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Postnatal health

As with all health-related issues, please seek advice from a RL health professional if you're worried about anything.

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Original poster

Infected episiotomy - postivie stories needed from a struggling new mum

38 replies

HelenaNewMum · 22/10/2025 15:57

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

OP posts:

tallache1 · 22/10/2025 21:53

Mine got infected and was so so sore! My baby was born 8th December and I remember just crying and crying on Christmas Day because I was in so much pain and thought I would have been better by then. The only thing that helped it heal was medical grade manuka honey on the wound which also soothed it too. Also breast milk if you’re breastfeeding. Try not to feel too robbed of this time (I was the exact same), just cuddle, feed and heal and let her sleep on you because trust me that’s all she wants to do right now! Get DP to do everything, watch a box set and focus on getting better. Hope it heals very quickly x

whereisit1 · 22/10/2025 21:56

SwishMyCape · 22/10/2025 18:23

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.

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.

This made a laugh out loud

thecatfromneptune · 22/10/2025 21:59

I had this too with a forceps delivery with an emergency episiotomy, it got infected and I was miserable and really in pain and emotionally upset. I know it feels like it will never heal! I even went to the GP at one point, and a poor young trainee doctor went pale and rushed out of the room on taking a look 🤦‍♀️ The (much older and very experienced) GP said to her, “oh yes, these do look like a dog’s breakfast just afterwards, but they heal up fine!” (Must admit that that was slightly alarming, but at the time with my legs in the air and everything out I didn’t really care that much as long as she gave me some antibiotics 😆)

It took mine a couple of weeks to feel fully on the way to being sorted but it did heal, and afterwards was okay with no scar tissue. It felt sore and sensitive for a bit, but GP kept checking and swabbing and it was fine, just the skin and nerves healing I think. I found salt and a tiny bit of lavender oil in the bath really helped. But poor you, it’s a miserable experience but it does soon get better. 💐

whereisit1 · 22/10/2025 22:00

Bless you OP. Don't be so hard on yourself. No advice for the immediate recovery but just to say if you are left with sore bits after a few weeks please see a doctor, I didn't and it turned out to be granular tissue or something like that they called it. It needed treatment with silver nitrate to cauterise it, I think they use the same for nosebleeds but I could be wrong. It healed within a couple of days then. Wish I'd gone weeks earlier. Congratulations on your beautiful baby xx

user1471538275 · 22/10/2025 22:05

You poor soul. Your post brings back memories.

I had ventouse with large episiotomy stitched - too tight it turned out and it got infected, stitches had to be released.

It was very unpleasant and took time to heal.

I waddled around with two pairs of big pants - one with a pad for the lochia and another with an ice pack in it.

Lots of baths, as many painkillers as I could (unfortunately very limited due to breastfeeding). My midwives advice was 'keep it clean' and nothing else.

I remember sitting on a Boppy breastfeeding cushion with my 'bits' over the hole.

hakunamatata20 · 22/10/2025 22:05

Bless you OP! I had this too but wasn't told to bed rest. I ended up sitting on a doughnut cushion and would take it everywhere with me till it felt better (no shame). It really did help though! I'd shower and just lie on the bed with a tower fan blowing on it till it was dry. Wishing you a speedy recovery!!

mummabubs · 22/10/2025 22:15

Poor you OP, I had the same and it was horrible. I was fortunate in that my local hospital was trialing laser treatment for episiotomy infections (this was eight years ago mind). I had three sessions in a week, and aside from the embarrassment of the procedure it really did help the wound heal and infection to go. Are you able to ask if this is a treatment option near you?

Painkillers are your short term friend. It probably all feels horrible and desperate right now (it did for me), but it will get better x

BeastAngelMadwoman · 22/10/2025 22:15

Oh and forgot to say- a peri bottle was my best friend for months. Only way I could use the toilet- was so soothing.

mummabubs · 22/10/2025 22:16

I also took the doughnut seat of shame out and about like the poster above me. I remember taking it to Pizza Express on about day 10 post partum and got some very odd looks, but by that stage I literally didn't care - comfort comes first!

mummabubs · 22/10/2025 22:20

HelenaNewMum · 22/10/2025 17:41

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

Show quote history

And just to say bless you OP, of course you didn't realise this can be common because like so much of post-birth stuff no one talks about the reality of it. I can remember feeling so alone and like I was doing new parenting all "wrong". Just to offer further reassurance that while my scar is still raised, I don't experience pain from it and I went on to have a non-assisted second birth, no complications.

WonderingWanda · 22/10/2025 22:30

My midwife told me to use tea tree oil in the bath which really helped. I was given a steroid cream as well for mine. It did heal and the horrid ridge of stitches went flat and became unnoticeable eventually. Was convinced the whole thing would rip open again with baby number 2 but it was fine, small tear elsewhere but nothing compared to the first one.

ChopstickNovice · 22/10/2025 22:33

I had this. Antibiotics healed it fine but sex was hard due to the scar tissue. I ended up having 3 months of physio & after that all was well.

Fern346 · 22/10/2025 23:12

I had this following a forceps delivery, it took a while to get back to feeling normal, I found sitting on a doughnut cushion helped a lot but also kept rotating paracetamol and ibuprofen every two hours. I’m sorry, it’s really miserable but it does get better. I also didn’t seem to get much sympathy from midwives as they seem to think it’s not as bad as a C section so just got fobbed off.

I did have another baby 7 months ago though and that was an amazingly fast birth with no stitches at all! Be kind to yourself and try not to push yourself too hard, also enjoy those lovely new baby cuddles.

Do you have any other family that could help?
x

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