An episiotomy is usually a simple procedure. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area around the vagina so you do not feel any pain.
It's common to feel some pain after an episiotomy. Painkillers such as paracetamol can help relieve pain and is safe to use if you're breastfeeding. It's also thought to be safe to take ibuprofen while you're breastfeeding, but check with your doctor first.
After having an episiotomy, it is normal to feel pain or soreness for 2-3 weeks after giving birth, particularly when walking or sitting. The stitches can irritate as healing takes place but this is normal.
In first-time vaginal births, you're more likely to have worse injuries if the perineum tears on its own than if you get an episiotomy .
Most women say they have less pain or discomfort after the first week. Most episiotomies heal in 3 weeks.
Stitches after tearing during labour or an episiotomy can be quite sore at first, but there are some things you can do to help soothe the pain. Cool temperatures will both ease the pain and help reduce swelling in the area.
It will also tighten and firm the muscles of the vagina, which is one reason an episiotomy causes problems with sexual satisfaction and health. If you have had an episiotomy and want to improve your sexual health, contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.
1 reason the procedure has fallen out of favor is that it actually contributes to worse tearing than might occur naturally during childbirth. As many as 79 percent of women who deliver vaginally will experience some vaginal tearing during childbirth. Now, that might sound scary, but “tearing” is a broad term.
In some emergency circumstances where a baby needs to be delivered quickly, Levy said an episiotomy can be a lifesaving procedure that is less risky than a Cesarean section delivery, which is a major surgery.
Squeeze the cheeks of your bottom together when you sit to avoid pulling painfully on the stitches. Sitting on a pillow may be more comfortable than sitting on a hard surface. Use a squirt bottle with warm water to wash the area with water when you use the toilet; gently pat dry.
It's a good idea to rest whenever you can and: It can help to lay down and air your stitches – fresh air can help with healing. Take off your underwear and lay on a towel on your bed for 10 minutes or so a couple of times a day. Sleep when your baby does, to help your body rest and recover.
The incision can be performed on either side and is generally 3-4 cm in length. The anatomic structures involved in a mediolateral episiotomy include the vaginal epithelium, transverse perineal muscle, bulbocavernosus muscle, and perineal skin. A deep or large mediolateral episiotomy may expose the ischiorectal fossa.
You might feel sharp, shooting pains in your wound area. This may be a sign that you're getting sensations back in your nerves. The feeling should become less intense and happen less often over time, but check with your doctor if you're concerned.
Long-term effects of episiotomies can include: Chronic pain and infections. A small linear scar. Anorectal dysfunction.
Your midwife or obstetrician may do an episiotomy to try to prevent a third or fourth-degree tear if: you're likely to tear.
The episiotomy tradition
Experts believed an incision would heal better than a natural tear. The procedure was also thought to help preserve the muscles and connective tissue that support the pelvic floor. Today, however, research suggests that routine episiotomies don't prevent these problems after all.
After an episiotomy is performed, your doctor or midwife will repair the perineum by stitching the wound closed. The stitches are often black but can be other colors or be clear. You will probably be able to see them if you look at the area between your vulva and anus.
Scar tissue around the area where you have had an episiotomy or suffered a tear can become quite tight and painful and may become attached to the layers of skin around it. It might be raised and itchy or causing discomfort during urination, bowel movements and intercourse as well as during general activity.
natural tearing. Research has shown that moms seem to do better without an episiotomy, with less risk of infection, blood loss (though there is still risk of blood loss and infection with natural tears), perineal pain and incontinence as well as faster healing.
Some possible complications of an episiotomy may include: Bleeding. Tearing into the rectal tissues and anal sphincter muscle which controls the passing of stool. Swelling.
Having an episiotomy can leave your perineum quite sore . The pain and discomfort can last for two or three weeks (NHS 2020, RCOG 2020). If it lasts for longer than that, or it gets worse, see your GP or your health visitor . It can help to take regular painkillers, so that you're comfortable.