Healing stitches

[Jenjen85]

Morning ladies had my DD yesterday at 7.45pm with help from a ventouse and episiotomy. Just wondering what I can do to help ease the healing process of my stitches? Is there things I should and shouldn't do?

Congratulations! Maternity pads soaked with witch hazel a d stored in the fridge are soothing. My midwife recommended rinsing with warm water with a few drops of lavender oil in (it's antiseptic and as a bonus smells lovely) every time I went to the toilet.

Salt baths too. Congratulations :) x

I was told to sit in a shallow bath with some tea tree oil in. It smelled so strong I couldn't bring myself to do it for a few days but when I finally forced myself it didn't sting at all.

Congratulations!! Mix a couple of drops of tea tree oil into a bit of milk then add it to your bath (the milk means the oil will disperse rather than just floating on the surface of the water). Personally I took arnica pills to help the bruising and it worked for me although I know a lot of people think homeopathy is hokum - they were about £4 from boots so not a lot to pay. Use kitchen towel rather than loo roll as it doesn't shred and you can dab your bits with it after bath or toilet. Oh, and squirty water bottle near the loo to spray while you're having a wee will make it sting less :)

I have been drying off after the shower with a hair dryer instead of rubbing the area dry with a towel. Novel but it works!

Agree with the hairdryer on a cool setting. Though it is really strange at first :-)

Also when bleeding has calmed down and you are ready to use sanitary pads rather that maternity pads use non plastic and non scented ones as they can cause irritation.

I has no problems with mine until switched to always ultra.

I ha second degree tears with both my babies. I was told by the midwife not to use a hairdrier, as you don't want the area to get extra dry which can cause the soft skin to harden and crack. I used two pads at a time, washed with lukewarm water after every wee/poo, dab dried and used arnica tablets. I found the arnica amazing, I'm sure the cream would aid healing too and I'm trying it this time too even if I don't tear.

Sorry to interject with a question but I'm worried about tearing. I realise its quite likely to happen. What i want to know is, how bad is it? Can you feel it happen?
Really happy to have seen your comments. Already got the lavender oil but ill be sure to stock up on other items just incase x

Congratulations too!

Nelly I had an episiotomy and didn't feel it (although stitches with no anaesthetic afterwards was bloody painful). At my antenatal class they explained that if you tear, your skin is stretched so much that it doesn't hurt as much - same principle as when you get waxed it hurts less if the skin is pulled tight :)

Nelly, the first time I had an epidural so didnt feel the pain. The second time, the tearing must have occurred as DS was being pulled out and at that time you just feel this intense relief of pushing and crowning pain so you really don't notice it. When they stitch you up they use local anaesthetic so it's all pretty much pain free. Try not to worry, I don't think tearing is very common anyway.

Congratulations! Twice-daily shallow baths with a couple of stops of lavender and tea tree oil are good and I would do the hair dryer afterwards - my mw told me to do this and it did help.

You will at some point start worrying about having a poo...lots and lots of fibre (prune juice is good, lactulose is gentle and safe for breastfeeding if you need a bit of help). Prop your feet up so your knees are higher than your hips and hold a wodge of loo roll over your stitches - they won't come out, don't worry, but it helps you psychologically to feel more secure. Then go for it (but do a wee first, or you'll be like my best friend - I told her this tip and she weed all over her hand )

Couple of drops of lavender

Second the lactulose advice. The last thing you need is getting constipated (I did and it was awful!) Lots of water, fruit/veg and take the lactulose and you'll be fine.

As for the healing, everyone else has pretty much said it all. If you need painkillers then take them back to back to keep pain at bay rather than waiting till you need them due to pain. Baths & tea tree oil. Jug or bottle next to loo to pour water over your bits when you wee. I also had one of those donut type cushions which I found really helpful.

Nelly I tore with DC2 and I didn't notice a tearing so much ... DS actually coming out was bloody painful and I sort f screamed and it was over. Then after all the checking baby and placenta delivery etc the mw cleans gently with water and looks for tears and I had no clue whether she was,going to say I had torn the whole thing open or it was perfectly intact! You really don't notice, you're far too intent on getting the baby out safely and for it all to be over.

Also I didn't tear with DD. The main difference between the births was that with DD it was calmer, I sort of relaxed and didn't push the head out, I let her come put just via the contractions. With DS he wasn't shifting unless I really pushed so had to do one big push to get his head out in one go and think that may be why I tore with him but not DD.

Neals yard seaweed and arnica bath stuff was a miracle for me, I healed ridiculously quickly-3rd degree tear and I was walking 2-3 miles within a fortnight

Do keep an eye (metaphorical) on the stitches though - all of mine unravelled and by the time it was found the wound was gaping and infected. I wouldn't want anyone else to face the long healing process that followed. Get your MW/HV/DP to take a look for you.
The person who sewed me up must have done an appalling job.

Judging by the responses of various medics this must be rare so please don't make too much of my bad experience.