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12-21-2012 at 10:45 AM
mejane123
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mejane123 is not online. Last active: 03-20-2013, 2:29 PMBronze

XP 3rd degree episiotomy healing

So ten days ago I gave birth to my first child, a little girl [woo hoo!!!!!], and ended up having a third degree episiotomy. I took it easy the first week and lived in my living room rather than using stairs. DH and I just moved back upstairs to our bedroom, so I guess I've been putting a bit more strain on it, because it seems like my bleeding is a little heavier within a few hours of making the trip up. Did you ladies notice your bleeding change from heavier one day to very light the next? Also, how long did the stinging on your lady bits when you urinate last? I've been running water over my area when I go to the bathroom, but it doesn't relieve it completely. Thanks!
 
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12-21-2012 at 11:25 AM
Jennifer A...
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Jennifer Anne is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 11:01 PMNewbie
I had a third degree tear with my first, and I experienced the bleeding variation as well. I'm impressed that you're walking up and down stairs! I couldn't walk properly for a couple of weeks, so it sounds like you're doing pretty good! And for me, the stinging stopped after about two weeks I think. It gets better, and you will feel normal again! Congrats on your little girl!
 
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12-21-2012 at 11:29 AM
1111skye
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I only had a 2nd degree tear with my 1st and 2nd kids so yours is much worse, but with my first son I was in major pain for many weeks.  In fact, I don't know if the stictches tore or if I got infected or something but it was awful.  Maybe move back downstairs for a bit longer as it sounds like the stairs may be not letting it heal enough.  Oh, man I remember that pain so vividly!  :(  I bought a hemmoroid  donut so I could sit at the dinner table and that helped a lot!
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12-21-2012 at 11:54 AM
CottonGirl
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I gave birth 11 weeks ago today and I'm still healing. )c: I'm probably a rare exception because my episiotomy isn't healing right. My lady bit still sting when I urinate and it still is bleeding on and off where my cut is too.  My doctor might have to re-stitch me and I'm feeling so scared and awful about it.  I'm ready to have my vagina back!!  
 
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12-21-2012 at 1:05 PM
kateraid
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I had a really bad episiotomy also and was basically cut in half (my doctor didn't describe the degree I don't know if that's a US thing?) but I had a very hard time even pulling my legs up to put pants on. My husband had to help me. I still managed to hobble up and down stairs and so laundry etc but I wouldn't commend it. If your bleeding increases you are doing too much. I healed perfectly within 5 weeks but still feel sore every once in a while depending on the pressure from sitting weird etc. it gets better. Have a bath with some drops of tea tree oil in the water and get as much rest as possible. I found sitting on my boppy helped. 
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12-21-2012 at 1:15 PM
jessican08
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I had a 2nd degree tear and it hurt like heck for about 2 weeks. After that, it felt SO much better. I bled really heavily the first week and then it would vary day to day. I found a lot of relief in that little squirt bottle they sent me home with (I didn't like the sitz bath). Ibuprofen was also my friend.

Hope you're healed up sooner rather than later!

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12-21-2012 at 1:56 PM
SnShne322
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I had a third degree and it took 3-4 weeks to really feel a heck of a lot better.  I didn't feel comfortable getting back to my normal "cleaning routine" until about 5 weeks.  Bleeding definitely varied.  I thought I got my first pp period at about 6 weeks, but I'm almost 11 now and no second period.  I'm usually like clockwork which makes me think that it was just some bleeding that came back for a few days. I could be wrong though.

On that note, I will be OK if I never have to smell witch hazel again. Ick!

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12-21-2012 at 2:07 PM
mejane123
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Thanks, ladies, you made me feel a lot better and a lot less like something is way wrong. So far I'm doing stairs once up, once down each day, in te morning and at night. Putting pants on and adjusting myself in bed to nurse is tough, too. To the poster who asked about degrees being a US thing, I'm not sure, I just know that's all my doctor would tell me. He didn't give me a stitch count, and when I Googled I was pretty terrified at what I found out constituted a 3rd degree tear, especially after taking a peek to make sure nothing looked infected. Hopefully I won't have to experience that again, but DD was sunny side up and stuck big time. He tried to avoid cutting me, but it was the last resort before a C section, so I'll take it.
I guess I'll just resign myself to hobbling around the next few weeks. Thanks again!!
 
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12-21-2012 at 5:31 PM
Stillharbo...
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Hehe. OB never got a chance to give an episiotomy, he turned around to get the scissors, and by the time he turned back around, I tore BAD and off to one side.  It's been 4 weeks and I can still feel the stitches.  One wrong move and I pull the stitches.  OWWWWWWW!!!   Just when I think I'll stop bleeding, I start again.  Did your doc give you anything like Epifoam?  I comes out foamy like mousse, but it will numb you slightly and give your stinging parts some relief.  I can't tell you want a life saver it has been for me.  I put it on a witch hazel pad and apply it to the spot.  Sigh! Relief!
 
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12-21-2012 at 9:26 PM
maiatene
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Whenever you use the bathroom don't wipe with tissue rinse with the peri bottle and "wipe" with a baby wipe. Spray your stitches with Dermaplast or some sort of hospital grade numbing anesthetic spray. That should take away any discomfort the stitches may cause.

If your lady bits are still swollen grab your biggest granny panties, put a maxi pad on top and then a diaper filled with ice on top of that. The way you get ice into the diaper is by pulling it apart like you wld a bag of potato chips, put the ice in and tape it closed.

I am 2 days postpartum and my flow is extremely light. I'm also bf so I'm sure that helps lessen the flow, but that ice filled diaper saved my life lol! If the nurse didn't show me this I don't know what I wldve done
 
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12-23-2012 at 10:45 PM
jdowdall
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Your bleeding will vary depending on how physical you've been that day, but normal pp bleeding picks up @ 12 days then tapers off again.

I had a 4th degree tear & found that sitz baths at least once a day really helped.  This may sound strange but tea bags also helped.  Something our hospital was doing a study on.  Moistened in cool water & put in with my pad (3 or 4).  I alternated tea bags with the frozen pads & got a lot of relief from those.

 As soon as you can tolerate it, start your Kiegels, increasing blood flow to your lady bits will speed up the healing.  

 No matter what, it takes time....just be good to your self & take care. 
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