Post birth wound care

[jellybean88]

Just preparing myself incase I tear a lot again if not hey bonus

I heard witch hazel is good for tears does anyone know anything about it, powder? Liquid? How to prepare?

Any other things good for that area ?
Can I use a numbing cream for stitches area I cried so much from pain last time.

Anything that will help prevent infection??

[HotI]

Manuka honey is supposed to be awesome to assist healing.

Do you mean numbing cream for when the stitches are being put in or later? You should be supplied with adequate pain relief before they start stitching. Please tell them you need more if you are in pain and demand you get it before they continue.

[jellybean88]

For after especially from about day 2 when the stitches start hurting
I was given neurofen, panamax, pessary painkillers and I was still in a massive amount of pain

Do you just put the honey on?? Wouldn't it be yucky and sticky

[RainbowRiver]

I've torn all 3 births and frozen condoms in a pad helped with the pain. Also lived on Voltaren pills for a week or so

[jellybean88]

Yeah voltaren I had that too

I found anything frozen made the mat pads less absorbent and blood got everywhere

[Cassius2]

i used calendula. got it from a health food store and it was in liquid form and would put a few drops on the pad. it would sting at first but then provide sweet sweet relief

[HotI]

you can also choose to not have stitches for some tears. hospitals are more likely too stitch. but you can choose to not be stitched and allow your body to knit back together. this often requires more rest with positioning to allow repair, but it is an option.

[jellybean88]

My tears were too bad to leave last time as it was I lost a heap of blood from them

[Ilithyia]

I did an assignment on the use of lavender oil on perineal tearing a couple of years back.

I'll see if I can track down the assignment and the research.

Another perspective would be to prepare yourself for things you can do/use to prevent you from tearing in the first place. ie perineal massage, birthing in water, birthing positions etc.

[jellybean88]

Yeah I'll try different positions the hosp only has shower no bath and ill prob be using my tens machine so might not use shower my pirenium didn't actually tear I had 3 bad tears on the sides oddly enough maybe to do with ds being posterior ??

[Ilithyia]

If he was birthed posterior than yes that can definately be a reason for tearing as a large proportion of head is being birthed. So positioning again is a big thing in terms of reducing tearing and promoting OFP.

You can also use oil as baby is crowning.

Since I started Mid, I've noticed the biggest thing which saves women from tearing is the Midwife. She is in a position to judge whether you are looking like tearing or not and can guide you on when and when not to push.

Incorporate talking your worries with the hospital/your midwife into your planning

[jellybean88]

Yeah they didn't have a chance to prevent tearing because he came out do fast they weren't ready