Childbirth/tearing & healing time....??

[itsy]

Hi all. I'm hoping that (unfortunately for you!) some of you have experienced this. I wouldn't wish it on anyone!

When delivering Carter last week, I tore a bit. Not a lot but required 3 stitches. When we were getting ready to leave the hospital, I asked the nurse to check my stitches as I'd felt a pulling/burning pain that morning. Sure enough, I'd torn a stitch so she called in my Dr. Instead of stitching it back up (she said it could just tear again) she used "silver something" to help the skin scab over. However, I don't think it worked and when I go to the washroom/use my squirt cleaning bottle, it feels like an open wound. I'm on antibiotics so it's not infected.

I guess my question is...have you experienced this and had it heal on it's own? Should I expect to have something else done to help it heal? What can I do myself to help it? Someone mentioned to me a salt bath? Not sure what that is.

I have an appt with my family Dr. tomorrow for her to see Carter and I'm going to ask her. My OBGYN is on holidays for a couple weeks, otherwise I'd be calling her to ask.

Thanks in advance ladies.

[womenswisdom]

Maybe silver nitrate? It would be used to stop bleeding (like if you cut yourself while shaving). Most tears will heal w/out help if you make sure to take it easy, no stairs, etc. HTH

[alegna]

I had some odd tearing with dd and chose not to be stitched. It stung for a week or so then was a bit tender for another week or so as I recall.

-Angela

[moonSnail]

I tore pretty bad with my son. My stitches stayed in, so I didn't have quite the same experience, but when I went to the hospital to be stitched up my the doctor chose to stitch up some smaller tears that the midwives said they would've chosen not to....meaning to me that smaller tears probably heal fine on their own. The midwives said that the perineal tissue is incredibly resilient and heals really well.. so you are probably just fine! Even with my stitches still in place, the whole area felt like an open wound, so that's probably just the luck of it, unfortunately...it's pretty awful! My midwife said no baths for 6 weeks (due to possible infection of the placental site), so I would do some more research on that salt bath. Some things that felt really good to that area when I was healing were a warm herbal compress ( I'm not sure about all the herbs, but I know that it had a lot of comfrey....) and a lightbulb (yes, a plugged in lightbulb!) held a couple of inches away. My midwife said the heat and the drying speeds healing, it worked well..and felt really good. Also, the comfrey tea squirted over you while you pee is good... I'm sorry that you're still in the really painful stage and hope you feel better soon... Congrats on your baby boy!!!!

[alegna]

I think the no bath idea is terribly outdated. My midwife suggested FREQUENT sitz-type baths and baths (several a day)

-Angela

[nashvillemidwife]

I agree. No reason you shouldn't be able to take a bath (provided your tub is reasonably clean).

[SublimeBirthGirl]

My midwife encouraged baths. I had stitches w/ my first and it seemed to take forever to heal (about 3 also, I think). WIth my 2nd I had a very small tear that stung for a day or so and that was it. I was sore more than a month w/ my 1st.

[starshine1001]

I did a peri-wash with an herbal "tea" with every trip to the bathroom, as well as 4 tabs of homeopathic arnica montana under the tongue every trip (helps with swelling/inflammation). The tea that I used (and the arnica) can be purchased from http://www.inhishands.com and it's called the Soothing After Birth Herbal Bath. It has comfrey, uva ursi, yarrow, german chamomile, shepherd's purse, lavender, sage, St. John's wort, echinacea, and sea salt in it. It comes in a 16 oz. pack of herbs, and you just boil 1 1/2 c. in water for 10-15 min. then strain. You can use it in the bath, a sitz bath, or in your peri-bottle. I had a really quick healing process in spite of a ripped stitch, and actually had sex at 4 weeks pp and it was great! (sorry if TMI!) The only thing that even looks different down there is a little "notch" where the stitch went. I originally had about 6 stitches and some little tears that went without treatment.

[~Katie~]

I had some deep labial tearing that took about 2 and 1/2 months to heal on it's own without stitching. I probably would have healed faster with stitches, but I chose not to get them and it wasn't a big deal. Now at 6 months pp I can't even tell that I tore at all.

[Staciemao]

I had a horrible episiotomy with my first and some fairly serious tearing with my second (right along the old episiotomy scar) which I opted not to have stitched. With both I used epsom salts and comfrey baths and I highly recommend them. First of all, baths heal you really fast and feel really good in those first PP days.

Secondly, a bath is a great way to get a little relaxation time for yourself, which I'm sure all mamas could use. You hand the baby off to your hubby, run the water as hot as you can stand it (make sure you take your water bottle in with you) add the herbs and soak. You're going to love it.

[wombatclay]

The only reason to avoid a bath is if sitting in the tub is painful. If it is, try a sitz bath that fits on your toilet seat so the pressure isn't on the torn tissue... soaking the injured area in warm (or even hot, if that feels right) water with some epsom salt, comfrey, or ginger can be heavenly and it will speed healing.

I'm sorry for the ongoing "ow" and it's certainly worth having someone look at it if you'll be in the office anyway, but it's probably healing fine.