Suture after childbirth: how long does it heal, how to treat it, how to anesthetize?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Childbirth is a huge stress for a woman's body. The first birth can last about a day. Women, because of inexperience, fear, harm themselves. In this case, we are talking about those gaps that appear on the cervix as a result of labor. As part of this material, we will tell you what a stitch after childbirth is, what it can be, and also share the secrets of proper care.

Types of seams

Sutures are formed in places where soft tissues are torn. Depending on the place of their imposition, it is customary to distinguish internal and external. Each of them has its own characteristics, which should be told.

Inseam

So, one of the most common are ruptures of the cervix and vaginal walls. The seams imposed in these places are called internal. They are superimposed after the end of labor after examination on the gynecologist's chair.

Many women are concerned about pain relief. So, in the case of suturing the cervix, additional anesthesia is not required, because after childbirth it is less sensitive. Don't believe? Ask women who have undergone this procedure: almost all of them will say with confidence that they did not feel any pain.sensations.

When sewing up the walls of the vagina, local anesthesia is used. The sutures are superimposed with medical self-absorbable threads that do not require removal. Here it is extremely important to show professionalism, then the woman will not feel any negative consequences.

Outside Seams

If the birth was complicated, the child is quite large, perineal ruptures cannot be avoided. The seams superimposed on it are called external. Moreover, gaps can appear both naturally and artificially. In the case when there is a choice, doctors prefer a mechanical incision, thereby preventing ruptures, since the edges of the incision are always even, respectively, and will heal much faster. Suturing in this case is carried out under local anesthesia.

And here the doctors have a choice: the suture can be applied with ordinary medical threads, which require removal after 5-7 days, or with self-absorbable ones. The choice of one or another method lies on the shoulders of a specialist. A cosmetic suture came to this area from plastic surgery, neat and almost imperceptible. It is he who has been preferred by doctors and patients themselves in the past few years.

How long does a suture heal

Of course, being on the delivery table, a woman does not even think about the pain that accompanies labor and its consequences. But after a day, she begins to feel unpleasant symptoms. If within the walls of the maternity hospital specialists observe her, the child, then afterdischarge, she will have to take care of the baby and the stitches caused by the tears on her own. Given the inexperience in this matter, it is not surprising that a woman wants to have certain skills. How long do stitches heal after childbirth? How exactly to take care of them? These questions are asked by many new mothers.

As medical practice shows, rupture sites heal on average within 10-14 days, provided there are no complications. This period is accompanied by pain when walking, defecation and even sitting down. If self-absorbable threads were used for the suture, they do not need to be removed, but if they are ordinary, they will need to be removed after 5-7 days. Do you want to know how long the stitches dissolve after childbirth? The resorption time directly depends on the composition of the threads, on average, it takes from 30 to 60 days for their complete dissolution.

Care Secrets

The first days of the seam after childbirth are processed by midwives. This is a standard procedure for caring for a still weakened woman in labor. How to handle stitches after childbirth at home? Twice a day, midwives applied a solution of brilliant green or potassium permanganate to it. In the future, such treatment after each water procedure will need to be repeated at home. This is how the external seams are treated after childbirth. The photo above clearly demonstrates exactly how the threads used in the process of eliminating the consequences of labor activity look like.

Internal seams do not require additional care, and it is quite difficult to do this. They will heal even without additional measures in the absence ofinfectious diseases. That is why it is so important to plan a pregnancy so that you do not face complications later.

Defecation conditions

In the first days after suturing, extreme caution should be exercised. Even a banal emptying of the intestines is accompanied by tension of fused tissues. Ideally, at this time, ask for an enema or a special candle based on glycerin.

After each trip to the toilet, it is necessary to carry out hygiene procedures, that is, to wash. In the morning and evening, the use of intimate hygiene products is allowed. It is better to wash yourself in the shower, and not in a basin of water or in a sink, as women mistakenly assume. After childbirth, the female body is cleansed and restored, so you simply cannot do without a sanitary napkin. So, you need to change it every 1.5-2 hours, even if you think that it can still last.

Lingerie

Great option would be disposable underwear made from hygienic breathable materials. Today you can buy it in any specialized store. If this is not available, natural cotton underwear with soft seams will be a good alternative. The main rule is not to put it on immediately after a shower. Air baths are shown not only to newborns, they contribute to the speedy healing of wounds, including sutures. After water procedures, in no case do not rub them with a towel, even the softest, just get wet, but it is better to wait until it is completely dry.

It is strictly forbidden to use slimming underwear. From the tightening effect, the blood flow worsens, respectively, the wound will heal much longer. The desire of a woman to return to her former shape as soon as possible is quite understandable and justified, but it is better to wait for the stitches to heal completely.

Prohibitions

The seam after childbirth imposes on a woman, perhaps, the main prohibition - it is strictly forbidden to sit in the next 10 days. After this period, if the wound heals without complications, you will be allowed some relief. First of all, it will be possible to sit, but only on a hard surface. You can rest during recovery lying down, in extreme cases, half-sitting, being careful with any sudden movement.

Some time ago, when newborns were separated from their mother, women with stitches were strictly forbidden to get up. And in fact, it contributed to faster healing of the wound. Now, when in most cases the children are with their mothers, it is simply impossible to adhere to bed rest, but it is still worth being careful, because it is she who is the success of recovery.

Possible Complications

If a woman has received stitches as a result of labor, the doctor examines her daily. If no complications are observed, then he treats the seam with hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green or potassium permanganate solution. If any deviations from the norm are noticeable, then the decision is made depending on the specific case.

Seam separation

Of course, the period of wound healing is individual for each woman. If the seams on the perineum have parted after childbirth, they must be sewn up again. If the wound as a whole has healed, only a couple of stitches have come apart, provided that there is no threat to the life and he alth of the mother, the doctor can leave everything unchanged. If the entire seam has parted, the wound is cut and sewn up again. It happens that a woman notices deterioration and complications after discharge from the hospital, which can be caused by sudden movements. In this case, you should immediately seek help from a medical facility.

Festering sutures

We have already mentioned how to properly care for a wound. But some women complain that the stitches hurt after childbirth. This can be caused by an inflammatory process, suppuration of the wound. In this case, the doctor will prescribe additional treatment after the examination.

Hygienic care consists in the use of special tampons and ointments: "Levomikol", "Vishnevsky" and other external medications aimed at relieving inflammation. If you find purulent vaginal discharge after discharge, you should immediately seek qualified medical help from an observing specialist.

Pain

The seam after childbirth heals differently for everyone. Painful sensations will accompany both the inner and outer seam in any case. Normally, the pain should subside on the 2-3rd day after childbirth. External seams will bring discomfort for a little longer, especially if youdisturb them without observing bed rest.

If the pain only appears when sitting, it is quite normal. If you feel discomfort while walking or lying down, there is cause for concern. Never tolerate pain - see a doctor immediately.

Sex life

The question of the resumption of sexual activity after childbirth worries everyone without exception. Experts agree that it is possible to resume sexual activity no earlier than after 4 weeks, again after consulting with a gynecologist.

Summing up

As part of this material, we answered questions about how stitches come off after childbirth. In addition, we discussed exactly how to care for them, what precautions to take.

Suture after childbirth - a consequence of surgical intervention. In many ways, it depends on you how quickly it heals. Follow the precautions and care instructions given to you by your doctor. It is clear that after discharge, the woman is preoccupied with household chores and caring for the newborn. But believe me: your baby needs a he althy mother, so take care of yourself. The more carefully you take care of the seam, the more often you will be examined by a specialist, the sooner you will get rid of pain and be able to return to a full life.