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!

I might be a bit late in adding my two cents but...

I didn't have to actually have an episiotomy, between the pushing and things, I tore a fair bit as it took me a while to actually get the confidence to fully push her out. What can I say I'm a sook!

For about a week, it hurt really bad, I took some panadol, not a lot because I was BF.
At about five months, I started to feel a bit normal, but I can honestly say I didn't feel 'right' again until about 8 - 9 months after wards. Now, almost 14 months later, I can still have moments where its tender.

Due to the way that I tore, I had two seperate lots of stitches. I don't think it was stitched properly down there as I have a curved shaped scar. I was told by my GP it was pretty normal.

I'm told that my second won't hurt as bad, but I don't feel I can trust that as I was told it wouldn't hurt as much as it did. Oh well, I'd like to see for myself anyway.

Good luck!

Thanks Relle. Will see how i go. Im not planning on having another for a year or 2 so hopefully my mind settles a little by then.
Still feeling quite painful down there. Seems to come on at night the worst and seems to be worse now than it was since AF is here. Im having a salt bath every night now which is helping.
I think if Jesse wasnt so cute, id be completely turned off having any more kids at all ;)

Kellxx - I know exactly what you mean. I actually have still been traumatised by my 1st birth right up until about 2 months ago. Giving birth the 2nd time and having a positive experience was the start of my emotional healing, and I have since been able to go through and deal with the birth. I even got a copy of my hospital notes as I had alot of unanswered questions after going into shock and not being able to remember the first 2 hours of my sons life.

This was in no way related to my Obs or even the midwifes, just something I needed to do in order to come to terms with the way things happened and also to understand why it had such an impact on my post natally.

I do remember that when I had AF it was certainly worse - my obs told me it was the blood loss that caused alot of the aching and that made sense with AF. At night I think it is worse cause you have ususally been on your feet all day, so it has a cumulative effect iykwim.

Anyway, sorry to ramble, just wanted to let you know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Thanks Relle. Its really nice to have someone else who has been in the same boat.
I still have AF atm but wish it would hurry up and clear so i can get my GP to check me out. Dont really feel im getting any better atm.

With the second time round.. i think ill just have to really think about it and see how i feel when the time comes. Not only for the episiotomy and healing but because of what could have happened to Jesse. I know someone who's baby's heart rate dropped when they were being born to the low 60's like Jesse's and they ended up losing their little one. I feel totally blessed, as if Jesse had an angel looking over him that day, that he made it through and as soon as he was born he was totally fine. I know that scenario probably wont happen again but its something else that plays on my mind, just how lucky we were.

Anyways thanks again.. will let you know what happens with the GP when i finally get there :)

Ok had my check up finally... and GP has referred me to a gyno to have the skin removed! Funny enough the gyno she referred me to is the dr who stitched me up at the hospital, so at least he may know his own work.. but on the bad side i cant get into see him until the 20th November and she said i may need more stitches! Ehh is this ever gonna end?? I hear people say they dont like c/s cos they take so long to recover, i reckon ill be lucky if im back to normal by Christmas! :(

Kellxx - I can sympathise with you, I have ongoing problems and I don`t know when it`s going to end, I`ve been on and off anitibiotics for weeks, one minute I feel better and out of pain with no discharge the next I`m in pain with discharge again, as you can see by my ticker my bub is nearly 13 weeks. They are talking about they may need to operate again and restitch me but they don`t want to operate unless they really have to but the way it`s looking I can see an operation coming up.

:

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I hear people say they dont like c/s cos they take so long to recover, i reckon ill be lucky if im back to normal by Christmas!

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I`m with you here, I had a c/s with my first I was well and truly recovered by now, yesterday I was in tears, it`s just not fair :(

Hugs to you :hug:

Just a tip for those wanting to help heal / soothe sore perineums, an old one midwives suggest is honey - doesn't have to be manuka honey just any. Heard about it at the Doula conference.

Great thread ladies. I'm so glad i found it.

I've also been wondering what the recovery period is for the epi.

One question, how do you do the salt baths? How much salt and water etc...

Ann

Hi Ann,

Its a terrible thing to go through i know.
I usually just put a hand full and a half of the sea salt crystals in enough water to cover my waist while sitting.. but kinda depends on the bath size and how much water you want in it. I think in the first week or so you shouldnt stay in too long as it can disolve your stiches so i use to time 15 minute or so.. but now i just have a good soke.

Hope it helps you :)

Thanks for the "recipe" Kellxx.

Will definitely try that as the chance of infection is always on my mind.

Unfortunately from all the pushing and the forceps delivery I'm also coping with hemorrhoids and a displaced tailbone! Ouch.

Kellxx - I hope that doctor learns to be more careful in the future.

Ann

I do the same as Kellxx, just enough water to cover my wait, I`ve always added at least 1 very decent handful of salt, I use cooking salt as it`s the cheapest, I`ve gone through 12kgs already :eek: and still going!!!!!!

I believe salt baths will also help with haemorroids, your not alone their either Ann, I received quite a number and they are damn annoying, feels like everything is protuding down there at times.

Kelly - I tried the honey as you suggested, I actually brought the active manuka honey as I`ve been desperate to try and get on top of my problem anyway the honey has worked wonders, my big hole I had is closing up OMG I can`t believe it as they were going to operate but I`m hoping now it is on the mend.

So girls try the honey, I`m amazed by how soothing it is as soon as you put it on.

Kelxx - How are you feeling?

i second the salt baths and use a little sauce squity bottle with salty water in it to rinse after going to the loo. i found doing heaps of pelvic floor exercises helped with the aching.

Nice to hear youre on the mend Dee. How much honey do you use? DO you just put it on and leave it there? Does it feel all sticky? Sorry for the TMI.

I have an appointment with the gyno on monday to get my phantom skin checked out. Still hurts quite a bit, not as bad as it was but still too much. My GP said that theyll have to remove it somehow which im really not looking forward to going through that whole recovery thing again. I hope like the others all he needs to put on it is the Silver Nitrate but im thinking this bit of skin is too big for that.. who knows.. :(

I had an episimotomy with baby no. 2 and it took quite a while to fully heal also and have the same problem with scar tissue (ie things seem too tight) and wondering about the perinal massage? How long and often do I need to do this to get results. NB. Bub is now 5 mths old so I hope I haven't left my run a bit late. I suppose I can try silver nitrate or other for the healing also as having a repair job I'd like to leave as a last resort. Can anyone advise me please?

Well i saw the gyno and well, i guess i havent felt that much pain since i pushed the lil boofhead out! I am a big wuss when it comes to pain so i guess that doesnt help. But he put the silver nitrate on which stung quite a lot, he said that usually makes the proud tissue shrivel up and he said if it doesnt work that id have to go to hospital to have it burnt off as it was a bigger bit that usual. Anyways, that didnt work so he said he maybe able to remove it himself as where its attached was thin skin. So he did remove it himself (without any local or anything!) :eek: OUCH OUCH OUCH! :wall: I was in tears after i left and until about an hour ago. DH gave my some nurophen plus which has taken away quite a bit of the stinging. Hes told me to have a salt bath in a few hours and then just to treat it as i did postnatal with more salt baths and showers. I really hope thats the end of it and like DH said that it will only get better now, cos i dont think i can something like that again too soon.

Hey Suga, Congratulations!!!
That sounds normal - it's the stitches tightening & things healing up - my friends said that was the worst time for them!
I wish I'd found this post earlier. My bub is now 4 months & I'm just getting back to normal. Hefty epi (posterior baby, who just wasn't coming out so to the ventouse!).
A midwife at hospital told me NOT to use salt. So wish I'd ignored her. I ended up with an infection despite doing everything else I'd been told. Antibiotics, another trip to dr at 6 weeks when still in heaps of pain. Nurofen & panadol around the clock since DD arrived.
I had lots of aching when I was standing up. I assume that's gravity + tired muscles. Just had AF & noticed it was a little tender again, so that's interesting.
By about 3 months I was starting to feel normal.
Now, much better but still not interested in DTD. I told my DH maybe next year! Came out of birth fairly traumatised & declaring no more children, but I think in some ways it was the recovery that was more traumatic. Lots of lingering pain (other issues too - carpal tunnel, swelling etc - still hurts to stand up & wrists very painful - am hoping this all goes away soon). Despite that the trauma is fading, and midwives also helped me talk it thru - so if you're traumatised, I recommend talking it through with someone.
Also helped me heaps to know that it had taken other people so long to heal as well.
DD was worth it all!
Good luck.
Go the salt baths. An older mum I know reckons chuck the whole pack in!!! 1 kg per bath!

Hi Suga and congrats! Definately try a salt bath - I loved them in hospital. Also you could try sitting on an inflated pool ring with your butt in the hole LOL - it will take pressure off the delecate area. Don't inflate it full, just halfway is enough.

Suga - I had an episi with DD and it took about 5 weeks to feel "normal" again, that's when we first DTD. I had salt baths (with rock salt) at least once a day for 3-4 wks and everything was definately back to normal by 8wks.

Oh wow, i havent seen this thread in a while :)

Glad you got it all sorted out Suga!

Im going for a natural birth this time round and if i have to have another Episiotomy im going to make sure whoever stitches me up does it properly. I think that was my major issue.. my skin tag.. took me a good 4-5 months to heal to a point i could bare standing up for more than 10 minutes without aching.

Suga.. just make sure if it doesnt seem to be getting any better you do get it checked out. I had no clue and was just waiting for it to get better, which it never did without having that skin removed.

I had a similar issue, by 6 weeks post birth i was still in a lot of pain, and after daring a peek down there, it just did not look right! It turned out my stitching was not done properly and skin was sewn over skin preventing it from healing. The stitches also did not dissolve and needed to be removed by my DR. Even after this i still had pain up til 11 months post birth when i had to have some treatment on the scar tissue, this pretty much fixed things down there. I'd say if it doesn't feel right, have it looked at.

Hi All,

I have a 4th degree episiotomy and when i looked down there, there are 2 stitches which looked infected. A red lump has grown over them.

One of the stitches also looks like it didnt get sewed properly, ie like i have a hole.

Down stairs still hurts and im getting sick of it.

Is it normal with the red lump (and pain/inflammation) or should i get it checked out?