2nd degree tear - stitches

[teaping]

Hi ladies, can anyone tell me about their experience of stitches for a second degree tear?

My baby arrived Thursday night and I had 5 stitches for a second degree tear. They have been extremely uncomfortable since but I guess that’s to be expected. Tonight something is really sore and I can’t sit / stand or lie without my eyes watering with pain. The midwife checked them this morning and they were fine so I know there’s nothing wrong.

Is there anything I can do to ease the discomfort? How long until it stops being complete agony? I’ve tried gently pressing an ice cold flannel there, and have taken ibuprofen.

On a separate note, I also took a look down there. OMG!!!! Please tell me it won’t always look so absolutely horrendous?!

I tore in 8 different places, lots of 2nd degrees and I have no idea how many actual stitches but it felt like she was sewing a patchwork quilt down there!. I’m 9 days postpartum now and the pain has gone completely and some stitches have come out and healed already. There’s a lot of blood flow down there and it heals very quickly.

Try a bath with lavender. All I can suggest is to keep taking baths when you can. I’ve spent most of my days nesting in bed so honestly it hasn’t been too bad thankfully but when I tried walking around at first... just nope!

Take paracetamol with ibuprofen. Hope you feel better soon x

Also no! I tore with my first and my advice would be not to look until you’re fully healed I promise it’s not worth stressing over!

I had pretty extensive second degree tearing (the list of tissues stitched up was looong and it took her about 45 minutes).

I got an infection after 5 days but the midwife caught it early so antibiotics sorted it fairly quick.

Baths, plain water to start and then soothing salts or oils (advice varies, I waited 10 days before putting anything in the water). Jug of water when weeing did nothing for me, I couldn't get the angle right, but give it a go.

Don't know if you've pooed yet (I recall that being day 5) but I found pressing a wad of loo roll against the external stitches helped me feel less like everything was going to fall out, and seemed to make things easier.

I did as much lying down as possible. Sitting up straight, especially in harder chairs made me ache afterwards.

Oh, and it will look better when it's healed. I looked because the MW said I had to so I could check the infection didn't get worse and if was awful. I actually cried. Where the internal met the external there was this one stitch that was barely doing its job and this open 'v' the looked like it was going to give and unzip my insides.

Are you breastfeeding? I was so only had the ibuprofen, but if you're not get them to give you better drugs!

Did they prescribe a proper pain relief programme for you? I alternated paracetamol and ibuprofen for at least a week. Had to write down a plan of exactly when to take each one, as i was so knackered and up 24 hours! Helped with the breastfeeding pain too.

Keep on top of appropriate pain meds. Also try and lie or recline to take the pressure off. I also made lavender pads - take a Maternity pad and soak in 100ml of cold water or milk and 4 drops lavender oil. Put it on for 10 mins or so. Also allow your stitches to air out a couple of times a day.

I'd also say to get them checked again if you're still in that much pain as things could have changed.

You are brave for looking already! It will look so much better when the stitches come out I promise. I'm 7 months pp and sometimes the scarring does hurt when I'm on my period and the pad rubs against it but it looks better than it did before!

I found the stiches got more uncomfortable in the first 10 days, then they really tightened to the extent I thought something was wrong and the next day they fell out. It was such a relief when the tightness went.

Thank you ladies. I’m feeling a bit calmer today having panicked a bit last night but they feel so tight and painful and I just can’t get comfortable in any position!

I feel so pathetic that I can’t walk much 5 days after the birth, I think everyone (except my husband) thinks I’m playing up to it.

I was just told to take ibuprofen if I needed it, which I am doing. Doesn’t really seem to make a lot of difference but I’m sure it must help to some extent!