After any operation followed by suturing, patients ask: "How long does the suture heal after the operation?" And any doctor will say that, although there are certain terms, this process takes place individually for everyone. In a word, in one patient the suture heals faster, while in another it takes longer.
In addition, there are certain factors that influence this process.
- Patient's age. At a young age, all processes in the body are faster, the recovery rate is higher, and the healing of sutures is faster than in older people.
- Body mass. If a person is obese, then suture healing is a more difficult process for him, since adipose tissue has a poor blood supply and is more susceptible to injury and infection.
- Nutrition. The culture of nutrition largely affects the restoration of damaged tissues. After surgery, a person needs protein food and a diet rich in vitamins. If nutrition does not cover the needs of the body, then the stitches heal much longer.
- Lack of water. With a shortage of water in organs and tissues, the load on internal organs, such as the kidneys and heart, increases, and metabolism also slows down. As a result, the area of operation heals much longer.
- Blood supply to the damaged area. The suturing site needs a good blood supply to a greater extent. Thanks to this, the healing of the seam will be faster.
- immune status. With insufficiently strong immunity, if a person is infected with the immunodeficiency virus, recovery after surgery will be much more difficult and slower. This category also includes people undergoing chemotherapy. For them, a characteristic complication is suppuration of the wound.
- Chronic diseases. These include diseases such as diabetes. They increase the development of complications and slow down the healing process.
- Sufficient amount of oxygen. The lack of oxygen in tissues and cells negatively affects wound healing, collagen synthesis and phagocytosis, the process of bacterial absorption, are reduced. Other nutrients come along with oxygen, their lack slows down the recovery and formation of new tissues.
- Re-infection. This reason quite often spoils the recovery picture.
Healing time for sutures
The answer to the question after how many days the suture will heal after the operation is ambiguous. This is an individual process and depends on many factors. Basically, the wound after the operation is tightened for 9 days. After that, the sutures are removed if they were applied with non-absorbable materials. But in different parts of the body, the seams heal differently. Here are the approximate healing times:
- removal of appendicitis and laparoscopy - 6-7 days;
- extensive - up to 12 days;
- surgery in the sternum - up to 14 days;
- - up to 5 days;
- in the head area - up to 6 days;
- wounds after amputations - up to 12 days.
Ways to speed up the recovery process
How long the stitches take to heal depends largely on the patient. In order to speed up this process, you need to follow a few rules. Generally speaking, all these activities are aimed at strengthening immunity and preventing complications:
- Physical activity within reasonable limits. On the one hand, during exercise, blood circulation improves, more oxygen and nutrients enter the wound site, which has a beneficial effect on the seams. But on the other hand, you need to be careful not to allow the seam to diverge.
- Diet after surgery Nutrition should be aimed at replenishing the required amount of proteins for the construction of new tissues, and preventing disruption of the intestines. In addition, among the negative effects of the course of taking antibiotics and many other drugs, there is just an indigestion.
- The use of traditional local remedies. These include ointments and balms aimed at tissue regeneration.
- Additional intake of drugs that increase immunity. These are various vitamins, supplements, enzymes and anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Phytotherapy. The use of decoctions inside or the procedure for wiping and treating seams with collections of medicinal herbs.
The last point can be separated into a separate category. The use of herbal preparations in postoperative care for sutures can speed up recovery. Phytotherapy has long been singled out as a separate technique, but is still used mainly with traditional treatment. Doctors prescribe such therapy and recognize its beneficial effect.
Often such treatment is used directly to accelerate the healing of wounds and sutures.
In order to use phytotherapeutic agents, you need to consult a doctor. He will choose the most suitable option. These can be teas and decoctions for oral administration, which increase immunity and body tone, or decoctions for local treatment of sutures. Such drugs have an anti-inflammatory effect, anesthetize, improve the circulation of substances, have an antimicrobial effect, improve the formation of new tissue at the wound site.
Possible complications slowing down the healing of sutures
After suturing, for various reasons, complications with its healing may occur. As a rule, this is an infection, due to which suppuration of the suture develops, preventing its healing. There can be several reasons for infection:
- poorly processed materials during surgery;
- the appearance of a hematoma and the development of tissue necrosis;
- poor quality of materials used for suturing;
- weak immunity and general health.
These reasons significantly complicate the recovery of the patient. If the work of the surgeon was not sufficiently qualified, and complications arose after the operation, then in this case it remains to deal with the consequences. But the cause of weakened immunity can be tried to eliminate in advance. It is enough just to eat right, take vitamins and exercise. Such active people have much more body reserves, and at critical moments they will cope with inflammation and disease. In addition, their internal reactions proceed faster, and these are the processes of recovery, metabolism, oxygen transport and the formation of new tissues. Therefore, people who lead an active lifestyle usually recover faster and tolerate various diseases more easily.
Correct stitching required
If hygiene is observed in relation to the postoperative suture, unpleasant complications can be avoided and the healing process can be accelerated. Stitches after surgery must be carefully looked after. If a complication develops, then such sutures heal much longer. To avoid complications and reduce recovery time, the sutures must be properly processed. It is necessary to stock up in the pharmacy with hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green, cotton buds and discs, sterile bandages. Be sure to consult with your doctor about how often you need to treat the seam. Before handling, wash your hands with soap and dry them well. Seams should be processed after water procedures.
Initially, the area to be treated should be blotted with a towel. In no case do not rub, you need to get wet very carefully so as not to break the resulting crust. After that, give a little time for the skin to dry, and then treat with hydrogen peroxide. This can be done in two ways: blotting the seam with a bandage soaked or watering it with a thin stream. Allow to dry again after processing. Using a cotton swab, treat with brilliant green and, if necessary, apply a bandage from a bandage. Bandages are not usually required, but in some cases, the doctor may recommend bandaging to care for stitches. If you carry out such treatment at least once a day, you will soon see that the sutures heal faster.
By following all the recommendations of the doctor, eliminating harmful factors in the presence of which the sutures heal worse, you can significantly reduce the time of their healing and minimize complications. The main thing is not to forget about proper nutrition, hygiene procedures and reasonable physical activity.
When a child is born through natural routes, doctors sometimes have to resort to perineotomy or episiotomy - a cut of tissue from the entrance to the vagina towards back to the rectum or at an angle to the midline. Stitches on the perineum after childbirth require special attention of physicians and compliance with some recommendations by the young mother.
Read in this article
Why are stitches
Perineotomy is an operation that protects the mother and helps the child to be born. In the second stage of labor, excessive stretching of the tissues of the perineum may occur, there is a threat of its rupture. This happens in such cases:
- high crotch;
- tissue stiffness in women giving birth for the first time after 30 years;
- scars after previous births;
- the position of the child during childbirth, when he is facing the perineum with his forehead or face (extensor presentation);
- the use of obstetric forceps or vacuum extraction of the fetus;
- large fruit;
- rapid childbirth;
- premature eruption of the head with improper delivery by a midwife.
A straight-edged incision heals better than a tear. Therefore, a dissection of the perineum is performed, followed by suturing after the birth of the child. Wound suturing is performed for its speedy healing.
Precautions in behavior after the incision
The length of tissue dissection is about 2-3 cm; after suturing, the incision heals quickly. To prevent this process from slowing down and becoming more complicated, a young mother should take some precautions:
- on the first day after childbirth, you should only lie down;
- it is allowed to stand and walk already from the second day, for example, a woman should eat at a special high table, which is in the dining room of the maternity hospital;
- you can sit only 3 days after the stitches are removed or 2 weeks after the birth, first on chairs and only then on a soft bed or sofa;
- feed the newborn should be lying on the bed;
- properly care for the perineum;
- avoid constipation;
- wear cotton non-tight underwear.
When are stitches removed after childbirth? This usually happens a week or earlier after the baby is born. Thus, a woman should be careful in the first 14 days of the postpartum period.
If the sutures are applied using a bioabsorbable material, then they do not need to be removed. The woman is discharged home at the usual time, the synthetic threads in the incision area completely disappear after a few weeks. Nodules disappear within 2 weeks after birth.
Proper care of the intimate area and seams
How to handle stitches on the perineum after childbirth? The use of special antiseptic agents is not required. After visiting the toilet, a woman should wash herself with warm boiled water in the direction from the perineum to the anus and dry the skin with a clean cloth or paper towel. After washing, it is recommended to lie on the bed for some time without a pad, so that the area of \u200b\u200bthe seams dries well.
It is also necessary to change postpartum pads at least every 2 hours to prevent infection.
When following these simple tips, the incision in the perineum is not dangerous. After it, only a small scar remains. If a cosmetic suture was applied, then traces of it are practically invisible.
The use of drugs for the care of sutures is required when healing is slow or complications develop. These drugs must be prescribed by a doctor. Treatment with chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide is usually used, ointments are less often recommended - Levomekol, Vishnevsky Ointment, Solcoseryl, products with panthenol.
Recovery Exercises
To speed up tissue repair, you can perform special exercises. It should be remembered that before the removal of the stitches, it is impossible to carry out exercises with abduction (breeding) of the legs.
In the first two days, exercises are performed lying in bed. They include bending the legs at the ankle joints, and then at the knees. In the future, raising the pelvis with support on bent legs joins. Breathing exercises are also helpful. The duration of the lessons is 15 minutes.
In the following days, gymnastics is performed while standing and its duration increases to 20 minutes. Turns and shallow torso bends, standing on toes, light squats are added. Periodic contraction of the anal sphincter during the day and attempts to temporarily stop the stream of urine during urination are shown. Such exercises help to restore blood supply to tissues and speed up healing.
Causes of divergence of seams
In some women, however, there is a divergence of the seams after suturing the incision of the perineum. The reason for this is the woman's non-compliance with the recommendations on the regimen:
- getting out of bed early;
- prolonged sitting during the first week after childbirth;
- incorrectly performed exercises during gymnastics.
In addition, the seams diverge when the postoperative wound becomes infected.
Symptoms to watch out for
If a woman has pain in her stitches after giving birth, she should tell her doctor. This is one of the main symptoms of non-healing wounds. In addition, signs of trouble may include:
- bleeding from the incision;
- a feeling of fullness in the perineum;
- tissue swelling;
- fever, chills, weakness;
- purulent discharge;
- formations under the skin in the form of tubercles or cones.
In all these situations, it is necessary to contact the antenatal clinic. Otherwise, the sutures will hurt for a very long time, and after the wound has healed, the deformation of the walls of the vagina and perineum will remain.
Methods for correcting abnormal skin fusion
The perineum is usually sutured with two rows of sutures: the first is superimposed on the muscles, and the second on the skin. If only the superficial suture has parted, measures are taken to prevent infection (treatment with chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green and other antiseptics), re-suturing is not carried out.
If a woman really has the whole seam open, then purulent inflammation usually becomes the cause. In this case, there is severe pain, fever, purulent discharge. In this case, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor, it is likely that surgical treatment of the wound will be required.
With a significant deformation remaining after a parted deep seam, it is shown later.
So, stitches on the perineum after childbirth are superimposed for the speedy healing of the tissue incision. Subject to the rules of care and careful attitude of a woman to her health, her well-being quickly returns to normal. If disturbing symptoms appear, you should seek help from a gynecologist.
The postpartum period for a woman is not always “cloudless”. Other chores are added to the daily worries about the little man. It all depends on the course of the birth. Recently, and or incisions during childbirth, few people will be surprised. The result of these “procedures” is stitches that cause a lot of questions for newly-made mothers. Especially "unpredictable" and "mysterious" are the internal seams. It is understandable, because the outer seam can always be felt or even seen, but the inner seams are covered with "gloom".
How did they appear
Let's start by remembering what the internal seams are and where they come from. The cause of the internal stitches - or the walls of the vagina. Most often, the tissues of the cervix "tear" in when the cervix opens slowly, and the woman begins to push prematurely, that is, push the fetus out. Almost every woman has premature attempts, but they need to be “held” by all means until the cervix is fully dilated. During attempts, the fetal head exerts strong pressure on the cervix, and if it has not yet fully opened, then it simply breaks. For the same reason, the walls of the vagina can also rupture.
Internal breaks are not always noticeable. However, after childbirth, each doctor carefully examines the woman in labor and provides her with the necessary assistance for ruptures, that is, stitches. This procedure is absolutely painless, because the cervix has no pain receptors, so the woman is not given anesthesia. Sutures are performed in several ways, depending on the severity of the rupture, with special absorbable threads. Basically, catgud is used for this - a suture material that is made from the intestines of cattle or sheep - or vicryl.
What to do with them
Absolutely nothing. Internal seams are only “pleasant” because they do not require special care, and do not need any ointments, douches, and even more so tablets. Since the tears are sutured with self-absorbable threads, they do not need to be removed accordingly. Over time, they “self-destruct”. When will this happen and how can you find out about it? It all depends on the suture material and the severity of the tear. Usually the threads dissolve completely and completely after 90 days. But there are also those that “fall off” much earlier, but not before the complete fusion of damaged tissues. Sometimes the "remains" of the thread are noticeable on the linen, but this is not the main indicator. Doctors say that you should not worry if you do not find parts of the thread, but at the same time you absolutely do not feel any other discomfort.
The main condition for the rapid and safe healing of internal sutures is personal hygiene. This includes both the purity of the external genital organs and the whole body. Don't forget about your diet too. After all, constipation is extremely undesirable: extra "attempts" adversely affect the condition of the wounds, which should "grow together." A woman must also comply with the following requirements:
- Do not lift weights;
- Do not make sudden movements, especially in the first days after childbirth;
- Refrain from sexual intercourse for 1-2 months.
When to See a Doctor
Many women complain of discomfort in the abdominal part after the application of internal sutures. Very often there are pain, a feeling of twitching and pulsation. In the first 2-3 days after childbirth, these phenomena are very normal, but if they continue further, then you need to urgently consult a doctor. You should also see a doctor right away if you have:
- Pain in the area of stitches does not stop;
- There is a feeling of heaviness in the uterus or vagina;
- The body temperature rises;
- Purulent discharge with an unpleasant odor appears.
All these symptoms may indicate either ruptures of the seam, or inflammatory processes in the area of \u200b\u200bthe internal seams. In any case, the diagnosis, and even more so the treatment, should be prescribed by a doctor. You may be given either ice packs, treatment with ointments or antibiotics, or a second surgical procedure.
However, even if absolutely nothing bothers you in the postpartum period, a visit to the gynecologist should not be postponed. The doctor must "assess" the condition of the scars. With improper tissue fusion, or rupture of the sutures, most often the cervix is \u200b\u200bdeformed, resulting in chronic inflammation of the cervix and other sores.
Comes after 3-6 months.
Patience to you and health!
Especially for- Tanya Kivezhdiy
Every expectant mother often thinks about How long does it take for stitches to dissolve after childbirth? And what can she do to speed up this process. After all, postpartum sutures can heal for weeks, or even months. It is believed that men are proud that they should fight, and women should give birth. Sometimes after the hospital there are no less serious scars than after military operations. This happens because not all women in labor know how to properly care for stitches after childbirth.
Stitches after childbirth are quite common. Most often this happens in women who have become a mother for the first time. Postpartum sutures are applied in 4 cases:
- In natural childbirth, if the tissues of the uterus have torn. This happens if the uterus does not open enough during contractions and the fetus is pushed out prematurely;
- After caesarean section. Such seams must be applied;
- During rupture of the vaginal walls, which are damaged for the same reasons that the cervix ruptures;
- With ruptures of the perineum. Perineal injuries are the most common. This unpleasant phenomenon occurs under various circumstances.
- Damaged posterior perineal joint;
- Torn muscles and skin of the pelvic floor;
- The walls of the rectum, muscles and skin.
How long does it take to heal different types of sutures?
Depending on the type of rupture or incision, both self-absorbable sutures and those from which the threads need to be removed can be applied. Recently, for suturing, a technique borrowed from cosmetology has been used. This is done if the edges of the cut or tear are sufficiently even. This is an intradermal suture, the thread of which runs in a zigzag manner and comes out only at the beginning and end. As a result, the scar heals quickly enough and over time is almost invisible.Depending on the situation, a different method of suturing is sometimes used.. With the help of absorbable material, both muscles and skin are sutured with one thread. Thanks to this method, the healing process is the most painless compared to other types of sutures. This happens thanks to well-matched tissues.
The material of which the threads are composed directly depends on the time of suture resorption:
- Stitches from catgut threads will resolve from 30 to 120 days. In this case, it all depends on the thickness and place of application of the thread.
- Lavsan threads distributed over different periods of resorption. Basically it is from 10 to 50 days.
- Vicryl threads will resolve in 60 to 90 days.
What nuances should a woman in labor observe in order to avoid complications?
The main complications of the sutures are their divergence and the penetration of infection into them. Internal seams are practically not amenable to discrepancy. The failure of the seams should be feared if they are on the perineum. Basically, perineal wounds diverge for four reasons:- Premature sudden movements;
- Early sitting down;
- Wound infection;
- Early, active sex life.
- First of all, give up tight underwear and wear only loose, preferably cotton;
- Be sure to change sanitary pads every 2 hours;
- Every morning and evening, thoroughly wash the seams with soap and wash with clean, warm water every time you visit the ladies' room;
- Dry the perineum with a towel after each wash;
- Every day, be sure to clean the wound with antiseptics;
- Also, if possible, avoid constipation, so as not to put pressure on the perineum once again.
- How long do they heal
- How to care for stitches
- What complications can be
- How to shoot
During childbirth, it is not uncommon for a woman to have a rupture of the vagina, uterus, or perineum. This situation is not difficult, because doctors skillfully and quickly sew up such gaps, without focusing on this special attention.
In fact, all this is very unpleasant. Firstly, the process of stitching is a rather painful procedure. Secondly, stitches after childbirth can bring a lot of worries and troubles to a young mother. You need to know how to minimize them and reduce the undesirable consequences of gaps to nothing. Proper postpartum care for these "battle" scars will largely depend on where they are located.
Kinds
Depending on where exactly the rupture occurred, there are external (on the perineum) and internal seams after childbirth (on the cervix, in the vagina). They are made with threads from different materials, which means they require special care, which the young mother must be informed about.
Stitches on the cervix
- reason: large fruit;
- anesthesia: not performed, since the cervix loses sensitivity for some time after childbirth;
- suture materials: catgut, which allows you to apply self-absorbable sutures that do not have to be removed later; as well as vicryl, caproag, PGA;
- advantages: do not cause inconvenience, are not felt, do not cause complications;
- care: not required.
Stitches in the vagina
- reason: birth trauma, vaginal ruptures of various depths;
- anesthesia: local anesthesia with novocaine or lidocaine;
- suture material: catgut;
- disadvantages: preservation of soreness for several days;
- care: not required.
Seams at the crotch
- causes: natural (damage to the perineum during childbirth), artificial (dissection by a gynecologist);
- types: I degree (the wound affects only the skin), II degree (the skin and muscle fibers are damaged), III degree (the rupture reaches the walls of the rectum);
- anesthesia: local anesthesia with lidocaine;
- suture materials: catgut (at I degree), non-absorbable threads - silk or nylon (at II, III degree);
- disadvantages: preservation of soreness for a long time;
- care: rest, hygiene, regular treatment with antiseptic solutions.
A particular problem is the external seams after childbirth, which are performed on the perineum. They can cause various kinds of complications (suppuration, inflammation, infection, etc.), therefore, they require special, regular care. A young mother should be warned about this even in the maternity hospital, and also informed about how to treat such wound surfaces. Usually women have many questions about this, and each of them is very important for her health and condition.
How long does it take for stitches to heal after childbirth?
Every woman who could not avoid ruptures is concerned about how long the stitches heal after childbirth, because she really wants to quickly get rid of pain and return to her previous lifestyle. The speed of healing depends on many factors:
- when using self-absorbable threads, healing occurs within 2 weeks, the scars themselves dissolve for about a month and do not cause much trouble;
- much more problematic is the question of how long the sutures heal when using other materials: they are removed only 5-6 days after childbirth, they take from 2 to 4 weeks to heal, depending on the individual characteristics of the body and care for them;
- the healing period of postpartum scars can increase when microbes enter the wounds, therefore, the ability to treat wound surfaces and monitor their cleanliness is required.
In an effort to quickly return to their old way of life and get rid of painful sensations, young mothers are looking for ways to quickly heal the stitches after childbirth so that they do not interfere with their enjoyment of the joy of communication with the newborn. This will directly depend on how accurate a woman is and whether she competently takes care of her postpartum “combat” wounds.
How to care for seams?
If ruptures could not be avoided, you need to know in advance how to care for the stitches after childbirth in order to avoid complications and speed up their healing. The doctor must definitely give detailed advice and tell you how to do it correctly. This is part of his professional duties, so feel free to ask. Usually, caring for stitches after childbirth involves a sedentary lifestyle, hygiene, and treatment with various wound healing and antiseptic agents.
- In the maternity hospital, the midwife treats the external scars with “greenery” or a concentrated solution of “potassium permanganate” 2 times a day.
- Change your pad every two hours after giving birth.
- Use only loose natural (preferably cotton) underwear or special disposable panties.
- You can not wear tight underwear, which exerts strong pressure on the perineum, which has a bad effect on blood circulation: in this case, the healing of stitches after childbirth may be delayed.
- Wash your face every two hours and after every visit to the toilet.
- Go to the toilet at regular intervals so that a full bladder does not interfere with uterine contractions.
- In the morning and evening, when you take a shower, wash your perineum with soap and water, and during the day just wash it with water.
- It is necessary to wash the outer scar as carefully as possible: direct a jet of water directly at it.
- After washing, dry the perineum with blotting movements of the towel in one direction - from front to back.
- Another important question is how long it is impossible to sit with stitches after childbirth if they are made on the perineum. Doctors, depending on the degree of damage, call the period from 7 to 14 days. At the same time, it is allowed to sit on the toilet immediately on the first day. After a week, you can squat on the buttock opposite the side in which the damage was recorded. It is recommended to sit down exclusively on a hard surface. This issue needs to be considered during the return of a young mother home from the hospital. It is better for her to lie or half-sitting in the back seat of the car.
- No need to be afraid of severe pain and because of this, skip a bowel movement. This creates an additional load on the muscles of the perineum, as a result of which the pain intensifies. To facilitate this process, you can safely use glycerin suppositories after childbirth with sutures: they are rectal and soften the stool without harming the wounded perineum.
- Avoid constipation, do not eat products that have a fixing effect. Before eating, drink a tablespoon of vegetable oil so that the stool normalizes and does not slow down the healing process.
- Do not lift weights weighing more than 3 kg.
These are the basic rules of hygiene that allow, even with breaks, the body of a young mother to quickly recover and return to normal. But what to do if the stitches after childbirth hurt for too long, when all the deadlines have already passed, but it still doesn’t get easier? Perhaps some factors provoked complications that will require not only additional care, but also treatment.
What complications can occur with suturing?
Very often, a woman continues to feel pain and discomfort after two weeks after giving birth. This is a signal that something has prevented healing, and this is fraught with various complications - in this case, medical intervention, treatment, and treatment of sutures after childbirth with special preparations will be required. Therefore, a young mother should be extremely attentive and sensitive to her own feelings, monitor the healing process of postpartum injuries very carefully.
- if the scars do not heal for a very long time, they hurt, but during a medical examination no pathologies and special problems were identified, the doctor may advise warming up;
- they are carried out no earlier than 2 weeks after childbirth to allow the uterus to contract (read more about the restoration of the uterus after childbirth);
- for this procedure, use "blue", quartz or infrared lamps;
- heating is carried out for 5-10 minutes from a distance of 50 cm;
- it can be done independently at home after consulting a doctor;
- ointment for healing sutures "Kontraktubeks" can also relieve pain: it is applied 2 times a day for 2-3 weeks.
The seam has come apart:
- if the seam has opened after childbirth, it is strictly forbidden to do something at home;
- in this case, you need to call a doctor or an ambulance;
- if the divergence of the sutures after childbirth was indeed diagnosed, most often they are superimposed anew;
- but if at the same time the wound has already healed, this will not require any medical intervention;
- in such cases, the doctor, after the examination, will prescribe how to treat the stitches after childbirth: usually these are wound healing ointments or suppositories.
- very often women complain that their stitches itch after childbirth, and very strongly - as a rule, this does not indicate any abnormalities and pathologies;
- itching is most often a symptom of healing, so it should not cause anxiety in a woman;
- in order to somehow alleviate this unpleasant, albeit favorable symptom, it is recommended to wash yourself more often with water at room temperature (the main thing is not to be hot);
- this also applies to those cases when the suture is pulled: this is how they heal; but in this case, check for yourself whether you started sitting up too early and whether you have to carry weights.
- if a woman notices an unpleasant, abnormal discharge (not to be confused with the restoration of menstruation), smells bad and is suspicious brownish-green in color, this may mean festering, which is a serious health hazard;
- if the seam is festering, you must definitely tell the doctor about it;
- this is how complications such as inflammation of the sutures after giving birth or their divergence can occur - both cases require medical intervention;
- if infection occurs, antibiotics may be prescribed;
- from external processing, it is recommended to smear with Malavit shvygel, Levomekol, Solcoseryl, Vishnevsky ointments;
- if the scars fester, only a doctor can prescribe what can be treated: in addition to the above anti-inflammatory and wound healing gels and ointments, chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide are also used, which disinfect wound cavities.
- if, after childbirth, shovkrovit, most likely, the basic rule was violated - do not sit during the first weeks: the tissues are stretched, and the wound surfaces are exposed;
- in this case, it is not recommended to treat the problem area on your own, but to contact a specialist directly;
- alteration may be required;
- but most often it is enough to use wound-healing ointments and gels (Solcoseryl, for example).
If the first days passed without the complications and special difficulties described above, there will be one more procedure left - the removal of sutures after childbirth, which is performed by a specialist on an outpatient basis. You also need to mentally prepare for it, so as not to panic and not be afraid.
How are stitches removed?
Before discharge, the doctor usually warns on which day the stitches are removed after childbirth: in the normal course of the healing process, this occurs 5-6 days after they are applied. If the woman’s stay in the maternity hospital is delayed, and she is still in the hospital at that moment, this procedure will be performed on her there. If the discharge happened earlier, you will have to come again.
And yet, the main question that worries all women going for this procedure is whether it hurts to remove stitches after childbirth and whether any anesthesia is used. Of course, the doctor always reassures that this procedure resembles only a mosquito bite. However, everything will depend on the pain threshold of a woman, which is different for everyone. If there were no complications, there will actually be no pain: only an unusual tingling sensation mixed with a burning sensation is felt. Accordingly, anesthesia is not required.
Childbirth is an unpredictable process, so anything can happen. At the same time, ruptures are not uncommon and are not perceived by doctors as a complication or difficulty. Modern medicine involves professional, competent suturing after childbirth, which subsequently deliver a minimum of discomfort with proper care.
During childbirth, a woman receives many microtraumas that heal on their own within a few weeks. They do not cause discomfort to a young mother and do not require specific treatment.
It is not uncommon for severe perineal and cervical tears to occur, leading to sutures that can cause complications if not properly cared for.
Why are stitches needed?
Stitches after childbirth are superimposed in the event that ruptures occur during the advancement of the child through the birth canal. Despite the elasticity of the cervix and vaginal walls, it is quite difficult to avoid injuries. Most often, ruptures occur with a large fetus, rapid delivery, when the tissues are not stretched enough, with the wrong behavior of the woman in labor. The last point concerns women who start pushing ahead of time or strain the small pelvis, creating an obstacle to the passage of the child.
Stitches are also applied in case of dissection of the perineum (episiotomy). The reasons are similar - the position of the fetus is incorrect, its large size, poor muscle elasticity. The dissection of the perineum is also necessary for prolonged labor, when the waters have broken, and the child is difficult to pass through the birth canal. In these cases, episiotomy saves the fetus and woman from lacerations, which heal much longer than a surgical incision. More about amniotomy →
Types of seams
There are two types of postpartum sutures:
- Internal - superimposed on the walls of the vagina and cervix with mechanical injuries. Internal seams after childbirth heal quickly enough and consist of a bioabsorbable material. When applied, anesthesia is not required, since the neck has no sensitivity.
- External - superimposed during dissection or rupture of the perineum. Depending on the wound, both a self-absorbable material and a conventional one used in surgery and required to be removed on the fifth day can be used.
How long do stitches heal?
If a woman follows all the instructions prescribed by the doctor, then the postpartum sutures heal within 3-5 weeks. With large gaps and non-observance of elementary hygiene rules, the healing process can drag on for several months.
The bioresorbable material completely disappears from the wound around the second week after delivery. Ordinary surgical threads are removed on the 5th day after childbirth.
Feelings of a woman
Unfortunately, suturing almost always leaves an unpleasant imprint. It is impossible to avoid pain and discomfort, but if you follow a few important rules, which will be discussed later, you can reduce the healing time of the sutures.
The first few days in the groin area may feel a burning sensation, itching or fullness. If there is no bleeding, then there is no cause for concern. The main thing is not to expose your body to a strong load, and with severe pain, be sure to see a doctor.
There may be discomfort during intercourse. Until the stitches are completely healed, you must give up sex! A woman will not only be hurt, but a complication is possible.
How to care for wounds?
If the internal seams after childbirth do not require special care, then external wounds must be monitored with special care. The first treatment is carried out in the hospital, then repeated 2-3 times a day. Usually, green or potassium permanganate is used for this.
After being discharged for sutures, a woman needs to process the sutures on her own and follow a few simple rules:
- Change the gasket every 2-3 hours, at least. Postpartum discharge disturbs every woman in labor, so the use of hygiene products is mandatory. If possible, it is better to use special pads that have a natural base and a soft, non-synthetic material as a cover. They prevent the appearance of allergies, irritation and promote rapid healing of sutures.
- Rinse with warm running water, after a shower, walk a little without underwear. In the air, the seams after childbirth heal much faster. You can not wipe the perineum with a towel after a shower. It is better to lightly blot with a cotton cloth or wait until it dries completely.
- After a shower, treat the seams with brilliant green.
- You can not lift weights for a month and sit for at least 10 days.
- You need to wear underwear only from natural materials, even better - disposable cotton panties. At first, it is necessary to abandon tight underwear that disrupts blood flow in the genitals.
Possible Complications
In most cases, the stitches heal well after childbirth, without causing the woman unnecessary discomfort. But there are several diseases that can be caused by poor hygiene and weakened immunity of a young mother:
- The seam came apart. With improper suturing, bowel movements with effort and heavy lifting, the sutures may diverge. Most often this happens within the first three days after childbirth, but maybe later. Treatment consists of re-suturing.
- The seam festered. If a woman has an infection that has not been cured before childbirth or she does not observe hygiene, then suppuration of the suture is possible. In this case, severe pain occurs, the wound swells, pus is released from it. Treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor, you should not try to get rid of inflammation on your own!
- The stitches hurt a lot. As mentioned above, the first time the outer seams cause pain. Within the normal range, when a woman feels discomfort when sitting or washing. If the pain does not stop, but intensifies, there is a burning sensation or pressure when walking, then we can talk about the inflammatory process. You can’t start the disease, you need to see a gynecologist and get recommendations for treatment.
No need to be afraid of suturing during childbirth. This is a manipulation familiar in modern medicine that allows you to save the health and life of a child, and a woman to prevent the appearance of ugly, unaesthetic wounds.
Useful video about perineal plastic surgery
During childbirth, a woman receives many microtraumas that do not cause discomfort and heal on their own within a few weeks. But more serious injuries are not uncommon. For example, hemorrhoids or ruptures of the cervix and perineum. Sometimes doctors have to sew up torn tissue. Stitches after childbirth require mandatory care. Otherwise, it can lead to serious problems.
Internal seams
Internal stitches are called, which are superimposed on the cervix or vaginal walls during birth injuries. When stitching these tissues, anesthesia is not used, since the cervix has no sensitivity - there is nothing to anesthetize there. Access to the internal genital organs of a woman is difficult, so the sutures are applied with a self-absorbable thread.
To prevent complications, you should follow the rules of personal hygiene. These include the following activities:
- Regular change of sanitary napkins.
- Wearing comfortable underwear that has a loose fit and is made from natural materials. The best option would be special disposable panties. This also applies to towels.
- Regular hygiene of the genitals with warm water and baby soap. You can use infusions of medicinal herbs, such as chamomile or calendula. It is important to wash yourself after every visit to the toilet.
Internal seams do not require processing. After their imposition, it is only obligatory for a woman to observe the rules of personal hygiene. It is recommended to refrain from sex for 2 months, not to lift heavy objects during this time, to avoid problems with bowel movements. The latter include delayed defecation, constipation, and hard stools. It is useful to take a spoonful of sunflower oil before meals. Usually, a cleansing enema is done before childbirth, so the stool appears on the 3rd day.
The reasons for the rupture of the cervix and the subsequent suturing, as a rule, is the incorrect behavior of the woman during the birth process. That is, when the woman in labor is pushing, and the cervix has not yet opened, the baby's head presses on it, which contributes to the rupture. Often, subsequent suturing after childbirth is facilitated by: an operation on the cervix in the woman's history, a decrease in its elasticity, or childbirth in adulthood.
External seams
External seams are superimposed when the perineum is ruptured or dissected, and those that remain after a caesarean section can also be included here. Depending on the nature of the wound, doctors use either a self-absorbable suture material or one that needs to be removed after a while. External seams require constant care, the absence of which can lead to complications.
While you are in the maternity hospital, the external stitches left after the birth are processed by the procedural nurse. To do this, use a solution of brilliant green or potassium permanganate. After discharge, you will have to deal with daily processing on your own, but you can do it in the antenatal clinic. If non-absorbable threads were used, they will be removed within 3-5 days. As a rule, if there are no problems, this is done before discharge from the hospital.
Precautions to take when caring for external seams:
- You can not take a sitting position, you can only lie or stand.
- You can't scratch.
- Do not wear underwear that will put pressure on the crotch. Loose panties made of natural materials or special disposable underwear are not bad.
- Do not lift weights for 1-3 months.
- On the first day after childbirth, defecation should be delayed.
- For 2 months after giving birth, you should not have sex.
The hygiene rules are the same as for the care of internal seams. To them, you can add the use of special gaskets that have a natural base and coating. They will not cause irritation and allergies, and will promote rapid healing. After a shower, it is advisable to walk a little without clothes. When air enters, postpartum sutures will heal much faster.
Reasons for making an incision in the perineum during childbirth:
- Threat of rupture of the perineum. Incisions tend to heal faster and cause less inconvenience and negative consequences.
- Inelastic tissues of the vagina.
- The presence of scars.
- Inability to push for medical reasons.
- Incorrect position of the child or its large size.
- Rapid childbirth.
How long do postpartum sutures take to heal and is it painful to remove them?
Many women in labor are interested in the question - how long after childbirth the stitches heal. The healing time depends on many factors. These include medical indications, suturing technique, materials used. Postpartum sutures are produced using:
- Bioabsorbable material
- Non-absorbable
- metal brackets
When using absorbable material, healing of the damage takes 1-2 weeks. The stitches themselves dissolve after childbirth for about a month. When using brackets or non-absorbable threads, they are removed 3-7 days after childbirth. Complete healing will take from 2 weeks to a month, depending on the cause of the tears and the size. Large - can heal for several months.
Discomfort at the site of the suture will be felt for about 6 weeks. The first time may be painful. The suture applied after childbirth hurts, just like any surgical one. This usually goes away within 10 days. Suture removal is a virtually painless procedure that should not be feared.
How to handle stitches after childbirth?
The treatment of sutures after discharge from the hospital is carried out either independently or in the antenatal clinic. Hospitals use brilliant green or potassium permanganate. How to smear the seams at home, the doctor will explain. Ointments are usually recommended: solcoseryl, chlorhexidine, levomekol. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used. With proper care and proper processing, the sutures heal quickly, without negative consequences and pronounced cosmetic effects.
How long can you sit?
The minimum period during which you can not take a sitting position is at least 7-10 days. A longer time limit is also possible. This does not include sitting on the toilet while going to the toilet. You can sit on the toilet and walk from the first day after suturing.
What are the complications of sutures
If the stitches are not properly cared for and precautions are not taken during the healing period, complications can occur. This is suppuration, discrepancy and pain in their locations. Let's consider each type of complications in order:
- Suppuration. In this case, there are strong pain sensations, there is swelling of the wound, purulent discharge. Body temperature may rise. This outcome is manifested by insufficient attention to personal hygiene or an infection that was not cured before delivery. If you suspect that the stitches are festering, you should immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe the correct treatment.
- Pain. This does not apply to painful sensations that occur in the first days after suturing. Pain often indicates an infection, inflammation, or some other problem, so it's best to see a doctor. It is undesirable to self-medicate, only a doctor can prescribe the necessary procedures and medicines for you.
- Discrepancy. This rarely happens with internal seams, more often they diverge if located at the crotch. The reasons for this may be early sexual activity after childbirth, infection, too early sitting down and sudden movements. When the seams diverge, a woman is worried about severe pain, swelling of the wound is observed, which sometimes bleeds. Sometimes the temperature rises, which indicates infection. A feeling of heaviness and fullness indicates the presence of a hematoma.
Video: Seam for caesarean section
After watching the speech of the obstetrician-gynecologist Alexander Viktorovich Kurgansky below, you will receive answers to the main questions regarding stitches after a cesarean section.
Was this article helpful?
2 people replied
Thanks for your feedback!
Man replied
Thank you. Your message has been sent
Did you find an error in the text?
Select it, click Ctrl+Enter and we'll fix it!
