Episiotomy Pain
Episiotomy Pain
Heal Tender Tissues
Sometimes, under the force of expelling a full-term baby, the tissues between the vulva and anus tear or the pelvic muscles weaken and lead to a bulge in the bladder or rectum. To prevent tearing the tender area (called the perineum), physicians and midwives sometimes take preemptive action and make a neat, clean cut (an episiotomy) to enlarge the birth opening. Then it is stitched up after delivery.
PATIENCE AND PAMPERING
If you've had an episiotomy or tear, healing will take a while, says Mindy Smith, M.D., associate professor in family practice at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In fact, you may feel uncomfortable for as long as three to six months.
Here are some things that you can do to help yourself, right from day one.
Cool it. To reduce swelling, apply ice packs, wrapped in a towel, to the incision for the first 12 hours after delivery, suggests Martha Barry, R.N., adjunct clinical faculty member of the University of Illinois School of Nursing and a certified nurse midwife with Illinois Masonic Hospital, both in Chicago. "Look for cold packs that are about the size of sanitary pads and contain dry ice, sold in drugstores and medical supply stores. You crack the pack, and it becomes cold."
Sitz it. Relaxing in a tub of water, either a shallow sitz bath or a deep regular bath, provides relief, says Barry. Make sure that your bathtub is clean so you don't invite bacteria in.
"One study compared cold sitz baths with warm ones," says Barry. "The researcher found that the women who took the cold ones had less pain afterward. Cold acts as an analgesic. But if warm water feels better to you, that's fine, too. Warmth increases circulation to the area and aids healing."
Use an herbal wash. To soothe tenderness, relieve inflammation, aid cell repair, protect against bacteria and improve circulation, try this herbal combination as recommended by Mary Bove, a naturopathic physician with the Brattleboro Naturopathic Clinic in Vermont and a licensed midwife. Into a pint of boiling water put one handful each of calendula flowers, comfrey root, yarrow flowers and rosemary leaves. Remove from the heat, cover and steep for several minutes. Strain the liquid and transfer into a plastic squirt bottle. Then use it to wash your vaginal area after you urinate. Or make a large batch and use it as a sitz bath. You can store the solution in the refrigerator for two to three days. Allow it to warm to a comfortable temperature before using.
When To See A Doctor
If you have had an episiotomy--a surgical incision to enlarge the birth opening--the pain will gradually improve after the first few days, but call your doctor if: * Pain does not subside after two weeks. * Pain worsens. * Bleeding suddenly occurs. These symptoms may signal an infection that needs treatment.
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Apply vitamin E. Vitamin E has skin-healing properties and is often prescribed to patients who have undergone surgery, says Barry. If you have had an episiotomy, wait a couple of weeks for the laceration to heal a little. Then open a liquid vitamin E capsule and apply it to the area.
