Sore episiotomy scar. Anyone else?

[Apollo]

Hi ladies. Sorry if this is the wrong area. I gave birth 3 weeks ago tomorrow and i had an episiotomy which, I have been assured, was done very well. Anyway, it is still kinda sore, not agony or anything, just I'm aware of it and it hurts a little. It throbs a bit at times too. And the scar feels a bit swollen. My midwife says to just bathe it in salt water but is this normal to still feel it? I didnt exactly rest after birth and was back grooming dogs again 7 days later. Im worried i'v done damage. Thanks

 

[ClairAye]

You may have needed a bit more rest, but mine was sore still around 2-3 weeks, it stopped then though

 

[Apollo]

Thanks hun. Thats good to know. I guess i assumed it would all be healed up a week or so later, lol. X

 

[PandaPrincess]

I had one two weeks ago today, hurt like a b***h the first few days and started to ease off slowly. My midwife said it just takes time to heal, typically 3 weeks. The deep healing of the muscle underneath doesn't start until 10 days after birth. Xx

 

[smiler123]

Mine was still sore 8 weeks later!....it just stopped hurting one day which was a relief

 

[Reno]

I tore without an episiotomy and still have days where it aches a bit!

 

[Gemmamuk]

Mine was over 7 months ago and it's still sore occasionally

 

[Noelle610]

13 weeks postpartum here and I still have sore days

 

[Mummy2Be__x]

I had one Sunday and was wondering when the pain stops, now I'm scared after reading some of you had it for 7 months !!! Does anyone else have any tips on how to stop feeling sore? Mines still swollen and bruised, been having salt baths and resting, and read to put a pad in the freezer for a bit then put it on, going to try it tonight, any other ideas?

 

[smiler123]

Baths with tea tree oil and lavender oil sprinkled in always helped massively

 

[Apollo]

Thank you all so much really appreciate all the replies. It's something that never got told to me and so i didn't have a clue what to expect! X

 

[Gemmamuk]

Maybe I was a bit unclear. I wouldn't say mine is sore as such, but maybe sensitive is a better word for it?
I always wore things before but I prefer knickers now lol

 

[Excited4First]

I'm still sore. At my 6 wk appt my MW said it healed beautifully, but then she pressed down a bit on it and it hurt! It hurts a bit when we dtd.. I waited until 6 wk pp to dtd and I had to stop because of the pain. It is getting better though.

 

[vintagecat]

Yikes, 7 months? How do you have sex? Is it painful during?

Mine is still a bit sore at 4 weeks now. I also feel a tightness in my muscles that is uncomfortable. Stupid episiotomy.

 

[eulmh82]

oh yeah it's normal =-mine was all bumpy and horrible for weeks. In fact at ten weeks it was majorly sore because it had over healed itself and produced extra skin - by 14 weeks it was back to normal again and I can;t really feel it and can only see it if I really look for it It doesn';t hurt at all now but episiotmies take longer to heal than tears I think. I was told to bath in lavendar oil and lots of midwives said that to me. I used to bath twice a day it was the only time I was not in pain

 

[Ganton]

I found that lavender oil baths helped to soothe the area.

I also think it's really important to do your pelvic floor exercises. At first, I had a really heavy achy swollen feeling, and it was really uncomfortable to stand or walk for a couple of weeks. Although I felt I had little control over the exercises at first, I think they helped to strengthen the muscles and reduce the aching. I would say the aching stopped by 4 weeks and the soreness around the wound by 7 weeks. It wasn't always sore, I was just wary when wiping after a wash etc until about 7 weeks.