perineal discomfort from episiotomy 2 years ago

[Beppie]

I'm having my second baby in December. With my first, in July 2005, I had an episiotomy. That baby was with a CNM in a hospital. I'm planning a homebirth with a different midwife this time, a midwife who does not cut!

But lately, I'm 21 weeks along, I've been having perineal discomfort on a regular basis, especially after standing (cooking, going for walks, etc.). This discomfort has increased since becoming pregnant, and now I feel it almost every day.

How can I fix this problem before giving birth again? What remedies are there that will help my perineum heal?

[NZmumof2]

Hiya,
Gentle perineal massage with oil might soften the scar and help a little. For severe scar discomfort I have used a corticosteroid injection into the scar tissue but I have never done this during a pregnancy and since steroids thin tissues I'm not sure it would be helpful for your perineum at the next birth. It would probably be worth discussing with an OB though if the pain is very troublesome.

Anna, crunchy rural doc and mummy to Bede 7 and Emmett 3