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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Stitches....😵

45 replies

PennyWishes1 · 22/06/2020 13:31

Hi everyone. Due 1st baby in 6 weeks. I was reading the positive birth stories thread(focusing on positive stories) and I keep coming across something.....the stitches were the worst part...Blush Why is that? Do you not get local anaesthetic? My online Antenatal classes say you do but am I missing something? Does everywhere not give anaesthetic? Clueless. I'd rather be informed and know what to expect. Thank you.

OP posts:
GingerAndTheBiscuits · 22/06/2020 13:33

I was given local and gas and air for stitches which was fine at the time but both wear off quickly. Maybe it’s the “after” people are talking about? Because that’s pretty miserable. Fortunately I had a female consultant doing the stitches who gave some consideration to how things might look once healed up!

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 22/06/2020 13:33

They hurt afterwards.

You walk - they rub.

You pee - they sting.

It does hurt. Not going to lie.

Take painkillers, pour water over them as you pee.

It doesn't last long. Promise.

JaniceBattersby · 22/06/2020 13:36

If they get them in quickly then your body is still full of endorphins that naturally relieve pain. If you wait too long then it really bloody hurts. Mine were fine with two births but awful with the other two. For baby number four I had to ask them to stop stitching as I couldn’t bear it - that was after finding giving birth to a 9.5lb baby fairly straightforward.

Original poster
PennyWishes1 · 22/06/2020 13:44

But do they not give you a local anaesthetic regardless? Asking as I cross my legs.....Blush

OP posts:
BuffaloMozzerella · 22/06/2020 13:46

I had a local. Being stitched didn't hurt but I could feel a kind of pin prick sensation which I didn't like much. I remember feeling jumpy but that was probably just after giving birth and all the adrenaline.

I'm glad I had them though - they did a good job and they didn't bother me after the first few days. The whole area is swollen and tender though so be prepared!

And you might not need stitches - not everyone does 🤞🏼

CoolNoMore · 22/06/2020 13:47

Hmm, I'm surprised at this. Maybe I was expecting them to be worse than they were, but they didn't actually seem too bad, as long as I was really careful. I was a bit traumatised by the concept of an episiotomy before I had it, but it definitely wasn't the worst bit of labour and it all repaired beautifully. Expect the worst; be pleasantly surprised.

CoolNoMore · 22/06/2020 13:49

Oh, and I had had an epidural and could barely feel a thing down there, but they still gave me a local. I think they thought I'd been through enough and wanted to be sure I wouldn't feel anything ❤

BuffaloMozzerella · 22/06/2020 13:49

Pretty sure they give a local unless you specifically ask not to have one.

Going on what you've read - I actually remember the stitches as the worst part but that's because for some reason it made me feel really squeamish and odd knowing someone was using a needle around my genitals. I couldn't wait for her to finish and it seemed to take ages!

Mynotsoperfectlittlefamily · 22/06/2020 13:54

I think It also depends on the amount of stitches. I had a local for the third degree tear after my first but the last 10 or so the local had worn off and they just said it would be quicker to finish the stitching than to add more anesthetic and wait for it to kick in.
But it wasn't too bad and I had the gas and air too.
Just make sure you have plenty of painkillers in at home x

Original poster
PennyWishes1 · 22/06/2020 13:56

That's good to know. I just took fear there. I expect them to hurt after but I thought maybe not every hospital gives Anaesthetic for them....I don't know why i fixated on that, I've been feeling ok-ish about everything else. Grin

OP posts:
Hopeful16 · 22/06/2020 14:06

I was more shocked as she said that she needed to stitch me and it should take 45 minutes!!! I said to my DH "did she say 4 to 5 minutes or 45 minutes" and he looked as shocked as me as she pulled away the bottom half of the bed to get in closer!!! Thought that she must have been doing an embroidery sampler down there!
The local hurt a bit but didn't really feel much else as I had a baby in my arms to look at 😍
Also she must have done a good job because I had no problems. Don't feel like you need to stop the painkillers too soon afterwards - they DO help!

Best of luck!

katmarie · 22/06/2020 14:07

I had stitches after both my deliveries, and they weren't the worst part at all for me. With baby 1 the worst part was 4 days of early labour contractions before finally getting admitted, excruciatingly painful because my bladder had swollen and the baby was bouncing off it with every contraction as it turned out. With the second, the worst bit was the realisation that I was going to deliver with just gas and air instead of the epidural I'd planned, because I was already 5cm when I arrived at the hospital. Once I got my head around that it was ok though.

In both cases i had local anasthetic and gas and air for the stitches, plus with the first I did get the epidural so that helped. Aftercare wise, just be very very gentle, keep the area as clean as you can, avoid soaps and scented pads, just rinse with water. Also drink plenty of water, and eat lots of fibre, the last thing you need with stitches is constipation.

cosmo30 · 22/06/2020 14:18

Mine didn't really bother me apart from when I needed a wee. I actually came to dread that. Didn't feel a thing when the stitches were being done, not sure if that was the effects of the epidural still or more anaesthetic? Also need to be careful how you sit down

cosmo30 · 22/06/2020 14:19

Btw, I had a very shallow bath with milk, lavender oil and tea tree oil in it. It really helped soothe down there

AudacityOfHope · 22/06/2020 14:22

I got a local for mine, I had gas and air the whole way through. It was fine!

They do sort of ache for a while though, once the initial few ouchy days are past. My scar still aches when I am due my period, 8 years later.

Tbh there's so much going on down there that a little local needle just doesn't register all that much.

emmaluggs · 22/06/2020 14:23

I had local anaesthetic for mine but still hurt like buggery but so does child birth, I didn’t have time to get pain relief with either of my babies 🤣. the stitches were a different pain to childbirth, but once they were in they didn’t bother me at all. First few pees I would hold a jug of water but there was no rubbing etc.

AudacityOfHope · 22/06/2020 14:23

Oh and just know that they will stick their finger up your arse to check they've not sewed all the way through Grin

Newwayofthinking · 22/06/2020 14:25

Make sure to tell them you do not want the husband stitch! Get them to write on your notes.

It still happens

BeMorePacific · 22/06/2020 15:11

You will 100% have LA and ask for G&A. I’ve seen people getting stitches and chatted away to them as they’ve had them. It is manageable, and you’ll have your lovely baby to gaze at whilst it’s happening.
Hopefully you don’t need them xx

BeautyAndTheBump1 · 22/06/2020 16:06

I guess I really dont count as I only had 1 stitch on a small 2nd degree tear, but I just had G&A for that and it was completely fine.

tbtf · 22/06/2020 16:33

I had a pretty major 3rd degree tear, I had DD in a pool at home, very positive and amazing, went to hospital to get repaired, I had a full spinal block for the surgery, didn't feel a thing.

Despite the injury, it is still the most amazing thing I've ever done.

MoonDelay · 22/06/2020 16:53

I had a few stitches after a vontouse, forceps and an episiotomy with my second over 8 years ago, she really didn't want to come out! It wasn't the worst part of the whole ordeal considering what I'd been through. The surgeon bloke was going on with himself a bit in between humming, it seemed I was an inconvenience, maybe he was missing his lunch break to sew me up? 😁

He was pulling and tugging like he was darning a sock! It wasn't painful as I had a local, one of many needles I was stuck with, so it wasn't a big deal just the pulling sensation was weird. Oh and after all the commotion it was a little embarrassing having people breezing in and out of the room for some reason whilst I was lay there legs akimbo. The pain was manageable with meds after and didn't last too long.

SummerHouse · 22/06/2020 16:59

I had a third degree tear followed by a second degree tear. Stitching up didn't hurt at all (epidural for third degree). Recovery was good, plenty of air and salt water baths. If I was pregnant again I wouldn't give it a moment's worry. Flowers

fee1234 · 22/06/2020 17:30

I had an epidural and couldn't feel a thing, but recovering with stitches was the worst part for me. Agony for weeks and ended up with an infection which led to sepsis. If you do get stitches, please please make sure someone (ideally midwife) checks them daily to see if they are healing properly and watch out for early signs of infection.

Chichz · 22/06/2020 17:41

@Newwayofthinking - husband stitch?! My pregnant brain isn't computing and I feel I need to know what this is...

@AudacityOfHope - this is exactly the sort of thing that FTMs need to be told in advance. Seriously! Grin

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