Stitches and pain relief

[Elizdia]

Hi ladies

Wondering if anyone you know the answer to this from previous experiences. Say if you have a natural labour but just have gas and air and you tear and need stitches. Do they give you a shot or anything to num you, I'm so scared of tearing and being stitched up, i literally can't bare to think of it.

 

[Carlyp1990]

When I was being stitched up I had no pain relief, the pethidine I'd had during labour had worn off as it was 8 hours later. They told me to use the gas and air but it makes me feel dizzy so I can't use it. Tbh the pain from giving birth is much worse than the pain from stitches and you have a little buzz because your baby is right there I wouldn't worry xx

 

[emeeorevan]

My doc used a local anesthetic to numb the area before stitching. (a numbing shot like the kinda the dentist uses) I was thankful later cause I was up and walking quickly and the med wore off in about a hour or so and everything was sore (it felt like a really bad bruise, but only really hurt when moving)

 

[Claire788]

I had a huge episiotomy and they just cut me - didn't hurt one bit, due to babys head pressing on skin for so long (It'd all gone numb ages before!) however after they stitched me up, they gave me Local anaesthetic first


Didn't need any pain relief after, was a couple of hours before the anaesthetic wore off, and maybe just a paracetamol or two, and it was ok

 

[Elizdia]

thanks for your replies! Gosh, i am so scared of tearing. I think they say to minimise the chance of tearing you should only push when the midwife tells you to right?

 

[emeeorevan]

thanks for your replies! Gosh, i am so scared of tearing. I think they say to minimize the chance of tearing you should only push when the midwife tells you to right?

that is a good rule of thumb. Also, I you don't mind having an episiotomy to prevent tearing, let your doc know. I don't know how that works with a midwife. Are midwifes allowed to perform episiotomies?

i think a clean episiotomy is easier than tearing (i've done both). The episiotomy makes it easier for the doc to stitch up and healed faster and looks/feels more natural afterward to me.

 

[Pussy Galore]

I had an episiotomy and then a local anaesthetic whilst I was stiched up and as a previous poster said, you are so happy with your LO has arrived safely that you barely notice (although mine did take ages!)

I was a little sore for a while afterwards mind you!

 

[Hoping4Four]

I tore with my first because I was so out of it on pethidine and wasn't listening to the midwives. They wanted me to stop pushing but I just went for it and out flew my 5lb daughter, hand up by her face, all in one go! I ended up with a 3rd degree tear and they took me to theatre to stitch me up with a spinal block. It really wasn't that bad, though.. I healed brilliantly and didn't have too much pain afterwards. Adrenaline and being overwhelmed by your beautiful new baby takes most of the pain away anyway

I should add that I didn't tear at all with my subsequent babies. Listening to the midwives/doctors, letting the head come out slowly and being in control helped enormously. Obviously bigger babies can cause problems that are unavoidable but really bad tears aren't that common, so try not to panic!

 

[K123]

I had an episiotomy and there was no time for extra pain relief with it. I had had pethidine so wasn't too aware of what was happening, but it was a case of baby's heart rate suddenly dropping so the Dr gave a cut and a ventouse to get him out double quick - and to be honest whatever the pain caused by it would have been the emotion of the moment would have got me through without pain relief.

Afterwards I should have asked for more pain relief though - my stitches dissolved far quicker than they should and I was in agony for 10days or so. This time round I won't suffer in silence if that happens.

 

[Pink Sarah]

I had a meptid injection about 5 hrs before delivery so think it had worn off, as the midwives didn't believe baby was coming (even though I was asking for pain relief and could feel immense pressure) it all happened really quick, I had to have quite a few stitches. The midwife offered me gas and air but I didn't use as it was no where near the pain of giving birth and didn't want to risk it making me feel sick.
try not to worry if it u need stitches you will be so busy cuddling baby you wont be taking much notice x