If you are experiencing issues like incontinence or continued pain, your healthcare provider might recommend Kegel exercises to help restore muscle tone around the perineum. As with all surgical procedures, infection is possible following an episiotomy. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room if you experience an infection such as:. Keep in mind that in addition to infection, there are other complications that can occur after an episiotomy—some of which can be serious.
If you have any unusual or concerning symptoms, or even if you just have questions about aftercare, don't hesitate to contact your healthcare provider.
Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Kettle, C. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
National Library of Medicine. Episiotomy after care. Updated April 18, Rev Bras Enferm. Frohlich J, Kettle C. Perineal care. BMJ Clin Evid. Published Mar Steen M, Cummins B.
How to repair an episiotomy. Nurs Stand. Your Privacy Rights. Since it is very common, especially for first-time moms, to tear during labor, they often receive stitches immediately following the birth. Depending on the severity of the tear, more or fewer stitches may be necessary.
The stitches dissolve on their own as the tears heal, but as this happens they dry up and can be another cause of postpartum vaginal itching. Right after birth, the very high hormone levels that you experienced during pregnancy plummet. Two of the primary hormones, progesterone and estrogen , fall within a few days after birth to levels normally associated with menopause.
Furthermore, while low estrogen affects all women who have recently given birth for at least a couple of months, breastfeeding women in particular experience even lower levels of estrogen as long as they are breastfeeding. The consequences of these low hormone levels include vaginal dryness and postpartum itching.
Once you stop breastfeeding, your hormone levels should self-regulate and your dryness should go away. Another common cause of postpartum vaginal itching is the healing of post-birth stitches. Giving birth requires a certain amount of stretching, and sometimes that stretching can cause tears in the vagina or perineum the area just between the vagina and the anus. Most women experience just first- or second-degree tearing, which can easily be stitched up in the delivery room.
However, some women may experience more extreme third- or fourth-degree tearing, which usually requires treatment in an operating room. Women who are most at risk for tearing include:.
These are not done as often as they were in the past, but if you do have one, your medical practitioner will stitch up the incision after birth. While this area of the body tends to heal quickly, the stitches can itch as they dry up and disintegrate. Most doctors recommend waiting at least six weeks before having sex again after your baby is born. While some women feel up to jumping back in the sack sooner than that, most find that getting back to a great sex life takes some work.
Anthropophobia is a fear of people. Typically, a fear of people is associated with…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What is the perineum? What causes itching or burning in the perineum? Read this next. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Anal Warts. Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph. Medically reviewed by Timothy Gossett, M. Medically reviewed by Stella Bard, MD. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.
Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:.
Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional.
Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Your Recovery How can you care for yourself at home? When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Recovery An episiotomy is a cut, or incision, in your perineum. How can you care for yourself at home?
0コメント