Giving birth is not an easy task at all – be it a natural birth, assisted vaginal delivery or a caesarean section. There is a general assumption that if you deliver vaginally, you can recover very quickly and there are no sutures, or any other surgical procedures involved. This is, however, not entirely true. Stitches may be needed post-delivery and caring for vaginal stitches after delivery becomes crucial to ensure no complications ensue.
Some vaginal deliveries are more complicated than others. Some women deliver the baby without much trouble, but many women experience a tear. The tear could occur while delivering the baby or the doctor might make a surgical incision to avoid a big tear.
In This Article
- Why Do You Need Stitches After Delivery?
- When Does a Tear Need Stitches?
- How is the Stitching Done?
- How Long Do Vaginal Stitches After Delivery Take to Heal?
- Top 12 Tips to Take Care of Vaginal Stitches After Delivery
- Can You Avoid Having Vaginal Stitches After Delivery?
- When to Consult a Doctor?
- FAQ’s
Why Do You Need Stitches After Delivery?
During delivery, the vagina needs to stretch for the baby to pass through. The area between the vagina and the perineum is under the most pressure when the baby is pushed out. Sometimes, the excess pressure may cause this area to over-expand, resulting in a tear.
Sometimes, when the passage is not wide enough for the baby to come through, the doctors perform an episiotomy. It is a procedure where they make a surgical incision to expand the vaginal opening. This can result in a tear, which can be big and uneven too, resulting in a lot of pain, bleeding and stitches later.
[Read : 5 Effective Ways For Episiotomy Care]
When Does a Tear Need Stitches?
It depends on the tear. The severity of the vaginal tear is known as the degree of tear. So, if you suffer a first-degree tear, it can heal on its own in due course of time and you won’t need any stitches.
If it is a second, third or fourth-degree tear, you will need stitches to repair the tear. For some women, the tear may be straight and for some it may be uneven, requiring more stitches.
How is the Stitching Done?
For minor tears, the vaginal stitches will be done in the delivery room, right after the delivery itself. The medical professionals will use a local anesthetic and use running stitches to sew up the tear.
If the tear is severe, they might transfer the new mother to the operating room, where a doctor will stitch the tear after administering local or general anesthesia.
How Long Do Vaginal Stitches After Delivery Take to Heal?
With dissolvable stitches, the vaginal sutures will dissolve in 6 weeks. Some may even heal within 2 to 4 weeks. Each person’s tear and healing time is different.
For some women, who experience an infection in the stitched area, it may require more visits to the doctor and more time to heal. If the tear is small and the stitches heal well, the time taken will be less.
Top 12 Tips to Take Care of Vaginal Stitches After Delivery
Vaginal stitches can cause a lot of pain during and after the process. It can sometimes make even sitting down difficult. Carelessness can lead to infections and pus resulting in complications. Hence you must take a lot of care.
Here are 12 tips to help you take better care of vaginal stitches.
- Always wipe from front to back after using the toilet to avoid transferring bacteria from the anus to the vagina.
- If wiping is still too painful, spray gently with warm water and pat dry.
- Until the doctor approves, do not use any soap or solution as it can cause a burning sensation.
- Change the sanitary pads every 2 to 4 hours, even if you are not bleeding much.
- Use baby wipes instead of regular tissue or toilet paper, to avoid friction and irritation.
- Sitz baths are famous for relieving pain from vaginal stitches (it is a shallow bath designed for such wounds. You can fill it with warm or cold water and sit in it for a while to soothe the stitches).
- Use a doughnut pillow (pillow in the shape of a donut) to sit on. This will prevent any weight or pressure on the stitches.
- If it’s very painful, you can ask your doctor for numbing sprays in addition to the over-the-counter pain killers (ensure they are safe for new and breastfeeding mothers).
- Use medicated ice or cooling pads specifically designed for vaginal stitches.
- If sitting up is putting too much pressure on the sutures, reduce sitting until you feel better.
- Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods to ease bowel movements. The less pressure you have to put, the better it is for your stitches.
- Ask your doctor and take stool softeners if you are constipated and feel you are exerting too much pressure to pass stool.
[Read : What Is A Sitz Bath? How Does It Help?]
Can You Avoid Having Vaginal Stitches After Delivery?
Stitches after delivery is not something you have control over. It is difficult to determine this until it is time for the baby to be pushed out. A few instances when a woman may not need vaginal stitches are
- Some women expand well and may not tear enough to get stitches.
- If the baby is in the right position, and coming along nicely, you may not tear.
- If you have already had a vaginal delivery, the chances are your vaginal passage is loose and flexible enough to push out another baby without suffering a tear.
When to Consult a Doctor?
The vaginal stitches are dissolvable and will heal well on their own. Your doctor will call you for a review after the 6-week mark. In the meanwhile, you may need to check with your doctor if you experience the following.
- A foul smell from the area of the incision (it can indicate an infection that needs to be cleaned by a doctor).
- A fever of more than 100° F.
- Colored discharge from the stitches (yellow, green, and white can all indicate pus formation and infection).
- Severe pain, redness or swelling in and around the stitches.
The above are the usual complications women experience after receiving vaginal stitches. If you experience anything out of the ordinary that is concerning, it is always better to consult your doctor. it is safer to rule out any complications instead of assuming everything is fine.
As a new mother, your immunity can be low, requiring closer care and watch. If you leave an infection in your stitches unattended, it can become very serious very quickly. Sometimes it might be a false alarm, but let the professionals take a look and discard it.
Each woman is different when it comes to her pregnancy, delivery as well as postpartum journey. Some may heal well and quickly from vaginal stitches post-delivery while some may require time and more medical attention. No matter what the requirement is, it is always good to be safe and proactive in such situations.
[Read : Postpartum Six Week Checkup- What to Expect]
FAQ’s
1. How Do I Know if My Stitches Are Healing After Birth?
The pain must subside as the days go by. You should not experience any discomfort or shooting pain during a bowel movement or while getting up from a seated position. You can also check the area using a small hand-held mirror to ensure everything is alright.
2. How Do You Sit With Perineum Stitches?
The area will be tender. So, sit on a pillow or a soft but firm surface, to avoid pulling on the stitches. Avoid sitting on the floor or a lower area, which will require you to put pressure on your sutures while getting up.
3. How Do I Know if My Stitches Are Infected After Birth?
Infection in your vaginal stitches will give off a foul smell. You may see some discharge in yellow, green or even white color which could be a puss. Redness and tenderness to touch can also indicate a possible infection.
Read Also: Top 7 Massage Oils To Help You Heal Post Delivery
