Self-Care After Episiotomy

You had an episiotomy or a tissue tear during your baby’s birth. An episiotomy is a cut (incision) made to make the opening of the vagina larger. A tear happens on its own. The healthcare provider used stitches to repair the skin in or near your vagina. The stitches will dissolve on their own in a few weeks. They don’t need to be removed by your healthcare provider.

Preventing infection

Lower the risk of infection by keeping your stitches clean. To do this:

• Gently wipe from front to back after you have a bowel movement.

• After wiping, spray warm water on the stitches. Pat dry.

• After peeing, it's OK not to wipe. Just spray with warm water and then pat dry.

• Don’t use soap or any fluid except water unless your healthcare provider advises it.

• Change your sanitary pads at least every 2 to 4 hours.

Preventing constipation

Follow these suggestions:

• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and bran cereals.

• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, unless told otherwise.

• Don’t strain to have a bowel movement.

• Ask your healthcare provider if you should use a stool softener.

• If you are breastfeeding, ask your provider before you take any medicine.

Easing pain

Try to make yourself more comfortable by:

• Sitting in a warm, shallow water bath (sitz bath).

• Placing cold packs or heat packs on your stitches. Keep a thin towel between the pack and your skin.

• Sitting on a firm seat so that the stitches pull less.

• Using medicated spray as ordered by your healthcare provider.

• Talking with your provider about using an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen to ease the pain.

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment as directed.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these:

• Blood clots the size of a quarter or larger that keep coming from your vagina

• Heavy or gushing bleeding from your vagina

• Smelly fluid from your vagina

• Severe pain in the stomach or worse pain near your stitches

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Shaking chills

• No bowel movement within 1 week after the birth of your baby

• Trouble peeing

• Pain or urgency when you pee

• Stitches that come out or pieces of stitches passing from your vagina