Post Labor Infection (TMI?)

[mixi_mama]

I was wondering if anyone had managed to get infected stitches after their vaginal birth? I have been having 3 salt baths a day and changing my maternity pad every hour but somehow managed to get infected stitches. Im taking Rulide (cause im allergic to penicillin) and all the other meds can make baby sick if you breast feed.
If anyone else had this or has this, how long did yours last for? I've been taking meds for about 8 days and its driving me mad...:confused:

[SMBT]

Not what you want to hear....but I actually bleed for three months straight after DS was born. AFter the bleeding stopped I continued to get spotting on and off and this really horrible yellow discharge. The doc told me that it was nothing, oh come on..........he didn't even examine me. A couple of weeks after I went back again and he prescribed me canasten pessaries. I put the stick up me and the next day I bleed like a trogan horse and green mucous came out. Went back to the doc without examining me again, told me that I had clymdia (however you spell it). Went for another opinion, and found out that my stitches had caused granulomas. Pieces of tissue that haven't healed properly, instead of going back into their original position, caused lumps of infected tissue. At 9 months post natal, I was in surgery getting them removed. Had to go under general anaesthetic and have them burnt out, as they were so painful, examinations absolutely killed. :eek: A few days later I was back to normal! THANK GOODNESS!

I was told that the same thing would probably happen again with my DD but thankfully I didn't need stitches with her!

Hope you get better, but my advice keep persisting at the doctors and if not satisfied go and get another opinion!

[MrsScatterbrain]

Congratulations on the birth of your little girl - she looks absolutely gorgeous!:p

I'm so sorry to hear about your stitches - I had exactly the same thing with the birth of Ben, and was beside myself!:( (Despite a million and one salt baths and maternity pad changes, etc). I deduced in the end it was because I wasn't drying them properly with a hair dryer.

I am allergic to penicillin also, but was able to take Kevlex which worked like a dream (literally!) I had to take 10 days worth of tablets for the infection to completely clear up, but I felt like a new woman after 3 days. (The person who invented that antibiotic deserves a medal!!) I wonder if it is worth your GP reviewing your medication?

Wishing you a speedy recovery,

Bella xx

[MrsScatterbrain]

Oops, forgot to also mention that I was completely pain free by 4 weeks postpartum! :) I could run a marathon now! There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

[reAllytee]

I have to say while i got no where near any infections like you ladies i did cause some problems with mine but anyways i think the main thing is the drying as Bella28 said with hers & this was something my midwife that checked on me at home kept saying yes obviously you need to keep them clean but then after that they need to dry out completely because the better they dry the better they heal. She advised to not only use the hairdryer after my showers & bath but also everytime i went to the loo & changed pads etc. Worked wonders !
Although i have to say the itching of them healing almost killed me ! :o

[mixi_mama]

I am allergic to penicillin also, but was able to take Kevlex which worked like a dream (literally!) I had to take 10 days worth of tablets for the infection to completely clear up, but I felt like a new woman after 3 days. (The person who invented that antibiotic deserves a medal!!) I wonder if it is worth your GP reviewing your medication?

Wishing you a speedy recovery,

Bella xx

im now on that medication, but not for this infection - but for mastitis (keeps getting better and better yeh? :confused: ) so hopefully it'll be killing to birds with one stone....