Girls who had an episiotomy

How long before you stopped being so uncomfortable down there? I have no idea how I'm healing bc I am petrified to even wipe down there let alone take a look DH took a look and said it looks like it's healing but there are times when I can barely walk or sit. Ive been using the squirt bottle, ointment and spray with every bathroom break I take. I am supposed to be doing the sits bath 3 times a day at least but for some reason it's not comfortable at all at home. Maybe it's my toilet height but at the hospital it did give me some relief. Now it can actually be painful so I've been avoiding doing it despite my doctors orders.

Any advice or insight?

TIA

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I suffered for a good 6 weeks, and then when I went for checkup the dr ... "burned some dead skin" I don't know what exactly happened down there, but it hurt for another good 6 weeks. I couldn't wipe anything down there for months, I would keep a cup near the toilet and just pour water over it. I would take frequent quick showers to wash the area.

hang in there, it took me a long time to heal, but 1 year later, I'm as good as new. 6m pp, I looked perfect, but I still felt a little discomfort. My wax lady doesn't believe I had an episiotomy, she doesn't even believe I gave birth vaginally.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I had a episiotomy with #1 and dont remember having pain that was much to talk about, I used the ointment and spray and that helped. I never did a sits bath though no one ever told me to

how many weeks PP are you? I would say any more then 2 weeks I would call the doctor.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I started feeling better by the end of week 1. I was pretty much taking 2 tylenol every day for the first week. I felt a ton better by the end of week 2 and pretty much back to "normal" and had stopped bleeding totally by week 4.

I hated the sitz bath at home too. I wound up using the spray bottle all the time and got another bottle of dermaplast and another tube of the lidocane stuff. I used the removable shower head to get the area really clean twice a day. PUT IT ON REALLY LOW LOW pressure. I used the bottle and just pat the rest of the day. I also sat on the boppy pillow for the first week and that helped with sitting.

It gets better! I swear the first two weeks was worse than labor for me.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I agree that it took a good while....probably at least a month. I didn't look---EVER! I just remember being so uncomfortable and the hemerhoids did not help either. Hang in there!!

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

Took about two months for me but mine didn't heal correctly. I had scar tissue that had to be taken care of by my doctor.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I felt a little more for a little longer with my second episiotomy than my first but overall I'd say by 4 weeks or so I was feeling better.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I had one and I also tore. I would say after 4 weeks I was ok but I was never in AWFUL pain, kwim?. Getting off and onto my bed was probably the hardest.

I was to scared to look too! I thought I'd pass out. The numbing spray & tucks pads were my BFF's for awhile!!

I never did the sitz bath

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I felt like my cooch was going to rip in half every single time I moved for the first week! I'd say the first 4 weeks were pretty awful. My bathroom trips took about 10-15 min each time because of all the things I would have to do! I used the spray bottle EVERY SINGLE TIME. Changed my pad (or 2 pads back to back!) every single time as well. I would line my pad with witch hazel pads which REALLY helped, then line that with a numbing cream the hospital sent me home with. and THEN i would spray myself with another numbing agent from the hospital. I actually completely forgot about this horrid ritual until just now! Trust me, it will heal! I also never looked and was so scared of 'busting a stitch' no matter how many times the docs told me its not possible! I never did a sitz bath, I figured since I was using the spray bottle all day long it didnt really matter. I'd say by 6wPP i was doing a lot better. My DD is 7m today, and i actually still am a bit sensitive in the area.. we did a lot of work, just give it time! Good luck

ETA: I also took motrin or advil every 4-6 hrs to reduce some swelling.. yikes I went through a lot and already forgot it all :)

Message edited 6/26/2011 10:20:31 PM.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I had an episiotomy and I took motrin as prescribed every 6 hours for 2 weeks after two weeks I felt better. Every time i used the bathroom I used tucks pads and sprayed a numbing spray(forgot the time) and it helped a little while the witch hazel in the tucks helped heal it alot

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

Thanks for sharing. I'm only 5 days pp so I guess I have a ways to go. Are the witch hazel pads recommended for episiotomies or just hemorrhoids?

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I have to say I don't know if my OB just did a really good job or it was the way my body healed but, both times I tore and both times I felt pretty ok by the time I left the hospital. I used the squirt bottle for a long time though and did the sitz bath when I could (which was not often at all) - i used the ice packs that looked like maxi pads ALOT in the hospital for like 24 hours after so maybe that helped (OB told me too). I never used the ointment or the spray after leaving the hospital in fact, only used it for the first 24 hrs. I didn't have any kind of pain sitting etc. only a slight stinging sensation when I peed. Hope you feel better soon!

Message edited 6/26/2011 11:02:29 PM.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

It took me a few weeks before I felt normal...but I think part of it was mental, and not real physical pain. I was terrified of an episiotomy.....more scared than I was of labor. So when I had to have one, I kind of freaked out.
I don't think it was as bad as I thought it was at the time.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

Try taking Motrin, it helped a lot.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

I felt okay by like the 4th or 5th day and had stopped taking pain meds at that point.

I used the spray and the witch hazel pads (they are so soothing).

I did start having some pain again at week 5 due to scar tissue but I went to the doctor and he did something and I felt great again two days after that...

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy

Um, I had percocet! I don't remember how long I took them, but I am glad I had them! The witch hazel pads and dermaplast are a must, along with the spray bottle. The sitz bath was just kinda gross, I didn't really use it.

Re: Girls who had an episiotomy