My stitches tore apart!

[yippiehippie]

I'm one wk PP and feeling awful-needing advice!
I had a natural homebirth which was very intense, but short. I had horrible back labor throughout (they think he stayed posterior till the end) and I tore. My MW stitched me up, don't know what degree it was.
After birth I kept getting the shakes and the next day i noticed a slight foul odor on my pads and my stitches stung bad. MW prescribed antibiotics to take for possible uterine infection and diflocan to prevent yeast infection and estrogen to rub on stitches (yeah, right, that hurt too much and stopped doing it).
A few dys PP i noticed it started hurting again while peeing (it didn't before) and checked stitches and they had popped! My MW came and said we can't restitch and i'm to lay around for 2wks w/legs closed. Even peeing into water hurts! I don't know what to help heal it or relieve the pain-any ideas would help. Has anyone els'es popped before?
Now (as if that wasn't enough) I'm itching down there--could i have a yeast infection despite the diflocan?
One more thing-back pain that wont go away no matter what position, is it normal?
Sorry for the long post, any advice, opinions would be so great!

[heidirk]

I only have two things to offer- 1. itching CAN mean healing. Let's hope that's what it is.
2. Back pain could be residual from your pelvis opening during the birth, it shoudl settle.

I am disturbed by your midwife's attitude, though. I am tempted to suggest geting a second opinion. YOu should know what degree tear you had, and a foul odor is never good. IMHO I think you should be examined by someone else.

[etsdtm99]

i had the back pain with both pregnancies.. i would recommend a chiropractor if it doesn't get better in a couple weeks.. it could also be a fractured tailbone or something if it is low..

they do have that numbing spray.. i don't remember what it is called but i used it a lot after my first because everything hurt.. sitting, peeing, etc. it could help you to use the estrogen cream too.. it also helped with itching which i know i had... i would be concerned about a YI though since you are on antibiotics.. and i agree you may need a 2nd opinion.. i had a nasty episiotomy with my first, tons of stitches, and while they didn't pull out, it didn't hurt to touch it gently to apply creams etc. even the first day.. (it did hurt when i peed though.. thats where the numbing spray came in)

[texmati]

don't have much to add, but I'm so, so sorry! I think that you should def try for a second opinion. You might try Finding Your Tribe.

Etsdtm99 Is the numbing spray you are thinking of called Dermoplast?

[TCMoulton]

Yep, dermoplast is a godsend after birth for assistance in going to the bathroom. It is an aerosol spray that is sold with first aid supplies at stores like Target or Walgreens and all you need to do is liberally spray the area before going to the bathroom, leaving a few seconds for the spray to take effect. Makes a huge difference in going to the bathroom!

[Snapdragon]

If it hurts that bad, I think you sohld see a doctor and try to get it fixed. Maybe the midwife can't re stich it but a very skilled doctor with the right tools could. sorry for your pain, that sounds horrible! Seek out a second opinion.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Katie34

If it hurts that bad, I think you sohld see a doctor and try to get it fixed. Maybe the midwife can't re stich it but a very skilled doctor with the right tools could. sorry for your pain, that sounds horrible! Seek out a second opinion.

I agree with this. Even with healing there is no reason for you to be in so much pain!!!

Itching: I had a second degree tear, no stitch problems, and I itched something horrible for weeks. No infection or anything. My body just itches when it heals

[bicyclingbethany]

I'm so sorry. Ouch.

I would also strongly suggest going to an OB/GYN for this one, and not another midwife.

I had a posterior labor too, and my baby turned as I was pushing him out, and my lower back/sacrum area hurt so bad I could barely walk! But I felt completely fine after 2 weeks. Did something like this happen with you, or did you deliver sunny side up?

[jeliphish]

I'm sorry you are going through this. If it were me and for my longterm physical AND sexual health, I would go to a specialist.

[yippiehippie]

Thx for all the advice, i'll def have to get some dermaplast. Though, I had my other mw over yesterday bc i got horrible diarhea from the antibiotics (i know, just what i needed!) and she explained things a little better. My tear was apparently very shallow (1st degree) so that's why they popped out...i guess a lot of MWs wouldn't of even stitched it. They gave me some lidocaine so that helps numb it, esp before peeing.

Originally Posted by bicyclingbethany

I'm so sorry. Ouch.

I would also strongly suggest going to an OB/GYN for this one, and not another midwife.

I had a posterior labor too, and my baby turned as I was pushing him out, and my lower back/sacrum area hurt so bad I could barely walk! But I felt completely fine after 2 weeks. Did something like this happen with you, or did you deliver sunny side up?

This is exactly what happened to me-i was hoping that's all it was and good to know yours went away after a couple wks. I'm def going to the chiro when my stitches and all are feeling better

[ciga]

Originally Posted by yippiehippie

I'm one wk PP and feeling awful-needing advice!
I had a natural homebirth which was very intense, but short. I had horrible back labor throughout (they think he stayed posterior till the end) and I tore. My MW stitched me up, don't know what degree it was.
After birth I kept getting the shakes and the next day i noticed a slight foul odor on my pads and my stitches stung bad. MW prescribed antibiotics to take for possible uterine infection and diflocan to prevent yeast infection and estrogen to rub on stitches (yeah, right, that hurt too much and stopped doing it).
A few dys PP i noticed it started hurting again while peeing (it didn't before) and checked stitches and they had popped! My MW came and said we can't restitch and i'm to lay around for 2wks w/legs closed. Even peeing into water hurts! I don't know what to help heal it or relieve the pain-any ideas would help. Has anyone els'es popped before?
Now (as if that wasn't enough) I'm itching down there--could i have a yeast infection despite the diflocan?
One more thing-back pain that wont go away no matter what position, is it normal?
Sorry for the long post, any advice, opinions would be so great!

I had a natural birth center birth 5 weeks ago that was also very intense back labor but it was 20+hrs because my son's head was tilted so he just wouldn't move. I ended up tearing (also don't know what degree) and some of my stitches failed about 1-2 wks PP as well. The stinging and pain was horrible! Someone else referred to the feeling as "walking around with barbed wire in your crotch" and I felt like that was spot on.
I don't know what to tell you other than the fact than it eventually calms down. I still have a little sting when I pee sometimes and the wounds definitely still hurt but much much less.

I'm not sure that anyone short of a surgeon could help the issue at this point for either of us. You can only get stitches on fresh wounds so they would have to cut in order to put anything back together. Labiaplasty is $$ cosmetic surgery and probably doesn't make much sense if you intend to have any more babies unless the pain continues far beyond the PP period.

I really like my midwife and she was incredible during my pregnancy and birth so I'm trying to work past my feelings that she botched my stitches. I know that it isn't necessarily her fault but it is hard to deal with the discomfort on a daily basis and look at myself in the mirror (downstairs) without feeling like it didn't have to be this way.

I hope the dermoplast is helping you and I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

[BathrobeGoddess]

moved to health and healing from birth trauma...