what colour are stitches?

[2CheekyMonkeys]

I have recently had a repair of a 2 1/2 year old episiotomy. I noticed from the beginning that the threads were white, yet i have heard of people wiping after using the loo and finding little black stitches on the paper as it heals. anyways.. had another look last night and noticed that there is a small black thread where there wasnt one before? would they use black and white thread? or do the white ones turn black as they dissolve? i am worried that there is something going wrong with the stitches? Going to GP on tuesday so i will ask her but just a little anxious.!

[~Kim~]

The colour of stitches is generally dependent on the type and brand that is used. They all aren't the same. There might be a couple of layers. Can you contact the hospital/surgeon and ask?

[Lily Dust]

I had white stitches after tearing with DD and black stitches in my breast. So as ~Kim~ said there are different ones. The Dr would have your record and it should be easy as a telling you what colour they are. I hope its not too painful, hun

[helle]

I've always usually seen them as black. However my mum has a leftover stitch in her belly from a c/s (it's just under the skin!) and it's blue

[Kazzo]

When I had sutures for tearing with DD1 the sutures on the inside where dark blue and on the outside white.

I know for animals that surface sutures are generally white and internal suture (dissolvable) are a dark blue colour.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

LOL, i didnt realise there was such a wide variety of colours for stitches! i will just see what the GP says on tuesday and theni have a 6 week check up with hospital in a few weeks after that. they never mentioned i would have to get stitches removed so i am presuming they are of the dissolvable nature. they dissolved when i originally had my internal tears first birth and episiotomy second birth. thanks girls

[~Kim~]

lol there's many different brands (but obviously some preferential ones) and each brand makes many many different needle bores, suture strength, suture material etc etc. Just like at the supermarket

[*TripleJ*]

mine were blue the first time i didnt see the ones the second time

[The[cookie]Doctor]

I have had a green stitch before. Not anything to do with birth, it was from the removal site of my implanon. But it was green.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

dont get me started on implanon! LOL. had that removed at the same time as my episiotomy repair whilst under a general, cause it was in too far. i dont know what they did or if they used stitches or not but i had steri strips on and when they came off by themselves i have left a straight thin scar.. no stitches in sight. :-)

[k4t]

Don't stress 2cheekymonkeys. As Kim said stitches come in all colors and sizes. I work in a hospital and have seen blue, black, purple, green, white and clear so far (and I wouldn't be surprised if there are others.) I'm 99.9% sure your stitches would all be dissolving ones, especially as your hospital follow-up is not until 6 weeks post-op. it's very common to use different types (and colors) for internal and external stitches. Some dissolving stitches are completely buried under the skin so you'll never see them as they dissolve and others that stick out can come away as the internal portions dissolve like you've noticed. There's no harm seeing your GP for reassurance if you're worried.