#Snip its near me skin

When you're pooing, you may find it useful to place a clean pad on the cut and press gently. You may find squatting over the toilet, rather than sitting on it, reduces the stinging sensation when peeing. Pouring warm water over the outer area of your vagina as you pee may also help ease the discomfort. After going to the toilet, pour warm water over your vaginal area to rinse it. Keep the cut and the surrounding area clean to prevent infection. If the pain lasts longer than this, speak to a doctor, health visitor, or another health professional. It's unusual for pain after an episiotomy to last longer than 2 to 3 weeks. Taking off your underwear and lying on a towel on your bed for around 10 minutes once or twice a day may help.

#Snip its near me skin

Avoid placing ice directly on your skin as this could cause damageĮxposing the stitches to fresh air can help the healing process. placing an ice pack or ice cubes wrapped in a towel on the cut.Your GP or midwife can advise you about this. However, prescription-only medicine may affect your ability to breastfeed safely. It may be necessary to treat severe pain with stronger prescription-only painkillers, such as codeine. Your midwife will advise you if you're not sure what painkillers to take. It's also thought to be safe to take ibuprofen while you're breastfeeding, but check with your doctor first.Īspirin is not recommended as it can be passed on to your baby through your breast milk. Painkillers such as paracetamol can help relieve pain and is safe to use if you're breastfeeding. It's common to feel some pain after an episiotomy. Talk to your midwife or obstetrician about which activities you should avoid during the healing period. Stitches should heal within 1 month of the birth. The cut may bleed quite a lot at first, but this should stop with pressure and stitches. Recovering from an episiotomyĮpisiotomy cuts are usually repaired within an hour of your baby's birth. 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. If you have already had an epidural, the dose can be topped up before the cut is made. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area around the vagina so you do not feel any pain. How an episiotomy is doneĪn episiotomy is usually a simple procedure. Research shows that in some births, particularly with forceps deliveries, an episiotomy may prevent tears that affect the anal muscle (third-degree tears). you have a serious health condition, such as heart disease and it's recommended that delivery should be as quick as possible to reduce further health risks.you have been trying to give birth for several hours and are now tired after pushing.

you're having a breech birth, where the baby is being born with their bottom or feet first.

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.Īnother 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. Why you might need an episiotomyĪn 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. 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.

there is a need for forceps or vacuum (ventouse), orĪround 1 in 7 deliveries in England involves an episiotomy.

the baby is in distress and needs to be born quickly, or.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that an episiotomy might be done if: Up to 9 in 10 first-time mothers who have a vaginal birth will have some sort of tear, graze or episiotomy.

there's red, swollen skin around the cut (incision) or tear – you can use a mirror to have a lookĪny of these may mean you have an infection.