thread: Bad stitch job?

  1. #1
    Sal Guest

    Question Bad stitch job?

    Hi, has anyone else had the experience of their stitching repairs post tearing being bodgy? I had several 2nd degree tears and got over 30 stiches. The next day when the midwife checked me, she commented on how I had a skin tag. Well, I never had one before labour!

    I have seen a specialist OBS who agreed that I may need a surgical repair, but doesn't think I should get it done until I finish having kids, or unless it is so painful that having sex isn't possible. Well, I am TTC #2 now, but have a long history of infertility, so it's not guaranteed that I'd fall pg again. I am seeing the OBS again in a couple of weeks to let her know how it's going (I am supposed to be doing exercises to stretch things out 'down below' but the thought makes me sick, and it feels weird and different down there now). I am thinking of asking to be put on the waiting list for surgical repair (will take 12-18months) so if I'm not pg by then I can have it fixed.

    Anyone else had a similar problem?

    For those who can't imagine what's happened, well I tore right at the bottom, and bub's head stretched the perineum out a bit more to one side than the other, but when I was stitched the OBS sewed me up symmetrically, meaning that there was some 'extra' that just juts out below, which is the skin tag that the midwife mentioned. So it's tight down there, uncomfortably so. Not that anyone's 'downstairs' is an oil painting, but now it looks yucko. And it hurts.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Oct 2005
    1,377

    I feel for you. It's so sad to hear that you have had this happen, thankfully I was stitched up well after my tears.(notice it is spelt the same as the things you produce when you cry, that's if I have spelt it right).

    I am sorry I cant give you any advice on what to do really as I am not in your situation. All I can suggest is find out how long the recovery is, if it is likely to be successful and if you will have any problems with sex and concieving? Then you've also got to think about the age gap between children. I know that you probably have no option on that one though. How many children you want to have etc. Then weigh up the pros and cons of taking a ttc break or to keep up with it and have the operation afterwards.

    All the best.

    Love

  3. #3
    Fruitwood Guest

    hi, I'm currently still having problems with my stitching and am trying different things to help. A friend of mine had the surgical repair done and said it was the best thing she could ever have had done. It was done after her first child and she is now pregnant with her 4th. After her stitches healed it left alot of scar tissue which made sex impossible for her so they cut all the scar tissue out and then restitched and showed her how to get the stitches to heal quicker which no one talked about when she first had them done. I hope that everything goes well for you.

  4. #4
    Sal Guest

    thx girls, you've given me the confidence to sign up for the loooooong waiting list to get it repaired. if I fall pg in the meantime, all well and good and i'll get it repaired later (assuming 'downstairs' isn't rearranged in the second labour)

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Aug 2004
    NZ
    2,554

    My sister had a problem with stitching after her first, and she didn't have sex for something liek 9 montsh afterwards. If she had done something about it immediately post baby, she would have been able to get it done withoutgoing on the waiting list, but she was sick of people looking at her bits, and opted to let it heal.
    So she has had a nother baby, and I think it all went OK re the scar.

    I had an episiotomy, and my dr said it was "a nice job" LMAO. Even then it still hurt for a good 3-4 months after baby, and it was using tampons that stretched it all out for me. So even though the idea of stretching it might not appeal to you, the occasional finger workout might go a long way to making things more bearable in the meantime.