Stitches after birth

[Mama_Prawn]

For more seasoned mamas out there, could I ask for your experience? Straight after delivery let’s say normal vaginal delivery, who stitched you up? Was it the midwife or a doctor came to stitch you up? Did you experience any complications with those stitches? How long does it take to heal and get back to normal life I.e. not feeling pain, especially when you pee or poo?

[HollyT7]

I had a 2nd degree tear and it was the midwife who stitched me up after birth. Didn't feel any pain from this though the injection to numb wasn't nice. Healing nicely now and stitches fell out after a few days. Going to the toilet wasn't a problem either and it didn't feel like the world was going to fall out as I was led to believe! Although it does feel pretty numb... working on the pelvic floor still! Feeling is starting to come back 😊

[Mama_Prawn in reply to HollyT7]

Thank you so much for your reply! That’s good to know! I was questioning how well can the midwives stitch as I thought that would be the job of a Consultant.

How long ago did you give birth?as in how long it took to feel better as you do now? Did you have induction and/or any painkillers for labour? I heard drugs could make the tearing worse as you lose feeling down there of when to and not to push.

[HollyT7 in reply to Mama_Prawn]

I had him 12 days ago, and felt relatively normal down there about 3 or 4 days after, like not swollen. I was induced via propess and drip. I had pethidine, gas and Air and an epidural, however none of the pain relief worked for me so I felt every single contraction and when to push! x

[Kitcat12]

Not a normal birth but I was stitched by the consultant, episiotomy and 2 tears. They all opened up and became infected. I still have pain 4 months after giving birth and haven't managed sex yet. Can't really keep wind in and sometimes get the urgent need to wee. . I really don't want to make you worry but just giving you my experience. And honestly my birth experience was so far from straight forward, hopefully you'll have a much smoother time x

[LauraJ85]

My little boy was back to back so I ended up having an episiotomy with forceps. I was prepped for an emergency c section so moved from delivery to surgery and had a spinal block. You cannot feel anything if you have this but I had a midwife monitoring my contractions and telling me when to push, aslong as you listen to the midwife/doctor the drugs are unlikely to make you tear worse. I only had two small tears, my episiotomy/tears was stitched up by the doctor who also delivered my son. If he had come naturally I assume the midwife would have stitched me up. I had a catheter in for 24 hours but my first wee after it was taken was no where near as bad as I was expecting, it might help to go in the shower, I was so worried about going for a number 2 and something happening to my stitches but was given lactolose and it was fine. Def ask for a prescription if you are worried I took it for a while afterwards.

Hope everything goes well for you x

[Kitcat12 in reply to LauraJ85]

Sounds familiar! Back to back here as well. Horrendous right?

[LauraJ85 in reply to Kitcat12]

It was hell! I had no idea I was even in labour as all the pain was in my back and I'd only went to he checked as I was bleeding, I was in agony but my contractions weren't showing on the monitor, I was told I was having a few twinges! Then when I was finally checked I was already at 10cm! Pushed for 2 hours, he just kept going back up. The doctor thought he was back to back by this point so ended with an assisted birth. Did you know yours was back to back beforehand? I just read yours above, my little boy just turned one and I would say by 6 months I felt ok down there, i was really surprised by how long it took after a couple of months it wasnt so much a pain but would be an ache/pressure feeling by the end of the day. Hope you're doing okay xx

[Kitcat12 in reply to LauraJ85]

I had a sweep and waters went, all pains were in my back and hips, I didn't feel anything in the front at all. All the midwives that examined me couldn't figure out his position and I kept saying he was back to back because of the pain. Had epidural but it failed during pushing stages and I couldn't cope with the pain, plus he was just totally stuck. Ended up with rotational forceps and shoulder dystocia. There was no way he was coming out on his own. Very lucky he only suffered minor damage x

[LauraJ85 in reply to Kitcat12]

No that must have been awful, the relief of the spinal block is something else! Aww glad everything was ok in the end, bless him it's horrible seeing how sore they are after. We had a lot of facial trauma and brusing but went after a few days xx

[Kitcat12 in reply to LauraJ85]

I could've kissed the anaesthesiologist when the spinal kicked in 😂 it was awful, he has a scar on his face from the forceps and nerve damage to his right arm 😩 but he's here so it could've been a lot worse x

[Mama_Prawn]

Thank you for your responses! All very good insights for me! I still have a way to go but just trying to be as informed as possible, and make the right decision early enough. X

[Vicky-01]

I was induced and had an epidural. I ended up with episiotomy and vontouse delivery as our little boys heart beat was dropping during pushing stage. The consultant preformed the episiotomy and stitched up afterwards, I had lost a bit of blood and unfortunately also got an infection, I ended up staying in for 5 days due to the infection and very low iron.

I was terrified of going to the loo afterwards but it actually wasn't as bad as expected, just dab with damp tissue after helped. I never used any of the different lotions and potions available, just washed with water regularly through the day and they healed pretty quickly.

It was sore sitting down after and a cushion or something helped, also don't try to do too much too soon as it does hurt if you over do it.

[Cheekymonkey85]

1st baby I was taken into theatre for my stitches, 2& 3 were done by the midwife. All 3 times they healed really well and I didn't suffer with any pain or discomfort. My newest addition is 9 weeks now and everything feels fine.

They are a few things you can try if your uncomfortable afterwards, I liked to bathe my stitches in a shallow bath with a mix of milk and lavender oil. Holding a maternity pad over your stitches when going for a number 2 can be a little more comfortable, and midwives also suggest pouring warm water over them while going for a wee to stop any stinging x

[Snez84]

For my 1st baby I needed to have stitches after an episiotomy. He was 10lb 4oz 🙈 I was advised I should’ve gone to theatre but there was no room so the consultant stitched me in the delivery suite! I then had a second degree tear with baby number 2 and I was stitched up by another consultant in the delivery suite. It was more painful than the birth and it took them about an hour!! For both, the pain lasted just over a week and it was extremely uncomfortable. I have friends who have had it worse and I’ve had friends who have had no stitches and have had no pain at all. I know everyone says it but you soon forget about it when you hold that little bundle in your arms 💙 Good luck!xx

[Mama_Prawn]

Thank you all for your insights! It does seem the majority of the time seem to work our well with no complication which gives me a bit more comfort. Clearly there’s no confidence that a consultant would do a better stitching job than midwives or vice versa, is that right? X

[Lovemylion in reply to Mama_Prawn]

My birth wasn’t straight forward and I needed an assisted delivery....however, my Midwife was fantastic, she was only in her early twenties and just graduated which slightly alarmed me at first but she was very reassuring, professional and competent, she performed my episiotomy and did my stitches and they healed really well.....I was complemented on my stitches by various midwives during their routine checks 😂. I would say as long as u don’t have any complications with infections you heal pretty quickly. . Hope everything goes smoothly for u xxx

[mrsabc]

With my first I had an episiotomy (and forceps assisted delivery) performed by the consultant who stitched me up after. I was in quite a bit of pain for at least the first 6 weeks. I also developed an infection but after some antibiotics started feeling much better. With my second I had a 2nd degree tear which the midwife stitched up for me. My recovery the 2nd time was a lot quicker. The first few days were difficult but I had developed a severe bladder infection which had landed me in hospital a few days before I went into labour & didn’t get the results back for until after I had delivered. I was amazed at how easy I found walking etc compared to the recovery from my first and I healed a lot faster the second time. I had a little bit of stinging when I peed but that is about it. I hope everything goes well for you xx

[Minnie92]

I had a spinal in theatre following a natural delivery due to a 3rd degree tear which they originally thought was a 4th degree so I felt nothing, not nice being away from my brand new baby for nearly an hour though! I healed fully by about 5 weeks, going to the toilet wasn’t a problem I just kept topped up on pain relief!

[Pook27]

I had an unmedicated birth center birth, not sure how many stitches I had to be honest but certainly quite a few, done by a midwife with no issues, just a little numbing cream and the buzz of endorphins I barely knew she was doing it. You can do exercises to help stretch that area beforehand and use oils. Honestly it was the thing I was most worried about before birth and paid attention to least in the whole process. Even when they were taking a while to heal At checkups they cauterized it which sounds horrible but really wasn’t all that bad. Don’t let it lead your choices.

[thera777]

I had episiotomy and forceps delivery and for the love of god i can't remember who stitched me up I suppose its because when its happening you really dont care about it whatsoever! I was cut by a doctor as she did forceps due to heart rate of the baby dropping, so it was either her or my midwife. Either way, it healed pretty fast. For peeing pain, id recommend you drink lots so you are well hydrated, it dilutes the pee, so its not sore, for me peeing wasnt sore really, id just put a pad out of cold wet toilet paper on the cut and pee, ot was fine. Pooing was stressful but it was all in my head, actually pooing was fine. It will be okay, and you wont care about most things when they happen!

[lianm8]

I was induced via drip and was rushed to theatre for emergency c section as baby back to back and heart rate dropping so had a spinal but ended up having an episiotomy and forceps by the consultant who also stitched me up.

I was nervous to wee for a while but it was ok I would keep a jug of water in the toilet and pour when going that made it not sting as much! Mine did open and become infected but once I had antibiotics everything healed quite quickly after that! I would say after about 8 weeks I was able to get around ok and felt better in myself with no pain but mine was probably a longer recovery because of the infection.

Make sure you have lots of painkillers and the hospital prescribed me some medicine to help me go for number 2 xx

[roxannacar]

3rd degree with my first. Junior doctor stitched me up in theatre my second had a second degree tear stitched by the midwife. Depending on the severity of the tear different person will do stitches. The consultant will rarely get involved in tears unless very complex or was already there for the previous procedure

Both mine healed with no issues.

[Winter_Girl]

I had some 1st and 2nd degree tears. The Dr had to do mine, but struggled so the consultant took over. From what I can remember the dr couldn't close the tears up (there were lots of tiny ones just inside apparently because my baby came out with her hand up to her face). I didn't need to go to theatre, they just did it in my room about 4 hrs after giving birth. My tears weren't that bad, just a bit fiddly! I have to say, I was really nervous about tearing in labour, but I had prepared myself for the possibility and for me it wasn't as bad as it was in my head. It took 1.5 hrs to stitch me up, which isn't great, and it was a bit uncomfortable sometimes but the gas and air helped. Afterwards I was able to go to the toilet normally and was lucky that it didn't hurt due to where the stitches were. It became uncomfortable as the stitches were healing, e.g. If I sat in the same position too long, or walked a bit too far, but I felt normal after 3 weeks and had no issues. I took painkillers if I needed it.

[AJBee]

Morning! I had an episiotomy and 2nd degree tear (ventouse delivery) and it was the midwife who stitched me. I was hugely lucky in that she was massively enthusiastic and careful and said this was her favourite bit (😱) as she loved to do a great job. Took maybe 30/40 mins, who knows, I was tooting on gas and air throughout so didn't feel a thing, oils I s straight after you've given birth so you're jammed full of hormones and by that stage have given up caring about most things 😂

The worst but was when she was finished and asked to stick a finger up my bottom to check no stitches had gone through. I had horrible piles and it was not pleasant!! 😂 Still my partner's favourite part of the whole day I think 😂

The stitches caused zero problems after, no wee pain ( though leaning forward on the loo helps direct the wee away from them) and my first poo was the next day and absolutely normal, not at all the horror show I was lead to believe. I can recommend eating something to help soften it mind you, I was eating a few date bar things which I'm sure helped.

Stitches dissolved on their own (so no baths allowed until they're gone) and they advise not to use sanitary pads if you have stitches as the surface isn't as smooth as specific maternity pads and there's a chance of snagage 😫

Hands down my piles were the most painful things during my recovery, not the stitches/episiotomy. I'd say don't try and be a hero, get as comfy as possible by, as my HV told me, alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen all day. You've enough to be thinking about without worrying about any discomfort. I only did this for a day or two before I realised (with the help of some anusol!) it was all very bearable with maybe an occasional paracetamol. Good luck lovely!!!! xxx

[Becca_X]

I was still a bit out of it on gas and air, but I think it was the consultant that done my stitches. I tore forwards (labia) and only had 6 stitches. Peeing after birth was really sore! Even when diluting the pee in the shower using the shower head. Other than that, the stitches were not sore until they started tightening (only felt one or two tightening) I also bought a personal beedie to use when peeing to take the sting away.

I had disposable stitches and they have healed in two weeks. Some disolved quite quickly but others took a bit longer. I had no issues pooing as I tore forwards. I had epsom salt baths to promote healing and avoid infection. Look in to using witch hazel, tea tree or lavender. I got as far a purcashing wich hazel but never got round to using it. Hope that helps.