The area between the vagina and the anus is quite elastic, but despite this, your baby may need more space to be born. If the baby's head is large enough, then tears or incisions (for help) are possible, as a result of which stitches have to be applied. How to process stitches after childbirth, you must be explained in the hospital, but if you were not provided with such information, then you should carefully read this article.
Some statistics
Your obstetrician should examine you very carefully after delivery to determine the severity of the problem. In the maternity hospital, a medical worker should look after you and tell you for the future how to handle stitches after childbirth if they fester. This problem is extremely rare if you properly monitor your he alth.
Don't panic, nine out of ten moms "tear" during vaginal delivery, but these tears are minor, requiring little or no attention. Sixty to seventy percent of tears require stitches.
There are four types (degrees) of breaks:
- 1st degree - slight superficial tear, notaffecting muscles. Usually left to heal without stitches.
- 2nd degree - A deeper tear involving the muscles requires stitches. If you decide to let it heal naturally, it will be more comfortable for you, but the recovery will take a little longer than you expected.
- 3rd degree - these tears are sewn up without discussion, because they affect the anal sphincter (the area around the anus). If this damage is not taken seriously, then he alth problems will arise in the future.
- 4th degree is the most serious damage that can result from natural childbirth: the rupture can go to the intestine.
And now let's go directly to the question of how to process stitches after childbirth. Proper and careful care of the intimate area will help to heal all injuries faster. Remember, if you have serious injuries, then you can not sit! If you cannot do without it, then buy a special circle for sitting (it is used during an exacerbation of hemorrhoids). You are shown rest for the next twenty-four hours, try to rest as much as possible and gain strength.
Personal hygiene
Keep your stitches clean to reduce the risk of infection. Wash your hands before handling stitches after childbirth. Take a shower at least once a day. Change the lining, do special exercises, do not wear tight-fitting clothing. Drink more water, eat foods rich in vitamins. If the gap was severe, check with the obstetrician about the course of antibiotics, you need it.
Before proceeding directly to the treatment of stitches, it is worth determining what injuries you have, where the stitches are. If the breaks are internal, then they do not require special attention, the main thing is to observe personal hygiene. Here, self-absorbable threads are used, which can be natural or synthetic. If the threads are natural, then you will get rid of them in about a month. Another thing is if the stitches are synthetic, then you have to wait about three months.
If you have an external tear, then you should carefully monitor the healing process, otherwise there may be suppuration. You can’t lift weights and sit for two weeks, then slowly start to sit down on hard surfaces.
How to handle stitches after childbirth? Processing aids
External sutures are removed after about a week, if this was not done in the maternity hospital, then be sure to contact the antenatal clinic. If you observe personal hygiene, then the seams will not fester and will pass by themselves, but you can help them. Remember how to handle stitches after childbirth for quick healing:
- antiseptics;
- antibacterial ointments;
- green;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- potassium permanganate;
- chlorhexidine;
- levomekolyu.
The better to process stitches after childbirth, you must determine for yourself, based on the individual characteristics of your body.
Recommendations for fast healing
Thanprocess stitches after childbirth at home, figured it out, but how to do it? You should not resort to these procedures in a sitting position. Keep your body ventilated: use breathable pads, wear loose-fitting underwear. Night airing will be very beneficial, so you will have to sleep on a special disposable diaper without pads and underwear.
Caesarean section
Cesarean stitches are much more difficult to handle than perineal stitches after a natural birth. These procedures should be handled by a specialist while you are in the hospital, obstetricians will do everything for you there. The stitches are removed after a week, only then you can take a shower for the first time, gently washing the wound.
So, how to handle stitches after childbirth by caesarean section? The methods are simple:
- antiseptic;
- sterile dressing.
In addition to the fact that this method leaves a noticeable mark on the girl's body, it reminds of itself with painful sensations for a long time.
How to relieve pain
If we are talking about a cesarean section, then the pain can be dulled with painkillers, and in the future it will completely disappear, since it will be allowed to wear a bandage. With stitches on the perineum, pain disappears a few days after childbirth. How to deal with them? Apply cold to the perineum, take an anesthetic. As a rule, injections are given in the maternity hospital, but at home you can get by with Nurofen, which is allowed while breastfeeding.
If youworried about itching and quite tolerable pain, then you should not panic, everything will pass soon, but if you notice purulent discharge, consult a doctor immediately, it may be suppuration of the sutures.
Seam separation
Very rare seam divergence. The reasons why this happens are as follows:
- early intercourse after childbirth;
- weight lifting;
- constipation;
- hard squats, etc.
In general, anything that can put pressure on the genitals. How to understand that the seam has parted? You will experience pain and bleeding. Do not panic, all you need is to get an appointment with a gynecologist, there he will already determine the severity of the problem. If 1-2 stitches have come apart, then re-suturing may not be required - such small injuries will heal themselves. But if the damage is large, then you will have to resort to surgical tightening of the wound.
Potassium permanganate
Now we will analyze in more detail the question of how to process stitches after childbirth, namely, we will consider each proven remedy separately.
The first of them, very effective and time-tested, is potassium permanganate. A powder or a ready-made solution can be found in any home, especially if the family is waiting for an addition. Potassium permanganate solution can be used for douching and suture treatment. Please note that a pale pink solution is used for douching, and a dark and saturated solution is used for suture treatment. Although potassium permanganate will not help your wounds heal quickly, howeverprotect against inflammation and infection. Do not douche often, as the manganese solution kills not only microbes, but also beneficial microorganisms.
To prepare a solution of potassium permanganate at home, use warm boiled water, make sure that all the grains dissolve well and there are no crystals left. Undissolved elements of potassium permanganate can cause a burn, especially when it comes to the delicate skin of the genital organs. To make the solution, use a clear beaker to make sure there are no granules left. In addition, be sure to strain it through several layers of gauze. Stitches should be treated with antiseptic preparations twice a day.
Zelenka
Zelenka promotes healing, prevents suppuration and infection in the wound. Unlike potassium permanganate, a solution of brilliant green is sold in pharmacies already in a ready-to-use form. To process the seam, use cotton swabs or a piece of sterile cotton wool. All that is required of you is to moisten a cotton swab in the solution and process the seam. A solution of brilliant green, as well as potassium permanganate, contributes to the fastest tightening, as it dries the wound.
Hydrogen peroxide
Cuts and abrasions happen in every home, so hydrogen peroxide should be in your home first aid kit. If you have this tool at hand, then consider that the problem is half solved. For processing, takesmall piece of gauze bandage and moisten it with hydrogen peroxide. Apply to the seam, a slight hiss and tingling is a normal reaction. Do not keep lotion for a long time, otherwise you will get burned.
Medical alcohol
It is worth using medical 40% alcohol only in extreme cases, if the seam begins to fester in places, it is only the seam that needs to be processed, this remedy will dry out the he althy skin around the damage, which leads to poor healing. However, if the stitches fester, you should not self-medicate, it is better to consult a specialist.
Before treating wounds, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, preferably up to the elbow. If you find white growths on the wound, you should not clean them off - this indicates that a new layer of epithelium is forming. If they are removed, then scars will form on these places in the future.
Take care of your personal hygiene, do stitching, be in a positive mood, the support of loved ones is now more than ever welcome. Your mood is transferred to the child, give him a happy childhood! Good luck and get well soon!
