Episiotomy Care, Itching

Just like a scab that's healing... they itch when it's getting better. Sometimes you do bust a stitch (I did) but it's ok. It's been long enough now that it should be doing that. Witch hazel saved my life!
If you're worried, just phone your ob.

I've noticed (after 2 babies) that I start to hurt more a week or two after delivery. I think once the initial pain starts to wear off, you start to notice all the little aches and discomforts. Keep telling yourself that itching equals healing, even though it may drive you nuts! And don't push yourself too hard, your body still has a lot of healing to do, and you need as much rest as you can manage. If it's still painful to have a bowel movement, take a stool softener. I had a 2nd degree episiotomy with my first, and I would cry and pray on the toilet for almost a month! If you had pulled a stitch you would know - it would bleed pretty hard. You may have strained or tugged something the wrong way, I did that getting out of a rolling chair, and it can feel like something ripped. Not fun! But it will heal on it's own, and ice will help numb the pain until then. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, if you get dehydrated it will hurt more when you pee. Also drinking lots cranberry juice can't hurt!

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With my first daughter, I was sore for a good 3 weeks before I started feeling better. One thing that ended up happening to me is I had scar tissue that they found when going in for my 6 week check up that they had to remove.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

Isn't Dermaplast heaven? I know, it wasn't until my 3rd or 4th nurse that they gave it to me in the hospital, and I used the whole can!!

I think you are doing everything that you possibly can to help with the healing. Try not to focus on it too much, keep your mind off of it and maybe that will help.

The spot by your rectum, are you sure you don't have a hemorrhoid? They are super common both during pregnancy and after giving birth. If that's what it is, you can use any OTC hemorrhoid cream to relieve pain and itching. You can also take the tucks pads and just leave them on, like a compress. Take a stool softener in the meantime, so you don't have to strain at all when you have a BM.

The bruised feeling will most likely go away, probably have had a lot of swelling in that area that is coming down now and you are feeling sore. Keep and eye on it, and if it starts to feel worse then call your OB, just in case you've developed a UTI.

Congratulations on your new baby! I hope you feel better soon :)

Blueberries and comfrey gel can really help. The blueberries will help to keep you regular, and the comfrey gel can be found at any place that sells natural foods (hopefullly-- I live in hippie Portland). I found the comfrey gel wonderful--- it could be applied anywhere external and doesn't need to be washed off. Keep keeping it clean. And if you have them, take a cranberry supplement for your urinary tract, so as to avoid infection. If you don't have this, keep up a good regimen of vitamin C, to keep the urine more acid, which will inhibit bacterial growth.

Sending hopes for healing to you..... I know this was a trying time for me, afterward! And if you think you've torn a stitch, check in with your doc. You don't want to leave that as a questionmark!

H.

I am a midwife and you have gotten good information already. The only thing I wanted to add is that if you have another baby please do not allow anyone to cut you. It is completely unneccessary. There are things your care provider can do to prevent tearing and even if you tear it is better than being cut. There are also positions that you can give birth in that prevent tearing. Being on your back is the worst position to give birth in.

Take Care,
Lisa

Oh yeah! It takes awhile to heal up. And you might have hemorrhoids, too.
Besides everything you are doing (and it sounds like you're doing everything very well), keep well hydrated (you have to any way if you are breastfeeding), and eat plenty of fiber so you don't have to push hard for bowel movements. Your joints and muscles are still loose (it took 9 months to loosen them in preparation for childbirth) and it takes awhile for things to tighten up again - certainly more than 10 days (at least in my case it did - more like 3/4 weeks).
As you feel better, take short walks. It's good for your circulation and muscle tone.

I to had a episiotomy, I hurt worse after week 1 and 2 than in the beginning. Week 3 and 4 should start looking up. But I was very sore for a few weeks. Congrats on your new baby!!!

Bethany is right! It sounds like it's healing. Do you have any tea tree oil?
Fill the cleansing bottle they gave you after delivery with warm water and put 10 drops of tea tree oil in it and squirt it on your episiotomy site each time you use the bathroom and when you shower.
It keeps infection out and takes the pain and irritation away.

Good luck!

I would check to see if you have a hematoma (sp) I did and I couldn't even sit to pee!

So sorry you had an episiotomy!!

If you are unable to check, have your husband look for signs of redness, pus or a missing stitch. Itching is usually good tho, means the skin is knitting together.