Healing stitches

[Bena]

Ok...so I really should've asked my midwife, but I won't see her till much later this week and would like to know a few things...

If you've had perineum stitches after a tear, how long did it take to heal and the stitches to start dissolving? Also, how did you know (if you did) that they were dissolving or healing? When did you start washing with soap down there? And take a bath?

[zazenist]

Hi Bena:

I had a very minor tear during birth and got two stitches. They dissolve by around two weeks postpartum, if not before - and I'm assuming mine did - no way to know for sure since I haven't had an exam. I did sitz baths (a couple a day) and frequent warm water flushes with a peri bottle for the first 4 or 5 days. I didn't start sponge bathing with soap until the fifth day, and then only every couple of days. Didn't do a first shower until about 8 days postpartum. I don't usually take baths, so I can't advise you there as far as what's recommended.

If you homebirthed, you probably don't have a peri bottle, but all it is essentially is a squirt bottle you fill with warm water and use to rinse your perineum. (Pat dry afterwards - don't wipe!) The big thing is to keep your stitches from getting too dried out - that makes them pull and feel more uncomfortable. The sitz bath is great for this, too.

I had my LO almost 3 weeks ago, and my perineum is only now starting to feel somewhat normal again. I had a lot of swelling and soreness and it felt like it was NEVER going to start getting better, but it does. Hang in there!

[lifeguard]

I never really noticed my stitches per se. Around 4 weeks I finally was brave enough to look & there was no evidence of any stitches left at that point.

I don't normally use soap to wash, just clear water so that was no different for me. I took baths daily, often several baths a day. I found them very soothing & more reassuring that I was actually getting things clean 'cause I was so swollen & sore.

[prettymom]

I'm 4 weeks pp, and my stitches are still there.

[GoldmanBaby09]

I had 7 stitches, 4 internal and 3 external. I showered and used peri bottles right way (I had a homebirth and the peri bottle was part of the birth kit). By two weeks I felt completely healed and DH and I even DTD. I think I took my first bath around that time, too.