How To Care For Stitches After Childbirth

Whether you have had a caesarean section or an episiotomy, it is important to give the stitches time to heal after delivery. We tell you how to best take care of the stitches in the following article.

How to care for stitches after a cesarean section

Recovery for a woman who has had a caesarean section may be slower than for a mother whose baby was born vaginally. In addition to general discomfort and pain, you also need to take care of the stitches after giving birth.

Some tips to get you through it in the best way are:

1. Take short showers

While the stitches remain, you can not bathe or otherwise immerse your body in water. To wash yourself, you can take short showers and clean the wound with water and a neutral soap, if it is not covered with a bandage. Your doctor may also prescribe you to use a special antiseptic soap.

2. Let the wound “breathe”

The bandage you get over the wound in the hospital protects it from your underwear, sheets and other things that may come in contact with the stitches, and it relieves the pain.

But it is also important that the wound is allowed to “breathe” to minimize bacterial growth. Bacteria grow best in warm humid places, so it is important to keep the wound dry, clean and well ventilated.

To do this, you must remove the bandage and let the wound breathe for a while. Be careful not to breastfeed or sleep with your partner while the area is exposed. Also limit your time outdoors in the meantime.

3. Do not wear tight-fitting clothing

Do not wear tight-fitting pants or other clothing that is tight over the area when you still have the stitches left. Also avoid anything with a zipper.

We also recommend that you do not make any sudden movements or heavy lifts to avoid the stitches rising and injuring yourself. A good rule of thumb is not to lift anything heavier than your baby.

During recovery, it can be difficult to do certain things, but remind yourself that it will soon get better. To get out of bed, move your body to the edge of the bed, slowly lower your feet and hold a pillow against your stomach before standing up.

How to care for stitches after an episiotomy

During a vaginal or natural birth, you sometimes have to make an incision in the perineum area – the one between the vulva and the anus – so that the baby can come out without the area cracking.

The incision is then sewn together with stitches made of a synthetic material which means that they “fall off” on their own and are absorbed by the body. A thicker material can also be used, which must be removed by a doctor or midwife after about 10 days.

The incision is known as an episiotomy, and leaves a wound that must heal after delivery.

In order to heal properly from an episiotomy, it is imperative to take care of the wound. When the mother is in the hospital, the care staff takes care of it, but when she has been allowed to go home, she must do it herself at home or with the help of her partner.

Some tips to remember to heal after an episiotomy are:

1. Keep the area clean and dry

Every time you go to the toilet, you should wash yourself thoroughly with clean water. You can use a bottle of lukewarm water and rinse off directly on the toilet or quickly step into the shower.

Do not forget to wipe the area afterwards with soft, patting movements with a towel that does not leave threads behind. Some women also dry themselves with a fan or even with a cold air hair dryer.

2. Wash with water and salt

Some doctors recommend this to speed healing. Of course, the water must be warm and you do not have to pour in too much salt: a handful is enough. It is a good idea to refill the bottle you use to rinse off after a toilet visit with a saline solution.

When you are done, remember to dry the area well.

Use specially made bandages

Your underwear must be loose and made of cotton material. When sleeping, it is advisable to remove as much of the bandage as possible to prevent the area from getting damp. The pharmacy sells specially made bandages for this area that can breathe and prevent the stitches from getting stuck.

Whether the baby came into the world with a caesarean section or with the help of an episiotomy, it is important to take care of the stitches to avoid an infection. Obstetricians will provide you with a treatment plan to speed up the healing process and minimize any complications.

Try to follow the treatment plan as closely as possible and you will see that everything will heal fine.