How long to heal?

[HollyHotLips]

It's only been a week, but I still have quite a bit of pain and soreness around my stitches and am looking forward to the morning I wake up and it's gone.

Just wondered how long it takes for the pain to stop?

[miss ani]

for me, it's 5 weeks and counting. i had about 3-4 stitches. i get pain (actually more like discomfort) if i sit for too long or walk/stand for too long.

i saw my OB yesterday and she said that the last stitch is healing and will probably take another couple of weeks.

[Beany]

Episiotomy stitches, right?

Mine took a good 3 weeks before they felt just a little bit better and about 5 weeks to become painless. I had my check up at 6 weeks and they were fine by then.

[HollyHotLips]

Yikes, dont know if I can bear another two weeks of this agony!!! :eek:

[Beany]

Are you taking pain relief? Because you really should! Panadeine Forte, preferably - perfectly safe even if you are breastfeeding.

Also, if there is any stinging pain, it may be due to a tiny bit of the cut being exposed (too small for them to sew up). In that case, get some Emla ointment from the chemist (it's an over-the--counter cream) and apply that to the area. It's lovely and numbing. Takes the edge off.

Keep the area as clean and dry as possible. Wash it frequently and dry thoroughly. Also, as you are still most likely bleeding, change over from the maternity pads to those stay-dry ones and just change them more often. It takes the moisture away and helps the healing process.

You have lots and lots of sympathy from me :hugs: I hated it all with a passion!

[Sheer Bliss]

had an episiotomy with DD, and it was only a few days before i felt pretty good (it was only a very small one though). This time i had 2nd degree tears and as i had such a great recovery with DD i expecte the same...:no: . Not true! It was about 2weeks before it felt likt the swelling ahd gone down (mostly due to me over doing it in the first week i was home. And maybe 3weeks before i felt totally comfortable again.

[GraceUnhearing]

mine took about 6 weeks so i could walk properly and sit properly and it wasnt so sore.

but every now and again it still hurts a little and DS is nearly 6 months old

[LittleBoysRock]

12 weeks to not feel sore constantly. 7 months before I could sit comfortably. I had an episiotomy and tore. I think they normally say around the 6 week mark to feel bad to normal.

[HollyHotLips]

Also, if there is any stinging pain, it may be due to a tiny bit of the cut being exposed (too small for them to sew up). In that case, get some Emla ointment from the chemist (it's an over-the--counter cream) and apply that to the area. It's lovely and numbing. Takes the edge off.



Thanks for that, I'll send DH down the pharmacy again to get some (bless him, he's already had to get me suppositories for my piles and cold stuff cos I picked up a bug in hospy!) :thumbsup:

[ButterflyMama]

I've only just begun to feel normal down there and my daughter is 7 weeks old.

Sowwy, I know it's not the answer you want. :o

Congratulations, though! :smiliedance:

[Pipsii]

I am at 4 weeks now and still feel the stitches, although nothing like the first 2 weeks. I treated mine with Panadeine and Voltaren tablets as well as putting ice on to numb the area and help with swelling and bruising (my bruises are still healing too!). The combo worked really well though especially before breastfeeding when you know you have to sit up for a while.

[ButterflyMama]

Also.. I got told by the hospital's physio to not sit on a ring cushion cos it directs all the blood there and makes it all the more painful..

Just stick an ice-pack in your knickers, keep up with the Panadeine and use an anal suppository if need be..

Keep up the fibre intake as well so it doesn't hurt so much when ya poo.. :D

[HollyHotLips]

Thanks peeps :thumbsup:

[sm2j]

I only had 2 stitches..(from a tear)... and I was completely painless by three weeks...and only had mild discomfort after the first week

[GraceUnhearing]

someone suggested to me wet and freeze a pad and use that, or a condom with ice in it

[kas_chat]

hi
i've been thinking about this toooooo.
today I went shopping and was upright for about 4 hours and tonight I am sore, and tender I think it is pain in the perineum and feels like light bruising. i'm sure I can still feel the places where the stitches were. I had a look with a mirror and the scar looks a bit angry red. maybe taking just a panadol will take the edge off. I'm going to look out for the Emla ointment, sounds like a good idea. Also using those dry cover pads was a good idea, I started using those when I ran out of the maternity pads, because that was what I had at home in the bathroom cabinet. I have my 6 week doctors appointmet next wednesday, so will be interested to hear what he sees down there... I'm hoping the doctor knows more about the recovering than I do seeing as I presume he has seen a lot more than I have!!
There was a little booklet at the physio's office that I attend that had info about after birth perineum pain and pelvic floor exercises and so on and it said it can be up to 12 weeks before the swelling subsides... I'll try and get the title and author to post on here if anyone is interested.
take care
kas_chat:hugs:

[Bel1978]

for me, it's 5 weeks and counting. i had about 3-4 stitches. i get pain (actually more like discomfort) if i sit for too long or walk/stand for too long.

i saw my OB yesterday and she said that the last stitch is healing and will probably take another couple of weeks.


Sounds painful... no stitches for me at all infact my ob said last night at the 6 week check up, we can try again for another bub when ever we wanted too.... DH wants them about a year apart as it took 2-3 years to get bub here. Im thinking at least 14mths..

[HollyHotLips]

The pain has really eased up a lot to the point I dont get any until right at the end of the day when it feels a bit sore - I think not having to use those stupid surfboard sized maternity pads is the key, they were irritating the area and causing most of the pain.