Anyone had an episiotomy or tear?

awc1986 · May 2014

DD needed a little help coming out so I ended up having an episiotomy and venteuse delivery. I was wondering how long it took you to heal after having an episiotomy (or tear) and what you did to help things along? I'm trying kegels but the muscles down there don't want to comply at the mo and I'm finding it hard to clench them. I'm keeping the area clean and will have a bath tonight. I'm not sore apart from general "pushed a baby out" soreness and my stitches are dissolvable so I don't have to worry about taking them out. Any advice is appreciated.

ho11yday · May 2014

Two years later, I swear I can sometimes feel the scar where I was stitched for a tear. But, I don't remember how long it took to heal. I think I felt normal by 4-6 weeks.

Shouldn't the episiotomy heal faster than a tear?

vincoand · May 2014

Maybe tmi but I tore and had stitches and didn't do anything special recoverywise. My husband said I was "tighter" afterward! Lol. So idk if that is your main concern, but everything healed up fine for me.

Chellbell20 · May 2014

I had a 3rd degree episiotomy and tear with DD. I was healed by 6 weeks without doing anything else. I haven't had any problems with it since. I'm a little worried about it with another delivery soon, but my MWs said it shouldn't be a problem.

cbrust · May 2014

I have 2 tears currently healing, one perineal and one labial. I also have dissolvable stitches and was told take a bath with Epsom salt to promote healing. My doc says I should be totally healed by 6 weeks.

jjones59 · May 2014

When I had my dd it took about month. The first two weeks were tough but it slowly got better.

chillypenguin · May 2014

I am 2w2d postpartum (I had an episiotomy) and I am feeling so much better. I didn't do anything special to help heal other than I still use the peri bottle when I go to the bathroom. My doctor told me I shouldn't take a bath for 6 weeks though.

MrsT2008 · May 2014

I had a bad second degree tear with DD - TBH, it took a while before things didn't feel tight down there. Not painful or sore or anything (beyond the first week or two) but not the same as it had been before.

Tucks pads helped soothe things down there in the early weeks - I'd line my pads with them and change them every time I changed pads.

ETA: I want to say it was 2ish weeks before I wasn't hurting anymore. I was totally healed by my 6 week check up.

usernewname · May 2014

Dumb question alert.

What degree of tearing would an episiotomy be equal to? Second or third?

ns1 · May 2014

I had a second degree tear...episiotomy maybe with DD...I don't really know and didn't ask. Time is what ultimately helped. Like others I used tucks pads, a peri bottle, and took baths. I was too distracted by painful hemmies to really notice the pain from this or when it went away.

KBowen715 · May 2014

I tore with #1 and it took about 2 months to heal to the point of feeling functional.

I had an episiotomy with #2 and felt like gold within a week or two.

Since this is your first, I'm sure a lot of the healing has to do with first time trauma.

Best luck recovering!

SurprisePartySue · May 2014

I'm a FTM and had a C/s. But my cousin works for an ob and had told me (before I found out I need a C) to put a cap full if Johnson and Johnson no more tears in the sitz bath and it has something in it that sort of numbs you.

danabsd · May 2014

I had a second degree tear. Everything was healed up by my 6 week pp appointment.
I *think* it's a slightly longer healing process with an episiotomy vs a tear which is why they are not really common practice these days. I know they discussed it in childbirth class but it was a long time ago and I don't really remember.

SweetTea420 · May 2014

I have a couple of tears and after a week I felt significantly better. The first few days were rough, especially getting in and out of chairs. The Motrin they prescribed me really helped with the pain.

mrt · May 2014

I had an episiotomy turned 3rd degree tear with my first. It was uncomfortable to walk very far for 2 months and dr. confirmed that it wasn't totally healed yet at 6 weeks. This time i had a 2nd degree tear and feel really good at 2 weeks.

awc1986 · May 2014

So is it ok to take a bath or not? I'm thinking not too hot and unscented. I also have a bitchin' external hemmy to deal with. It doesn't hurt but it's pretty, pretty big.

Thankfully my first post partum poop was basically diarrhea, so I didn't have any pain with it. I've done a bit of walking today though and I'm definitely feeling sore but not tight. The general swelling seems to have gone down a lot too. Ugh, I'm just so scared that the next poop won't be so easy!

MrsT2008 · May 2014

Baths should be fine

sisterjanet · May 2014

I only had a small tear with Benjamin, and they recommended that I sit in a bath with just a couple inches of water in it a couple times a day to promote healing. Light physical activity might help too, get the blood flowing and so on, but take it easy especially at first.

ksyknelvr73 · May 2014

I had an episiotomy and felt back to normal after about a week. I never really looked down there to check things out on my own...but when I went for my PP check up at 6 weeks, doctor said I was completely healed.

awc1986 · May 2014

Thanks for all the info and advice. It's not every day you push a watermelon out of your vagina and nobody really tells you what to do with that area afterwards. I'm also team "not gonna look". I can feel the carnage. I don't need to see it too.

spacepotatoes · May 2014

Haven't delivered yet so I can't comment on the tearing but I've had external hemmies for a while now. Warm soaks in the bath and witch hazel pads have been great for providing relief.

As for the Kegels, girl, you just gave birth! Give those muscles a break. They can wait.

ETA: in prenatal class, the nurse said that the witch hazel pads are great for soothing the vaginal area after delivery as well.

Empireceo · May 2014

If you need relief dump some witch hazel on regular period pads and throw them in the freezer. If you're mostly worried about tightening up, you cray. Give it a rest for a while, you know?

usernewname · May 2014

Empireceo said:

If you need relief dump some witch hazel on regular period pads and throw them in the freezer. If you're mostly worried about tightening up, you cray. Give it a rest for a while, you know?

WSS! you gave birth! take it easy

Sarac2288 · May 2014

Had an episiotomy with my daughter small tear this time. It's only been 2 days and I'm not really sore unless I pee. With her idr how long it took to heal but we had sex at 4 weeks and it was fine

awc1986 · May 2014

I got the idea for the kegels from some website that suggested it. Can't remember where, but I agree. It does seem ambitious. The bodily functions are working just fine now and the swelling is still going down. I'm just gonna keep doing whatever i'm doing as it's obviously working. Kegels can suck it and I have a tube of witch hazel that i'm gonna road test tonight.

Country0202 · May 2014

I could feel my episiotomy for about three months, but I had a bad one. Hope yours heals much quicker!!!

Ladiebug30 · May 2014

The nurses told me kegels would help with the pee accidents. I seemed to have an issue after my son was born for a few days. I can't see how they would help in healing a tear or cut though. Seems like time is best.

raebee18 · May 2014

Any recommendations on brands of witch hazel. I'm thinking of pre-making some padsicles to keep myself busy tonight.

usernewname · May 2014

@raebee18 Thayers! They make non-alcoholic witch hazel in all kinds of flavours. I used it before for my skin and it works beautifully, so I feel good using it in a padsicle.

yvanehtnioj · May 2014

Wait are labial tears a thing? Because I already had a "labial tear" due to a bike accident a few years ago and now there is some scar tissue. Is that thing gonna just bust right open as I'm pushing the baby out?!?!

raebee18 · May 2014

@florassecret Thanks so much for the recommendation I'll have to pick some up!

cbrust · May 2014

yvanehtnioj said:
Wait are labial tears a thing? Because I already had a "labial tear" due to a
bike accident a few years ago and now there is some scar tissue. Is
that thing gonna just bust right open as I'm pushing the baby out?!?!

Sorry to resurrect this thread but yep, labial tears are a thing cause I have one! It is hurts about 10x worse than my perineal tear. Fun times.

Anyways came back to ask if itchiness down there is normal as I'm healing? I'm 1 week PP today and through the night I couldn't get comfortable; things felt like they were pulling, it feels dry, and itchy. I'm assuming it's like any other wound that itches as it heals? Anything I can do for some relief? I'm still using my peri bottle and I have benzocaine spray (is that the same as dermalplast?).

usernewname · May 2014

I had a labial tear on both sides. But it was because he came out with his elbow being pushed into my insides.

I'm just using a peri bottle with with hazel. It was only a few stitches but still kinda burns. And when she stitched me the freezing didn't work well so it felt like I was being put on a fish hook!

ho11yday · May 2014

I associate itching with healing

awc1986 · May 2014

Ugh it's feeling tight and a bit tender now. I'm really hoping that its healing properly. I may have irritated the wound as I've been walking a lot these last couple of days. The general swelling has gone down and the butt nut is retreating, so it's literally just the wound that's sore when I sit down.

So glad I can discuss my downstairs mixup with everyone here.

spacepotatoes · May 2014

I couldn't help it, I am cracking up at "butt nut"! But I'm laughing with you - I've been sporting a decent sized one myself and haven't pushed my LO out yet.

cowpoly959 · May 2014

@awc1986 I feel the same way!

When I do too much it tends to get more sore. Sitting down is still a chore. I also feel like constantly wearing a pad might be making my skin irritated as well? I was using always radiant and I stopped because my skin feels more irritated today than in the last 8 days since I have birth. I wouldn't say itchy but more raw and irritated skin. Would witch hazel help that or make it worse? Might try a padsicle

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