Episiotomy.. how long did it take you to fully recover?

Hey gals,

I had an episiotomy with Jesse and still havent fully healed. I still feel quite bruised from it all, as after standing for a little while, things start to ache downstairs. This maybe TMI but i have a piece of skin that sticks out where the dr stitched me up which also kinda hurts and wearing a pad (as AF has ventured back) i dont think is helping any.

So my question is, how long did it take you to recover fully from an episiotomy? Ive seen others taking about having sex again by now and man i couldnt even venture there! :help:

Kellxx - I actually tore with DS 1, but I still had to have stitches and definately experienced the ache. I also had a forcep delivery though, so I am not sure if the ache was from the stitches or bruising from the forceps!

I also had skin where it wasn't meant to be and this was called proud tissue, and did require a trip back to my Obs to have Silver Nitrate applied. I actually found that it took a good 6-7 months for everything to feel relatively normal again!

I would suggest going to your Gp to get them to have a look, as the skin may be proud tissue and may need to be removed, but also just to give you piece of mind!

Thanks for your reply Relle.
Im due for my 6 week check up next week so ill ask my GP about that then.. that way AF hopefully will have cleared up by then too. I have a feeling thats what it maybe as its pink skin (different colour to the other skin around it) and it just hurts when its touched. DH said when they gave me the episiotomy it wasnt a neat job at all as they were hurrying to get Jesse out as his heart rate dropped down to the low 60's, so my stitches were all over the place to patch me up.
Will see how it goes.
Thanks again for the info ;)

Kell - just to let you know I thought my continued pain was from my stitches, but it turned out I got a small hemarroid (sp) so that might be the cause of it too.
Apparently my stitch job was "nicely done" according to my GP, but it still took a reasonable amount of time (about 3-4m) before the scar tissue didn't hurt anymore. Massage helped alot.

Thanks Fi. Yeh one midwife that checked me out a week or so after the birth said i had a small hemorrhoid.. thats probably contributing.

Btw Rell.. when they applied the silver nitrate on you did it hurt or did they give you a local?

Kell, I have got to say it was not pleasant. I don't think I had a local with it - but am not sure! All I can say is don't wear jeans! LOL

It did feel very uncomfortable for a while after it, but nothing compared to stitches iykwim!

I had an episiotomy at my 1st son's birth for a forceps delivery (The epidural did not help him turn) and I was still in a lot of pain at six weeks. The OB said that it was granulated tissue or something like that. Silver nitrate was used at my six week check-up. Although it hurt a bit it helped with the pain from the episiotomy straight away although I didn't heal totally for about another month.
The good news is the birth of my second son went well despite the scar from the epi. Totally natural birth and no tears!
Good luck with your recovery, I don't think I will forget how uncomfortable I was but it does get much better!

hi, i had to have an episiotomy as well as Charlotte got stuck, it took me a good 6 weeks to heal, still now 3 months after the birth it can hurt to have sex.

I also took a while too, things seemed very strange for a little while

just moving to Body after Baby and Post Natal issues..

Hi Kel,

I had a large epis after my son had shoulder dystosia. It healed by 6 - 7 weeks but to be honest I don't think I felt completely 100% until 6 - 7 months too.

I don't know whether for next baby to go for a c-section now or to try for natural delivery again and hope all goes well - suppose I'll see when the time comes but it does play on my mind even now as it was not a nice experience to go through!!

Good luck with your recovery too!

I had an episiotomy with DS#1, and my stitches actually broke and i had an infection down there. I have the little pokey outie piece of skin too, but i've learnt to live with it, it doesnt get in the way or bother me, and although i was very self conscious about it, DH didnt care, so i figured why should i? Pain wise, i has a large haemmerriod, and i had massage in the hospital, they recommended using condoms willed with water and frozen, or applying lube and massaging yourself for as long as you feel you need to. I cant remember how long the pain lasted for, it was so long ago (only 3 and abit years but seems a long time!)

After 10 days everything felt pretty normal down there.

But I do have one major issue now ... it's too tight down there! Just the way the scar tissue has healed. We have tried DTD only once and I freaked out. So here we are 3 months down the track and still haven't DTD... :(

I had the same with #1 DD and i cant stress enough that salt baths are the way to go. I was fine by my 6 week check up. I was still a bit tender but no were near as sore.

I did it pretty much after every wee. Its a relief to do to as it soothes your sore. Give it a go and see the benefit.

Kerrie - I second that!

After having such a long recovery the first time, I had stitches the second and had a salt bath almost everyday - they made everything feel sooooooo much better!

I was lucky with DS that i only got grazing. Should of used the salt then to but i didnt remember. Hopefully if there is a next time ill use it again.
Id use breast milk to if it were available, the healing properties in that is unreal. I use it now for just about everything, Lol. Before you say anything, dont knock it till you try it.

Thanks for the info girls - I was going to post about this today as my OB said he prefers to do a small episiotomy rather than have to use forceps or ventouse. His theory is that it's better for the mum to deal with that rather than a bad tear or for the baby to have 'mechanical' help. Of course, I'm aiming to have neither :crossfingers: ! I'm writing down the salts tip in my list of things to remember/ideas to try.

Hope you feel better soon Kellxx!!

Thanks so much for your replies girls. Its nice to know im some what normal. I will definately see what my GP says next week.
Do you know if my GP would apply the silver nitrate if need be or would i have to see an OB?

I had a few salt baths after the birth and they did wonders so im gonna start up again. Had one last night and it was great.

Im the same as you blackjellybean.. im really considering a C/S next time round. Atm im too scared to have a vaginal birth again after the pain and recovery ive gone through during and after the labour.. and especially when Jesse was a 8lb 9oz first baby and theyre suppose to get bigger each time?! I just hope eventually DH and i are able to DTD again without contributing to the already existing pain.

I wish i was still breastfeeding, id definately give the breast milk a try..

Best of luck with you birth Blackbird! With a bit of luck you wont even need the salt baths ;)

Kellxx - I was totally traumatised by my first birth and subsequent recovery from it. And it did take 7 months for me to be able to dtd again, but having said that within 6 weeks of having DS 2 (and another episiotomy) I was feeling great!

I don't want to say vaginal is better than C/S or vice versa at all, all I want to say is that the second time around is NO WAY near as bad as the first hun! So you never know, you might just surprise yourself at how well you bounce back - I did!