Looking for tips after having stitches after labour

[WhatIsPink]

third child but first time had second degree tear. I know it’s not the worst but I’m very miserable. Very scared to have bowel movement and also difficult to sit. Also experienced bad griddle pain during pregnancy and it seemed to be worse in the last few days. Was wondering if anyone has any tips to share to manage this till it’s more manageable?!!

I sat on a pillow on the settee etc. when you’re going to the loo, hold a maternity pad against your vagiina, I found the support made it feel less scary when having a BM. Arnica is recommended for tears and bruising, I had some bubble bath for new mums that contained it but I had to sit to one side in the bath.

use kitchen towel to pat dry after the loo or shower and give yourself an airing, I literally lay on the bed naked with legs akimbo!

wishing you a speedy recovery and congratulations on your new arrival.

Bless you OP, its a lot to take in, but it will heal surprisingly quickly.

Definitely do everything you can to avoid constipation.. don’t put off a bowel movement. When you’re on the toilet, put tissue or a baby wipe over your hand and press on your stitches to support them. Try not to strain.. putting your feet up on a little stool to adopt a more squatting posture will help.

Take paracetamol and ibuprofen… the ibuprofen will help with the swelling.

Ask your midwife to check your stitches at every opportunity… if there is any sign of infection you want to pick it up as soon as possible.

I know it seems like a really big deal now (and it is), but it will heal and the day will come where its not on your mind at all.

Move very slowly and carefully! I was surprised how quickly it got better but the first few days were rough. Finding a feeding position that felt ok was important, I got help to do it lying down so I didn’t have to sit up all the time.

sitz bath with epsom salts and wash with peri bottle rather than wiping at the front. Take plenty of stool softeners. I was advised not to rush the first poo, wait til you can’t hold it in so there’s less straining.

Drinking a teaspoonful of bicarb in warm water every three hours or thereabouts so that for the first several days until the stitches are taken out (or dissolve, whichever it will be) so you won't be pouring acid over an open wound every time you have a pee.

(Stolen from Page 7 | Archers thread #203: It's Affair Cop! Discuss The Archers here. | Mumsnet)

I went into a nursing home for new mothers. When the sister saw my patchwork quilt it was a warm salt water bath every day for a couple of weeks she said Oh and a bottle of stout. Couldn't drink the beer but the salt water baths were heavenly relief.

that is not standard advice and may well just find you readmitted with pre-eclampsia. Definitely don't start taking large doses of bicarb without a sensible healthcare professional's input.

Roll up a towel and place it in a circle shape to support you on any chair, so there’s less pressure on the stitches. I found that much better than the inflatable doughnut cushion as it was more sturdy and still.

When initially sitting down anywhere without that, I would tilt so my weight landed on one leg first.

I found the recovery a bit rough for about 2 weeks, but then got better quickly and has healed really well.

My nurse said to get in the shower for a wee. Oh my hod it took away the sting

Salt & lavendar oil in your bath, put maternity pads in the freezer, you can also buy gel packs that can be put in the fridge or freezer. As much fresh air as you can on the stitches, dry them with a cool hairdryer after a bath, you can also splash alcohol free witch hazel on your pads before freezing them, it helps with the bruising, take arnica tablets.

I did add Witch Hazel to the bath water after I had my 2nd labour & had resulted in vulva stitches - i also used this spray which i found helped too to soothe the area

https://myexpertmidwife.com/products/spritz-for-bits

Painkillers & ensure that the midwives check over your stitches to make sure they're healing ok for you 🙏 the pelvic Girdle Pain i feel your pain i had it during pregnancy and it did linger for a wee while after my labour, if you feel you need stronger painkillers definitely ask for them.

Oh you poor thing.
Yes, wee in the shower and take painkillers (they helped me with breastfeeding too).
Don't be afraid when you need to do a shit. Just take your time, hold a block of tissue against your stitches and I found reading a shampoo bottle surprisingly calming. Takes your mind off it and kind of boring. It wasn't as bad as I expected thank god.
I didn't have time for lolling in baths sadly.
Congratulations on your new baby !!

Spritz for bitz onto a pad (not directly).

Water bottle with a sports cap fill with water gently squeeze the water on as your peeing it helps massively with the sting.

Pads into the freezer also helps.
Be warned that in a few days they will start to tighten keep up with pain relief as you need it.

Definitely use a squirty bottle to rinse as you pee - takes away the sting and less invasive then peeing in a bath or shower. Keep on top of your painkillers, I seem to remember it getting worse as they tightened, before it got better. Congratulations!

Wee into a warm wet flannel held on you stops the stinging. Also when you need to open your bowels hold the flannel on too kinda helps with the pressure feeling. Salt baths can feel really soothing too and you will be surprised how quick you heal.
dont be afraid to take a peek though if your worried about how the stitches are healing, best check 😁

I got witch hazel pads to put on top of the maternity pads, very cool and soothing.
Definitely pour water over yourself while you pee and hold your stitches while you poo. I found the first poo terrifying, felt like all my insides were going to fall out, it was fine though!

Warm water in a jug to pour whilst weeing and a bath with some dettol every night for 2 weeks. I healed really quickly.

Donut cushion for sitting on was amazing, lentils to me by a friend who'd had haemorrhoids removed. And I had a V pillow for breast feeding so I didnt have to shuffle around to get comfortable. Also put a pillow between my legs to roll iver in bed and if I needed to cough or sneeze (or laugh!) I ate huge amounts of fruit and veg to avoid constipation and keep everything soft. After 2 weeks, my Midwife took my stitches out as she said they were pulling a bit. Felt a lot better after that.

I had a donut for sitting, stool softener so everything came out easily, a squirt bottle for when I was peeing, and a sitz bath (just sitting in some warm water).

Something cold down there was helpful too, so a pad from the fridge/freezer sounds good.

Editing to say ignore me.. I thought it was a typo… but no she was actually recommending drinking bicarb. Don’t do that.

Perhaps a link to information about postpartum pre-eclampsia might have helped @Greybeardy.
Postpartum Preeclampsia

@NorthFacingGardener , I was repeating advice I saw on another thread.