07:37

A year to see the obstetrician?! That's ridiculous! You would probably benefit from topical estrogen cream, it can really help in cases like this. Can you see your GP and ask about it? I don't know if they'd prescribe it but it is worth a try.

Threewheeler1 · 03/12/2024 07:45

Hello OP,
Congrats on baby and commiserations on the slow healing episiotomy 🙁
Mine took about 4- 5 months too. The relief when things started to feel normal was unbelievable!
So uncomfortable but got there in the end.
On top of all the usual, a nurse recommended Badedas (bubble bath), apparently something in horse chestnut that promotes healing. Not sure of it helped but it made me feel better!
I think it can take far longer to heal sometimes, but for me it started to get better at about 12 weeks.
Glad you are being seen and things are being monitored. Don't hesitate to speak out if you think it doesn't feel right.
Also didn't have sex again until 8 months 😁and to be honest, I just wanted to check that it all felt normal, which it did.
Tough times you're going through at the moment (I had no idea about post episiotomy healing, along with absolutely loads of other post natal stuff 😬) but you're asking questions and doing all the right things.
Hang in there, it'll be ok.
Good luck! x

Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 05:16

Thank you very much for replying ladies, I’m sorry you all went through similar things.
Im not glad that you did, but it’s nice to hear stories that they did eventually heal. I had no idea about all this postpartum stuff! Fingers crossed with a bit more time I will heal okay.
Thank you again xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 05:17

renthead · 03/12/2024 07:37

A year to see the obstetrician?! That's ridiculous! You would probably benefit from topical estrogen cream, it can really help in cases like this. Can you see your GP and ask about it? I don't know if they'd prescribe it but it is worth a try.

Isn’t it ?! Ooo thank you I will look into that. Anythint is worth a try, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 05:25

Threewheeler1 · 03/12/2024 07:45

Hello OP,
Congrats on baby and commiserations on the slow healing episiotomy 🙁
Mine took about 4- 5 months too. The relief when things started to feel normal was unbelievable!
So uncomfortable but got there in the end.
On top of all the usual, a nurse recommended Badedas (bubble bath), apparently something in horse chestnut that promotes healing. Not sure of it helped but it made me feel better!
I think it can take far longer to heal sometimes, but for me it started to get better at about 12 weeks.
Glad you are being seen and things are being monitored. Don't hesitate to speak out if you think it doesn't feel right.
Also didn't have sex again until 8 months 😁and to be honest, I just wanted to check that it all felt normal, which it did.
Tough times you're going through at the moment (I had no idea about post episiotomy healing, along with absolutely loads of other post natal stuff 😬) but you're asking questions and doing all the right things.
Hang in there, it'll be ok.
Good luck! x

Thank you, oh really did it? I think as long as I know it’s going to heal I can cope with it at the moment, but it just feels like it’s never going to heal. I just need to be more patient and give it a bit more time . If it starts getting better at 12 weeks that’s promising. I’m sorry you went through similar. Oh god no I’m not ready to have sex yet, nowhere near ready I don’t think🙈. I had no idea about the half of it ! Haha.
thank you again. X

OP posts:
Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 05:25

renthead · 03/12/2024 07:37

A year to see the obstetrician?! That's ridiculous! You would probably benefit from topical estrogen cream, it can really help in cases like this. Can you see your GP and ask about it? I don't know if they'd prescribe it but it is worth a try.

It really is isn’t it ?! Oh okay thank you, I’ll look into that. I will definitely ask about it thank you x

OP posts:
Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 05:27

TheFutureFreaksMeOut · 03/12/2024 07:29

Poor you, it's miserable isn't it. Mine broke down and I would say it was around 4 months before it had healed to where there wasn't an open wound anymore.

However, I then had over granulation of the scar tissue which needed to be burnt away with silver nitrate (which didn't hurt by the way - the over granulation itself was way more painful). Hopefully that doesn't happen to you but just wanted to make you aware as I'd never heard of it before it happened to me.

It was 8 months before I even attempted to have sex again (and it wasn't painful at all so I was glad I waited) and it was a good 18 months before I could sit on anything hard without pain but I got there in the end.

Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry yours took so long to heal too. Ooo I’ve read about that online ( Dr googled everything as you can imagine ) I’m glad it didn’t hurt for you having that done. Yes the sex is going to have to wait.
thank you for sharing x

OP posts:
Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 05:29

netflixfan · 03/12/2024 07:21

It takes a while to heal but you will be fine. In my experience doctors are not interested that you're not "perfect" as you were before, "you've had a child". But eventually you'll forget about it.

That’s exactly what my health visitor was like yesterday ‘ well you have had a baby, nothing is going to be the same down there ‘ . I’m not asking for it to be the same, I just want it healed. Thank you x

OP posts:
Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 05:31

WhatDaHell · 03/12/2024 07:17

Ouch - sorry you're going through this, OP.

Mine was also not healing as quickly as I would have liked, I think I was about 3 months post delivery that it wasn't as noticeable and maybe a month after that I wasn't concerned anymore. Even about 6 months in I still felt the odd twinge.

I had the same thing with the smell and I was almost scared to shower down there (not sure why, didn't want to make it worse) went to the doctor's a few times and told it was fine and wasn't given any antibiotics. It isn't nice at all and hopefully it'll ease up for you soon 🤞🤞

thank you for sharing, ahhh it really does take some time to heal.
with regards to the shower I’m still just using water on the very underneath, just a bit of shower gel at the top. I don’t wipe really either after the loo, peri bottle and dabbing dry.
gkad you’re healed eventually x

OP posts:
Olive567 · 04/12/2024 05:39

Mine didn't heal as it should have done and months later GP referred me on to have an operation which corrected things. So sometimes, further interventions maybe needed.

Notaflippinclue · 04/12/2024 17:10

Who did it? I think they all should be done by women - mine felt it was done by the local butcher!

Threewheeler1 · 04/12/2024 17:17

Notaflippinclue · 04/12/2024 17:10

Who did it? I think they all should be done by women - mine felt it was done by the local butcher!

Oh my god, I know what you mean!
After DS2 I tore, it healed in the same fashion after the first episiotomy and I needed a revision years later (when they finally pointed out that the stitching had been a bit 'iffy' the first time 😕) so I'd second Olive567's point that it's worth checking if you feel things definitely aren't right OP.
Wishing you well and don't worry, one day you'll be able to sit down without feeling like there a razor blades digging in 😖xxx

Notaflippinclue · 04/12/2024 18:28

I used vic after cleansing - worked a treat

Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 19:30

Threewheeler1 · 04/12/2024 17:17

Oh my god, I know what you mean!
After DS2 I tore, it healed in the same fashion after the first episiotomy and I needed a revision years later (when they finally pointed out that the stitching had been a bit 'iffy' the first time 😕) so I'd second Olive567's point that it's worth checking if you feel things definitely aren't right OP.
Wishing you well and don't worry, one day you'll be able to sit down without feeling like there a razor blades digging in 😖xxx

Show quote history

Thank you for your reply. Mine actually doesnt hurt that much, I’m lucky in that respect, it’s just weeping & I can see it’s not knitted together on the inside. I’m sorry you had to go back for more surgery years later 😩😩 but glad you got it done if you were uncomfortable . Awww thank you, means a lot xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 19:31

Notaflippinclue · 04/12/2024 18:28

I used vic after cleansing - worked a treat

Vicks ? As in the vapour rub?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 19:32

Notaflippinclue · 04/12/2024 17:10

Who did it? I think they all should be done by women - mine felt it was done by the local butcher!

ohhh nooo I’m sorry you felt like that. It was the consultant I think? He was the one that did my ventouse delivery so I’m guessing he was a consultant ? There were so many people in the room in the end, I didn’t know who was who 🙈

OP posts:
Exactfare · 04/12/2024 19:34

TheFutureFreaksMeOut · 03/12/2024 07:29

Poor you, it's miserable isn't it. Mine broke down and I would say it was around 4 months before it had healed to where there wasn't an open wound anymore.

However, I then had over granulation of the scar tissue which needed to be burnt away with silver nitrate (which didn't hurt by the way - the over granulation itself was way more painful). Hopefully that doesn't happen to you but just wanted to make you aware as I'd never heard of it before it happened to me.

It was 8 months before I even attempted to have sex again (and it wasn't painful at all so I was glad I waited) and it was a good 18 months before I could sit on anything hard without pain but I got there in the end.

This was pretty identical to my experience

I was going to have reconstruction as I had lots of scar.tissuw but by the time.thr op came I had learned to live with it

I was lucky thaty I was never actually discharged from gyney after the birth so didn't need to go via GP

They also organised physio

Threewheeler1 · 04/12/2024 19:38

Blimey, yeah it was a cast of thousands at the point of delivery and then everyone seemed to run away at once!
Glad it doesn't hurt OP, good luck with the mending (and everything else!)- it'll get there! xx

Exactfare · 04/12/2024 19:38

Fayeandarlie · 04/12/2024 05:29

That’s exactly what my health visitor was like yesterday ‘ well you have had a baby, nothing is going to be the same down there ‘ . I’m not asking for it to be the same, I just want it healed. Thank you x

Show quote history

This is such BS I luckily had excellent midwives who kept pushing the doctors and made sure I was seen

zebranotzeebra · 04/12/2024 19:38

Not sure I can add much to the advice above but didn't want to read and run as I can well remember feeling like this! The postpartum care for episiotomy is shocking. I can't remember exactly when I started feeling better but I think by 12 -14 ish weeks I was more or less back to normal. My midwife recommended cool baths with Epsom salts and a drop of tea tree oil. I also liked freezing maternity pads and holding them on as the cold brought some relief. I'm two years down the line now and forget I've even had it. You will feel normal again!

addictedtotheflats · 04/12/2024 19:42

Mine completely broke down and all the stitches came undone 4 days post partum, multiple infections and the worse pain I have ever felt to this day. Having said that it had completely healed by my 12 week perineal clinic appointment and luckily i have had no lasting effects, apart from a bit of bulging scar tissue but its painless. It was awful at the time though, wouldn't wish that pain on anyone

9YearsOfPain · 04/12/2024 19:52

Mine never healed. Turns out the doctor cut down between the muscles instead of across one muscle. The muscles went into spasm and held the wound apart.

At 18 months my GP (female) said I should just “do whatever I could to keep my husband happy - grit your teeth and get on with it.

After 3 years of being unable to climb stairs or wear clothing with hard seams I was referred.

At 4.5 years I had Botox injections. After 2 more (annual) goes they said there was nothing else they could do.

At 7 years they said the scar tissue was too significant and removing it would risk it all being too tight now, and excruciatingly painful after menopause.

At about 8.5 years I slipped and it tore along the scar. After 6 hours in a+e I was offered surgical stitching or to leave it and see what it did, with a month’s worth of 2 heavy duty antibiotics. I took the second option. It healed well, with a new bridge of skin forming which gave me more flexibility. My lovely female GP took good care of me for 3+ months as by this point my mental health was in absolute tatters.

It robbed me of so much. The (mainly male) gynaes could not havee cared less. My daughter is an only child. It took years of therapy to stop being terrified of sex (pain/risk of pregnancy).

I’m glad to hear others were supported with help. Don’t let anyone fob you off, OP.