This is normally done using local anesthetic in the room where you had your baby. A healthcare professional will do an episiotomy if you are having an instrumental or assisted vaginal birth. An instrumental assisted vaginal birth is when forceps or a suction cup ventouse or kiwi are used to help your baby to be born.
An episiotomy may also be done if your baby needs to be born quickly, or if you at risk of a serious perineal tear. Wash your hands both before and after going to the toilet or changing your sanitary pads. This will reduce the risk of infection. You should drink at least 2 litres of water every day and eat a healthy balanced diet for instance: fruit, vegetables, cereals, wholemeal bread and pasta.
After having an episiotomy, it is normal to feel pain or soreness for weeks after giving birth, particularly when walking or sitting. The stitches can irritate as healing takes place but this is normal. Read about taking medication while breastfeeding. Place an icepack or ice wrapped in a towel on the wound. Do this for 20 to 30 minutes at a time a few times a day. In the first 3 days, especially, using icepacks can really reduce the swelling and inflammation around the wound.
Another tip when sitting is to squeeze your bum cheeks together. This takes some of the pressure off the wound. Some women take 'Arnica'. This herbal remedy is thought to encourage wound healing and reduce bruising.
There is no conclusive scientific evidence to prove that it works. It is normal to bleed for up to 6 weeks after the birth. Never use tampons. Tampons can introduce infection into the area. Use plain warm water to clean your perineum.
Clean it gently and avoid rubbing it. There is no scientific evidence that using witch hazel or salt speeds up wound healing. But if you find them soothing to use, there is no harm in using them.
Wear underwear that is made from a breathable material like cotton. Wear loose comfy clothes. Tight clothes can be uncomfortable while you are healing. This is especially important if there are young children in your home. They might have an infection, such as Group A strep, that you can pass to your wound. This can be very serious if it gets into the blood stream.
Wash your perineum after every time you go to the toilet. Pour warm water over your vaginal area after you have been to the toilet. Pouring warm water over your outer vagina as you pee can also help stop the urine stinging. When you are on the toilet for a pee, lean forward towards your knees. This helps direct your urine away from your wound. It is normal to feel worried about your stitches when you poo.
There are things you can do to make pooing more comfortable. Put a clean pad at the side of your wound and press gently as you poo. This can take some of the pressure off the wound. Try not to get constipated. Up to 9 in 10 first-time mothers who have a vaginal birth will have some sort of tear, graze or episiotomy. If you have a tear or an episiotomy, you'll probably need stitches to repair it. Dissolvable stitches are used, so you will not need to return to hospital to have them removed.
An episiotomy may be recommended if your baby develops a condition known as foetal distress, where the baby's heart rate gets faster or slower before birth. This means your baby may not be getting enough oxygen and has to be delivered quickly to avoid the risk of birth injuries or stillbirth. Another reason for an episiotomy is because it's necessary to widen your vagina so instruments, such as forceps or ventouse suction, can be used to help with the birth. Research shows that in some births, particularly with forceps deliveries, an episiotomy may prevent tears that affect the anal muscle third-degree tears.
An episiotomy is usually a simple procedure. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area around the vagina so you do not feel any pain. If you have already had an epidural, the dose can be topped up before the cut is made. Whenever possible, the doctor or midwife will make a small diagonal cut from the back of the vagina, directed down and out to one side.
The cut is stitched together using dissolvable stitches after the birth. Episiotomy cuts are usually repaired within an hour of your baby's birth. The cut may bleed quite a lot at first, but this should stop with pressure and stitches. Stitches should heal within 1 month of the birth. Talk to your midwife or obstetrician about which activities you should avoid during the healing period.
Painkillers such as paracetamol can help relieve pain and is safe to use if you're breastfeeding. It's also thought to be safe to take ibuprofen while you're breastfeeding, but check with your doctor first. Aspirin is not recommended as it can be passed on to your baby through your breast milk. Your midwife will advise you if you're not sure what painkillers to take.
It may be necessary to treat severe pain with stronger prescription-only painkillers, such as codeine. However, prescription-only medicine may affect your ability to breastfeed safely. Your GP or midwife can advise you about this. Exposing the stitches to fresh air can help the healing process. Taking off your underwear and lying on a towel on your bed for around 10 minutes once or twice a day may help.
It's unusual for pain after an episiotomy to last longer than 2 to 3 weeks. If the pain lasts longer than this, speak to a doctor, health visitor, or another health professional.
0コメント