irritated perineum postpartum

[caedmyn]

Cross-posting in homebirth...DS3 was born 3.5 weeks ago.  I had a first degree tear that we left unstitched.  It seemed like it was healing fine but about a a week ago everything down there started feeling really irritated and sore.  There's a lot of redness, more on the side where the tear is/was.  This happened after DS1 was born too, with a 2nd degree tear that was stitched and took 10 weeks to stop feeling so irritated.  I don't think anything is actually infected as the midwife did a culture when this happened last time and there was no infection.  I've never had a yeast infection.  Any ideas why things feel so irritated and what I can do about it?

[tracyamber]

i think you just had a baby. take it easy mama and keep doing what you are doing to make sure there is no infection.what does your midwife suggest?

[womenswisdom]

If you are still using pads, it could be irritation, try some air time. I would probably get a check for yeast though just to be sure since it can be very common in the postpartum.

[caedmyn]

I think it is yeast, just not sure how to treat it.  Midwife recommended caprylic acid.
 

[tracyamber]

i tried caprylic acid at one point in my life and i remember it worked.