How do I know if my stitches are infected after giving birth?
Look out for any signs that the cut or surrounding tissue has become infected, such as:
- red, swollen skin.
- discharge of pus or liquid from the cut.
- persistent pain.
- an unusual smell.
What should I do if my postpartum stitches are infected?
Call your doctor or go to the emergency room if you experience an infection such as: Fever of 100 degrees F or more. Foul-smelling and/or greenish discharge. Redness and swelling around the stitches.
When should I be worried about postpartum stitches?
Call your healthcare provider if you have:
- Heavy or gushing bleeding from the vagina.
- Discharge that has a bad odor.
- Severe pain in the abdomen or increased pain near your stitches.
- If your episiotomy or tear opens.
- Fever or chills.
- No bowel movement within 1 week after the birth of your baby.
How do you clean infected stitches?
Treatment
- Open the wound by removing the staples or sutures.
- Do tests of the pus or tissue in the wound to figure out if there is an infection and what kind of antibiotic medicine would work best.
- Debride the wound by removing dead or infected tissue in the wound.
- Rinse the wound with salt water (saline solution)
How do I know if my perineal stitches are healing?
Your Recovery The stitches will dissolve in 1 to 2 weeks, so they will not need to be removed. You may notice pieces of the stitches on your sanitary pad or on the toilet paper when you go to the washroom. This is normal. Sometimes, a small tear won’t be closed with stitches and will be allowed to heal on its own.
How painful are stitches after childbirth?
Painful vaginal stitches after birth can make even everyday activities such as sitting or using the loo a nightmare. Swelling, infection or opening up of the stitches can further increase discomfort and pain for the new mum.
What is an infected stitch?
As with any type of wound, an infection can develop at or around the stitches. Let’s take a look at some of the basics of infected stitches and what to do about them.
How to get rid of stitches after birth?
Make use of ice packs. Putting ice on your stitches can help heal your wound faster by easing inflammation. You can get ice packs that you can wear just like pads. These ice packs should be worn for about 10 to 20 minutes to ease pain from stitches after birth.
What makes post-delivery vaginal stitches pain worse?
“The opening up of the stitches and vaginal infections can worsen the pain,” says Dr Papia Goswami Mukherjee, consultant gynaecologist, Kumar Clinic, Mumbai. Here are some tips from experienced mothers which will help you heal the post-delivery vaginal stitches.