A tear is usually healed in about 4 to 6 weeks. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each woman recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to feel better as quickly as possible.
3rd-degree vaginal tears
They typically take about 4 to 6 weeks to heal. If you have a third-degree tear, you may need to take antibiotic medicine to prevent an infection.
It is normal to feel pain or soreness for 2 to 3 weeks after having any tear.
Small tears may close on their own and not require stitches. Placing an icepack on the area between your vagina and anus can help relieve swelling and pain. Recovery from a tear after childbirth is painful at first but gets better over time.
Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay.
2nd-degree tears
Defined as involving some of the some of the tissue beyond just the very surface layer (i.e. skin and some muscle). This generally requires stitches, and healing time is one to three weeks. Recovery includes pain or stinging during urination.
What is a first-degree tear? These are small tears, or grazes, affecting only the skin. They can occur around the labia, clitoris or inside the vagina. These tears can be referred to as lacerations, superficial abrasions or actual tearing.
First-degree tears are small and skin-deep. Second-degree tears are deeper and affect the muscle of your perineum. Third-degree tears also involve the muscle that controls your anus (the anal sphincter) Fourth-degree tears goes further into the lining of your anus or bowel.
It is rare for the stitches to simply to come undone. However, occasionally an infection or pressure on the stitches from bleeding underneath can cause the stitches to breakdown, leaving an open or gaping wound. This is called perineal wound dehiscence, or breakdown.
But many variables can affect how much lubrication your body produces. And if there isn't enough natural moisture created, tearing can occur. “Vaginal dryness is often part of the problem, because dryness creates friction, and that's the main reason the tears and abrasions occur,” says Dr. Evins.
Wiping can be especially painful, so try to stick to the spray and blot method for at least a week after birth.
Call your midwife or GP if you've had an episiotomy or tear and: your stitches get more painful. there's smelly discharge. there's red, swollen skin around the cut (incision) or tear – you can use a mirror to have a look.
The damage inflicted by a third degree tear is significantly worse than that caused by a second degree tear. A second degree tear will injure the skin and muscle of the perineum, the area between the vagina and the anus, but will NOT impact on the anus itself. A third degree tear WILL impact on the anus.
If you have had a third- or fourth-degree tear, you should avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks. After 4-6 weeks, you can gradually increase your general activity. Looking after a newborn baby and recovering from an operation for a perineal tear can be hard.
Resist sitting with crossed legs, or any sitting position that allows your labia to gape open, if you have a tear or stitches. This assists to reduce strain on your perineum or stitches. Practice several very gentle pelvic floor “pulses” each hour without trying to “hold”.
When you are sitting, using a donut-shaped cushion can help you feel more comfortable. Another trick when sitting is to press your cheeks together. This relieves some of the pressure on the wound. A warm bath can help you feel more comfortable as well as give you a chance to relax.
Second-degree tears are repaired in three stages – first the vaginal tear, then the perineal muscles, then the perineal skin – but using one continuous stitch, so it isn't really possible to answer the question “how many stitches”!
It's most painful at the beginning, but you should feel better each day. Pain typically affects sitting, walking, urinating, and bowel movements for at least a week. Your first bowel movement may be painful. A tear is usually healed in about 4 to 6 weeks.
Having a shower and simply letting the water and mild soap run over the incision area is enough to keep it clean. Don't scrub it in the shower and when drying off, don't rub the incision. Instead, gently pat dry with a clean towel.
Wiping can be especially painful, so try to stick to the spray and blot method for at least a week after birth.
1st-degree tears
These are superficial wounds like abrasions or minor cuts that generally don't require stitches, and heal quickly (in a few days to a week). This is defined as only involving the skin. Perineal pain and soreness, or stinging during urination, are the norm in recovery.
You may be able to feel some of the stitches, especially those around the anus muscle, for up to 3 months. After having any tear, you are likely to experience pain or soreness for 4–6 weeks after giving birth, particularly when walking or sitting. The stitches can irritate as healing takes place, but this is normal.
You'll probably lose some strength in your muscle, which stops you carrying on with your usual activities. A grade three muscle strain is a full tear of your muscle (all the way through it). Your muscle is usually really painful and you'll have a lot of swelling and bruising.
"Typically, muscle soreness peaks around day three and starts diminishing afterwards. If your soreness persists beyond three days, it means you overdid it — you pushed your muscles a little too hard. But, prolonged muscle soreness can also be a sign of an injury," warns Murray.
Micro-tears are, as we said, virtually invisible. Like most myofascial pain, the location of your injury may not match that of your excruciating twinge.