Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

Hello,

WARNING: Possible TMI:

I delivered on February 23rd, so 11 days ago... I had a partial third degree tear into my sphincter muscle. I needed stitches.

I am still not feeling well "down there."
It kind of feels like something is in there... it hurts to sit long and I find myself sitting on the side of my tush. Going to the bathroom is unpleasant- and the pain meds don't really help much.

I was just on the phone with a lacatation consultant from the hospital about a different issue and mentioned not feeling so great and she said after a week I should be better and told me to take a look and see what's going on...easier said than done...

now I am worried that something could be wrong.

If you also had stitches, how long should I not feel so good down there?

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

It takes months to feel 100%, definitely a week -10 days to feel OK.
I had a 2nd degree tear so for you it may be a little longer.

And honestly, I WOULDN'T go checking down there.....it's not a pretty sight right now. Unless you think something is really wrong.

Feel Better!!! Oh the pleasures of becoming a mommy......

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I had stitches, not such a bad tear as you, and things didn't feel 100 percent down there for a good 2-3 weeks possibly even more...

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I was in a lot of pain after ds was born. He got stuck and they had to do a bit of cutting to get him out. It took a good 3 weeks to feel better. I had to sit on a pillow because it was so painful. At first I was on Percoset and then Motrin after that. It sucked but it will get better. I was using a sitz bath (sp?) to helo with it and the spray stuff they give you at the hospital. It will get better

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I had a very significant 3rd almost 4th degree tear and it took quite a while to feel somewhat normal. Can't remember exactly, maybe 3-4wks? And yes you should take a peak down there as attractive as that may sound. It's your body and you should be in tune with it but expect to see some bruising and a little swelling. The sooner you look the sooner you'll know if things are getting better or worse, KWIM? If you're still not sure a quick call to your OB should help put your mind at ease.

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

i delivered on the 22nd, had 2nd degree tear. I still have some discomfort, not reaqlly pain, per say, but sitting on hard surfaces, going #2, and peeing, is still uncomfortable.

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I think it took about 3 weeks. Maybe have your OB take a look just to make sure nothings going on.

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I delivered on a sat had a 3rd degree tear and by tues I said to DH I feel like a new woman! I think everyone heals differently and if you have concerns contact your doctor. Could you possibly have an infection?

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I had stitches. At my 2 week postpartum appointment they were still there (they are self dissolving). I am just about 3 Weeks PP now nad things are starting to feel better down there, not yet "normal", but better. I've just strted gong to the bathroom and wiping without having to use the perri bottle which is new.

I wouldn't worry about it much now, as long as you dont have new bleeding or heavier bleeding everythign should be fine.

ALso, the more severe the tear the longer it taked to heal. I had a 2nd degree tear that required "a bunch" of stitches. My midwife wouldn't tell me the number! LOL

Feel better!

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

Posted by Blissful

I had stitches. At my 2 week postpartum appointment they were still there (they are self dissolving). I am just about 3 Weeks PP now nad things are starting to feel better down there, not yet "normal", but better. I've just strted gong to the bathroom and wiping without having to use the perri bottle which is new.

I wouldn't worry about it much now, as long as you dont have new bleeding or heavier bleeding everythign should be fine.

ALso, the more severe the tear the longer it taked to heal. I had a 2nd degree tear that required "a bunch" of stitches. My midwife wouldn't tell me the number! LOL

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I didn't tear, but I had stiches from an episiotomy. That area was sore and swollen for a long time, I think it finally felt better shortly before my 6 week appt.

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

it tooks several weeks for me to feel okay again...it definitely was not overnite...I even went back to my doctor to get it checked out and he said it was normal....feel better!!

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

It took about two weeks. I have no idea how many stitches I had. My OBs response when I asked if I needed stitches was "we have some work to do" . Feel better!

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I was still uncomfortable at 3-4 weeks... i just kept using the spray that they gave me at the witch hazel wipes every time i went to the bathroom and i actually left the wipes there... definitely did help

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I remember the dr. saying that I should be spending 75% of my day in that sitzs bath. (Yeah - how do you do that with a newborn?) Have you been doing that? I also used the peri-bottle all the time - every hour or so. It can't hurt to call the dr. though, just to let them know what's going on.

Re: Anyone have stitches after delivery?Question...

I had pretty much the same tearing you had with so many stitches I couldn't even begin to estimate.

I felt terrible for a long time and people kept telling me it was normal, especially considering how much damage had been done. After 4 weeks of pain I called my dr to just make sure everything was okay, and it turned out I was allergic to the stitches and wasn't healing properly.

Don't take a chance. Call your doctor and know for sure if you are just a slow healer. If I had spoken up sooner I would have felt a lot better a lot more quickly.