Stitches redone at 7 months pp

[fantaseas]

I had a beautiful baby girl at the start of the year however the midwife messed up my stitches and I had to have them redone in theatre and then they didn't heal properly, a lot of scar tissue and sex was impossibly painful, so I had to have them redone. The op was on Monday.

My question is how do I know if they're infected? My doctor said he wouldn't prescribe antibiotics (which I have had after stitches with both my children) due to building resistance etc.

However I am now 5 days down the line and I don't remember it being this painful for this long (it's very stingy/achey and feels very very tight), I'm still counting down the hours til my next lot of painkillers and I've noticed a smell down there (actually even my husband has noticed it...). Does it sound like they could be infected or is this normal? I'm feeling really down tonight and like I'll never feel normal again

That sounds horrendous fantaseas I had stitches with DS and they took about 9-10days to feel less achy and about a week after that to feel less tight.
Sorry for this question - could the smell just be a hygiene issue? Could you be being a bit more careful washing/wiping around there so not to aggravate the stitches?
Could you get a appt to check the stitches?

Thanks WooYa, maybe I just need to give it more time then... I'm not sure about the hygiene, I'd not really thought about it but actually it could be because the doctor told me no baths. I mentioned I'd had salt baths after both my other births and he said no absolutely not, only showers. But obviously it's a lot more difficult to clean when it's so tender

The swelling will be at its most tight and painful. Get a squeezy bidet bottle from amazon and use it to wash after the toilet. I would get them checked. Keep an eye on if you get a temperature. Can you take a look with a mirror and see if there are any signs of infection?

I know... DH used to ask what took so long after I had DS I (sorry again) sat on the side of the bath with my feet propped up and baby wiped VERY gently using a mirror.
I only had water (no soap/bubbles) baths - quick dip in and out then led on my bed to air dry (see first comment about DH) because I didn't feel clean there after a shower

I’d see a GP ASAP, don’t just guess as it will be really frustrating if they are infected and burst.

Hi
My stitches got infected and from your description it sounds like yours are too mainly because:

1. slight smell
2. still stingy after 5 days For me, it got worse each day rather than improving, which was another sign. Also it felt kind of 'hard/solid' I don't understand why your gp wouldn't give you antibiotics? Just go to another GP if you're not sure. By the way 2 separate midwives over 3 days told me they weren't infected but I insisted on seeing a doctor who said they most definitely were. The antibiotics gave me massive relief within 2 days.