Childbirth is a huge stress for a woman's body. The first birth can last about a day. Women because of inexperience, fear themselves do harm. In this case, we are talking about those tears that appear on the cervix as a result of labor. Within the framework of this material, we will tell you what a suture after childbirth is, what it can be, and also share the secrets of proper care.
Types of seams
seams are formed in areas of soft tissue rupture. 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 described.
Inseam
So, one of the most common are tears of the cervix and the walls of the vagina. The seams imposed in these places are usually called internal. They are superimposed after the end of labor after examination on a gynecologist’s chair.
Many women are concerned about the issue of pain relief. So, in the case of suturing the cervix, additional pain relief is not required, because after childbirth it is less sensitive. Do not believe? Ask the women who underwent this procedure: almost all of them will say with confidence that they have not felt any pain.
When suturing the walls of the vagina, they resort to local anesthesia. Sutures are applied with medical self-absorbable threads that do not require removal. Here it is extremely important to show professionalism, then a woman will not feel any negative consequences.
Outer seams
If the birth took place with complications, the baby is quite big, not to avoid perineal tears. The seams imposed on it are usually called external. Moreover, gaps can appear both naturally and artificially. In the case when there is a choice, doctors give preference to a mechanical incision, thereby preventing tears, since the edges of the incision are always smooth, 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 sutured with ordinary medical strings, which require removal after 5-7 days, or self-absorbable. The choice of this or that method rests with the specialist. In this area of cosmetic seam came from plastic surgery, neat and almost invisible. In the last few years, it was he who was preferred by the doctors and the patients themselves.
How long does the suture heal?
Of course, being on the delivery table, a woman does not think about the pain that accompanies labor and its consequences. But after a day, she begins to feel unpleasant symptoms. If in the walls of the maternity ward her baby is watched by specialists, then after discharge she will have to independently take care of the baby and the seams caused by the tears. Given the lack of experience in this matter, there is nothing surprising in the fact that a woman wants to have certain skills. How many sutures heal after childbirth? How to care for them? These questions are asked by many new moms.
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, sitting down, and even defecation. If self-absorbable threads were used for the seam, they do not need to be removed, but if ordinary ones, after 5-7 days it will be necessary to remove them. Want to know how many sutures are absorbed after childbirth? The resorption time directly depends on the composition of the threads; on average, it takes from 30 to 60 days to completely dissolve them.
Care Secrets
The first days of a suture after childbirth are treated by midwives. This is the 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, a similar treatment after each water treatment will need to be repeated at home. This is how the external sutures are treated after childbirth. The photo above demonstrates exactly how the threads used in the process of eliminating the consequences of labor are looked.
Internal seams do not require additional care, and it is quite difficult to do this. They will heal without additional measures in the absence of infectious diseases. That is why it is so important to plan a pregnancy so that you do not encounter complications later.
Bowel movements
Extreme caution should be exercised in the first days after suturing. Even banal bowel movements are accompanied by tension of fused tissues. Ideally, at this time to ask for an enema or a special candle-based 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 an agent for intimate hygiene is allowed. It is better to wash yourself in the shower, and not in a basin with water or in a sink, as women mistakenly suggest. After childbirth, the female body is cleansed and restored, so you just can not do without a sanitary pad. So, it is necessary to change it every 1.5-2 hours, even if you think that it can still serve.
Lingerie
A great option would be a one-off underwear, made of breathable material hygienic. Today you can buy it in any specialized store. If there is no good alternative is made from natural cotton linen with soft seams. The main rule - do not put it on right after the shower. Air baths are shown not only newborns, they promote rapid healing of wounds, including the joints. After water procedures, in no case do not rub them with a towel, even the softest, it is enough to simply get wet, but it is better to wait until it dries completely.
It is strictly forbidden to use tightening underwear. From the constricting effect, blood flow worsens, respectively, the wound will heal much longer. Woman's desire to regain his form as a completely understandable and justified as soon as possible to return, but it is better to wait for the complete healing of sutures.
Bans
Seam after childbirth puts on a woman, perhaps the main ban - 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 exclusively 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 babies were separated from their mothers, women with seams strictly forbidden to stand. And in fact, this contributed to faster healing of the wound. Now, when in most cases the children are with their mothers, it is simply impossible to stay on bed, but caution is still worth it, because it is she who is the success of recovery.
Possible complications
If stitches have been sutured as a result of the woman’s labor, the doctor examines her daily. If no complications are not observed, it processes the seam is hydrogen peroxide, or brilliant green solution of potassium permanganate. If any deviations from the norm are noticeable, then the decision is made depending on the specific case.
Seams
Of course, the wound healing period is individual for each woman. If the stitches 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 spread, provided that there is no threat to the life and health of the mother, the doctor can leave everything unchanged. If the entire seam has spread, the wound is cut and sutured 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 institution.
Suppuration of sutures
We have already mentioned how to properly care for a wound. But some women complain that the sutures after childbirth hurt. This can be caused by the inflammatory process, suppuration of the wound. In this case, the doctor after examination prescribe additional treatment.
Hygienic care consists in the use of special tampons and ointments: Levomikol, Vishnevsky and other external medicines aimed at relieving inflammation. If you find purulent discharge from the vagina after discharge, you should immediately seek qualified medical help from an observing specialist.
Pain
The suture 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 a little longer, especially if you disturb them, not keeping bed rest.
If the pain appears only when sitting, it is quite normal. If you feel uncomfortable while walking or lying down, there is cause for concern. In no case do not tolerate pain - consult a doctor immediately.
Sex life
The issue of the resumption of sexual activity after childbirth excites everyone without exception. Experts agree that it is possible to resume sex life no earlier than 4 weeks later, again after consulting with a gynecologist.
To summarize
As part of this material, we answered questions about how the sutures after childbirth come down. In addition, we have discussed how to care for them, what precautions apply.
Seam after childbirth - a consequence of a surgical intervention. In many ways, it depends on you how quickly he heals. Follow the precautions and care recommendations that your doctor will give you. 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 healthy mom, so take care of yourself. The more carefully you look after the seam, the more often you will be examined by a specialist, the sooner you will get rid of painful sensations and be able to return to a full life.