1st degree not sutured - anyone else?

[beanbean30]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering how you are all healing. I had my 10lb boy at home last Sunday and had a nice tear. MW said it was long but not deep so we decided not to stitch it. It has been really sore the last couple of days and I took a look at it last night and yeek! it' still bleeding and looks pretty open. i am taking nightly herb baths and using my peri bottle when peeing.
Does anyone have any suggestions on helping the healing process along? Would I be better off just stitching it?

TIA
Sabrina

[kalisage]

I think after 24hrs it's not safe to stitch. If by any chance there was an infection, and you stitch - it will be stuck inside the wound. I did get stitches, but am finding that keeping my legs together helps a ton, as does arnica tablets!

do you have any sitz bathing herbs? this also helps with just feeling better, and cleaning the wound. HTH!

[Molliejo]

nak.

hairdryer on no heat will help it dry up. sunlight also works.

[MamaVolpe]

I have stitches as I tore in two places one of them went sideways. My only suggestion is to keep you legs together as much as possible and avoid stairs if at all possible. I spent my first week mostly in bed and my DH did all the cooking, cleaning etc... I just got out of bed to go to the bathroom, it was cool having all my meals served to me in bed for a week. My DH ROCKS! :

[amyaebi]

I have a first degree that was not stitched (seems like it must be smaller than yours), and I haven't had any trouble with it -- birth was 36 hours ago. It isn't even sore and there is no stinging when I pee. I would try and lay down with legs together as much as possible and do herbal baths.

Hope you feel better soon!

Amy

[PerkyKP]

Sorry you're having pain!

Originally Posted by Molliejo

sunlight also works.

Wow - I just got a mental picture of how that would look! Better hope you have a private window/backyard!

[Patrick's mummy]

hugs!
i had my baby 11 days ago and got a third degree tear, which was stitched in hospital under anaesthetic. it sounds gruesome but actually it isn't that which is giving me pain and discomfort, it is the graze i have near my urethra. peeing is agony!!
i have looked at the evidence for stitching and long term, non-stitching of
1st and 2nd degree tears is associated with less pain with sex etc. so you probably made a good choice.
things i am doing for my graze are similar to you - pouring water with hypercal tincture over while i pee and i find that if i have a wad of toilet paper ready and immediately press on the area to dry it as soon as i have finish peeing, then straight away stand up and keep my legs together, it minimises it.............
ouch.
this is my third baby but my first vaginal birth so i'm new to this business and have no idea how long this will take to heal - not too long i hope!