Infected episiotomy - postivie stories needed from a struggling new mum

[HelenaNewMum]

I had my baby girl 10 days ago and have got an infected wound due to my episiotomy currently on day 3 of a week of antibiotics hoping this clears up the infection and I can heal. I’m on bed rest and been told to air it out, it still bleeds occasionally and if I’m honest I’m really really struggling mentally with not being able to fully care for my baby so my husband is doing it all. I am struggling to believe a week will clear it all up, I just need some positive stories or to speak to someone who has been through this as I honestly feel depressed and can’t stop getting upset. Thanks x

I had this many years ago. Saltwater baths, getting air to it (no underwear if poss at home) and strangely, dry area with a warm hairdryer was midwife’s advice. It healed, normal life resumed and had another child without stitches.

Ahh thank you I’ll try this. Really struggling to see any positives x

Yes it’s not the best start to being a mum, but very common. Just take it easy and enjoy the cuddles, establish feeding if you’re BF, and let dad do the other stuff. Good luck, it’ll get better. If you don’t feel it is, don’t be afraid to get back to the midwives and make them actually look at the wound.

Mine took 3 months to heal and tissue was raised after. I was only told on baby #2 I likely had an infection, and should have been on antibiotics.

I naturally tore along the same line delivering baby #2, and recovered fully within 3 weeks. Scar tissue healed much better for me second time around and is barely noticeable. Just adding that to say you'll probably have a much different experience on a second delivery in case that's of concern.

Vitamin C will help recovery - are you still taking your prenatal?

There's a huge hormone crash around 10 days postpartum too, so please be kind to yourself right now. ❤️ Prop yourself up with pillows, settle in for skin to skin with the baby and a box set. If you're bottle feeding, get your husband to drop you in the premade bottles and some sterilized sets so you can do that without having to ask for help. Set up a nappy caddy next to you and camp out in the newborn bubble. (Make sure there's snacks in it too - deserved right now!)

Thank you for the advice. Going to see my midwife tomorrow hoping for some positive news x

Wow 3 months! Did this mean not leaving the house etc? I’m really struggling with being bed bound.

Good idea about vit c I’ll get some. Thank you for the lovely advice. I needed this today.

Thanks Helena xx

Forty seven years ago I had a forceps delivery and episiotomy and the wound got infected which seemed like the last straw at the time - it was bad enough being stitched to high heaven and unable to sit comfortably. I did find having a soak in a warm salt bath soothing and helped in the healing.

It healed quickly with no lasting effects - I had another baby three and half years with no forceps or episiotomy.

I hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy your new baby 😊

Just wondering why you're on bed rest?

The midwives have said bed rest to air out the wound until antibiotics is done x

Yep I had this too, poor you it’s miserable. It’s all a bit too much and totally overwhelming. I found calendula tincture helped in baths. Good luck, be kind to yourself it’s such an intensely emotional time.

I see. 😊

I didn’t really how common this was, really struggling with the recovery. So glad it healed quickly really hope mine does. When you are in the thick of it it’s hard to see the end. Xxx

It’s the worst time of my life, I feel robbed of the new born days as my baby girl is perfect x

Aw poor you op - I echo the previous posters, warm salt baths and dry with a hairdryer, I had subsequent babies with no issues

I had this after the birth of my first child. It’s incredibly painful and makes you feel miserable! I took plenty of salt baths and with the antibiotics mine cleared up after a week or so.

I had no issues with my second child.

I don’t understand why you’ve been told bed rest is needed though, I took things easier for a couple of weeks, just like your meant to after an episiotomy but didn’t feel I needed to take to my bed. Hope you feel better soon!

Regarding bed rest: of course back in the day we used to be 'kept' in hospital for at least six or 10 days! So most of the time would have been on the bed I suppose - other than trotting to the bathroom for salt baths, or to the nursery where they used to take the babies so mother could rest, or do the exercises with the physio.

I have a photo of me holding DS1 when he must have been a couple of days old - I'm on the hospital bed with a grimace on my face, sitting sideways-on, no doubt on the rubber ring trying not to sit on my painful episiotomy.

OP, I had issues with my episiotomy for a couple of years after it was done.

The best thing a consultant recommended to me was tea tree oil and lavender oil in the bath - as often as possible. It’s so soothing and aids healing.

Get comfy on the sofa, or in bed and just enjoy the cuddles with your little one. You’ve got so much time to get out and about but right now the most important thing is healing and recovering, so try where you can to soak up the cuddles.

Sending love - all the things nobody tells you about birth!

Hi OP, I’m surprised that you’re on bed rest and sure that won’t be helping your mental state. Unless the episiotomy has completely broken down and is in a very bad way I wouldn’t be staying on bed rest. Try and have little walks and things, you don’t need to be stuck in bed for days on end. Your mental health will be hugely impacted and it’s just not (usually) recommended for an infected incision

So sorry to hear this. Hopefully mine is a good news story.

I had this with my first. Horrible experience. Antibiotics cleared it up quickly. You will feel better before long. Hang on there.

PS

I ended up telling a bishop about my infected stitches at a family event when I was still recovering. (Implausible I know). He was from a dynasty of Welsh midwives - this is why I opened up. Now the midwives in his family were of the old school. He whispered to me 'dettol in the bath'. Clearly this is medical advice is from another era. I may or may not have taken twice-daily micro baths with tea tree oil to prevent infection when I had my second baby. Flash drying the site with a hair dryer on cool to keep the area sterile.

And yes I know internet medical advice is dodgy AF. I'm just sharing my experience.

Aw thank you! I hope i heal quickly like you did first time round xx

I had this - antibiotics cleared it up quickly x

I sat in a basin of warm salt water that i set in the bath several times a day and then let myself air dry. I was sore for 2-3 weeks as I recall. Wishing you a swift recovery.

I didn't stick to bed rest unfortunately - think that's why it took so long! I was operating on adrenaline & didn't listen to my body.

It'll feel better when the antibiotics kick in, and healing is underway. ❤️ If you had an episiotomy guessing you probably had an assisted birth too? The bruising after that doesn't help matters. Once the swelling goes down the stitches will get a bit of relief. Arnica tablets help - or at least give a placebo effect.

The stitches do feel the worst in the first two weeks, because they pull as the wound tries to heal and everything tightens. Guessing that timeline will be a little extended with the infection but hopefully that will clear for you soon.

The giant Medicare pads are the best for when you're not able to be airing it out. They're thick and give a bit of cushion - plus they're non scented and don't irritate the wound.

& are you on good painkillers? I was sent home with advise to take panadol and went back 4 days later to get a Diofene prescription which was heaven sent. They made it manageable to be up and gently moving around the house.

Throwing all the episiotomy advise at you - but avoid constipation. Straining can pull at the stitches and swell the area. Lactulose is your friend right now!

When the wound has healed, keep a bottle of oil in the bathroom and swipe over the scar tissue on a cotton pad to help the tissue heal with less of a trace.

And don't feel bad about being tucked up in bed. Even if you didn't have an episiotomy, you'd be spending most of your time in there. ❤️ Childbirth is no joke, and you need time to recover.

I had a similar issue. It was a rough few weeks then it was sore for quite a while. After 4 months I was referred to gynae and I had a few sessions of an infrared light pointed at it 🤣🙈 which promoted healing!
For your mental health get up and washed (lay on the bed for half and hour to 'air it out' ) and get dressed and go down stairs. Still take it easy but staying in bed is the pits.

I'll be honest, I cried when I first looked at it. It was a long road but it's all better now and I had another child but elected for a C section.

I hope the antibiotics kick in soon but don't be afraid to go back for help if needed x

Unfortunately mine took over a year to heal and I've only recently been discharged from gynae. Was consistently infected and had loads of pain and ongoing issues. I couldn't really rest much either though as partner works away and have no family help so was on my own after a week so maybe that didn't help.

My main advice would be to be on the ball with it- if it's still causing you issues then see a GP sooner rather than later so you can get referred etc.

I'm pregnant with my second now and am heartened to see so many say their second experience was better.