Epiostomy

[bobble53]

Had my baby 10 days ago and Had forceps and an epiostomy. They spent about half an hour stitching me back up. I’m in agony. I can’t sit comfortably and it feels like loads of pressure and bruising. How long until this fades?! I can’t even walk properly.

I’ve had 2 now and I’d say around day 7– 10 I started to notice an improvement.

Arnica really helped with my second time round (took tablets and got arnica bath oil as well).

Are you taking regular pain relief? My friend, a GP, advised me to put alarms on my phone for regular ibuprofen and paracetamol - alternating within the recommended dosage guidelines. I found if I missed one I felt it!

Sitting was definitely the worst for me also! I never ended up getting one of the wee rubber ring things but you could always try.

Hope you get some relief soon.

I would definitely ask your midwife to check the stitches. I had a tear and was stitched and around a week later I felt exactly how you describe. I went to the dr and was sent straight to hospital. I had to be cut and restitched under GA. let's just say my daughter would have been an only child had they not done so! I'm not suggesting this is the case for you at all. But would definitely recommend you seeking advice if you feel as though things aren't quite right. I hope you feel better soon.

Ask your midwife for epifoam.
Take regular alternating ibuprofen/ paracetamol 2 hourly. (Nurofen 4hrly, paracetamol 4 hourly).
Ice packs.
Sit on two cushions, one under each buttock with a gap in between.

Keep on top of pain relief
Pee in the shower And clean poos with water
Change your pad everytime you visit the toilet
If breastfeeding use laid back positions

I had the same (and a two week old baby exactly two years ago) for you OP

You need a valley cushion to sit on, you can rent online and they’re worth every penny!

Stitching an episiotomy is an art - stitches need to be tight enough to hold it together but loose enough to allow for swelling, which inevitably happens. It is very painful and I truly feel for you. Standing in the shower and pointing the spray at the relevant part is good for the pain. And keeping your bowel motions soft is also a good idea - if necessary take a small dose of laxative.

This will stop hurting - I promise you.

Regular ibuprofen and paracetamol alternated and use spritz for bits. Think my last stitch was removed at about 2 weeks pp as it was pulling and soon as it was snipped I felt way better.

I found the doughnut cushion really painful to sit on. Was better was a soft pillow. It probably took a couple of weeks which seemed forever at the time but it will end. I remember climbing into the bath and car was agony 😬 Everyone kept telling me a bath would help but I tried to get in and just crouched crying because it was so painful! I really wasn’t prepared for how hard the post birth recovery would be. I actually found that harder than labour. Remember it will get better.

@bobble53 congrats on your new bundle. I had the same delivery and unfortunately had lots of complications. If I could go back and give myself advice it would be to get your midwife to check it ASAP or ask to go to the day unit for it to be checked. Sanitary pads in the freezer and then the pants are awesome albeit wet after!

I feel for you. Had the same delivery with my first.

I was prescribed diclofenac (anti inflammatory) My mw also told me to buy arnica tablets from chemist foe the bruising.

Don’t use a doughnut cushion as it just puts all the pressure and blood flow towards your bits. Ouch. Sit upright or lay on side.

I did get an infection in my wound, so make sure midwife checks it regularly.

I am sure in a few days you will feel you have turned a corner in the recovery. But it takes a while

I really really remember this feeling and I hope you heal up quickly. Xx

Witch hazel on your pad will be cooling and help reduce swelling. Amazing stuff.

Lavender oil and tea tree oil mixed with a bit of milk. Then put the mixture in the bath (the milk means the oil will mix into the water). Helps with healing and preventing infection. I did that every day for at least the first month.

The first two weeks were the worst. But please do get it checked by mw for infection/ make sure it's healing properly. I definitely 'felt' it for the first month, but didn't feel painful as such after the first 2-3 weeks. After the first month, I only got occasional pressure/ twinges.

Yeah, no one prepared me for how horrible the recovery after the birth might be. It really upset me and I kept thinking something was wrong. I got reassurance after the first week from a very helpful midwife and it probably staved off more 'low' feelings. I remember being really upset that I couldn't get out of bed in the middle of the night to do things like change nappies. I really needed a lot of help.

It will get better. Time.

I’ve recently had one too and every time I stand up I literally feel like my insides are going to fall out! I’ve had everything checked over and apparently it’s healing well, which I’m glad about obviously! But it’s so uncomfortable!

I also keep weeing myself 😩 I asked the midwife and she said this is normal unless it carries on. As long as I get the urge to wee she said this is nothing to worry about! Did anyone else have this?

Oof, I remember the episiotomy pain very well.. I had one with my first & I was surprised how long it took to recover! I was prescribed dihydracoedine which was the only thing that touched the pain! And I was told was fine when breastfeeding.. I took them & paracetamol as regularly as allowed!

Do get your midwife or GP to check your stitches, mine got badly infected which I assume contributed to the pain. The infection spread up into my womb & I ended up back in hospital 😩

I def recommend sitting on frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel! I’d say it took a good 4 weeks to feel fairly comfortable sat down and a bit longer to not feel uncomfortable walking!

I remember that with my first, ouch!! All I can say is take painkillers and stool softeners are a must! It will get better slowly but surely. I used to lie with my pants off and a have a giant maternity pad underneath just to give it a bit of a air lol. Doesn't make me miss those first few weeks of having my dd at all! Anyway it does get better I promise!

2 weeks after I felt loads better but I wasn't completely back to normal until 11 weeks

Definitely get the midwife / HV to check for infection. I had a tear rather than an episiotomy but on day five the mw noticed an infection and a nasty gaping stitch, which she snipped, and packed me off to the gp for antibiotics and a proper check.

@Samantha1712xx - I ever leaked wee, but did shit myself 2 days pp. combo of stool softeners, no pelvic floor and probably a bit of a blockage (didn't crap until then after three and a half days of labour).

Do your pelvic floor exercise as many times a day (all day?) as you can. It promotes blood flow to the area which will help healing and should help with leaking. It won't feel like you're doing much at first, but keep doing it!!! It should help with the feeling of 'insides falling out' feeling.

I had an infection in my episiotomy stitches that was intensely painful. I would check with a midwife or gp in the morning

I'm 11 days post epis + 2nd degree tear. Finally starting to feel human. Lots of feet up on the sofa, regular showering of that area and do some pelvic floor exercises.

As others said, definitely get checked. I had same delivery with my first and at day 10 managed a very short walk on the beach. Was still painful but not nearly as bad as what you're describing so just to be safe
please do get checked.
@Samantha1712xx...I peed all over a shop floor a couple of days after birth. A puddle at my feet....I just coughed and there it was...so embarrassing, I just walked out with everyone staring and obviously never went back 😂... happened maybe 10 times in first year or so post birth. Now nearly 3 years, lots of pelvic floor exercises and no accidental wees for a long time.

Why do we have children!!!??? Heavens - this brings it all back. No man would cope with this! So sore.

I am sending healing wishes to you all.