How to handle stitches after childbirth at home?

The birth of a baby is not always easy and without complications. The baby's head is larger than the diameter of the cervix and vagina, so its passage through the birth canal may be accompanied by tissue ruptures. If necessary, the doctor makes a small incision using a special tool to facilitate the exit of the child and prevent possible complications. The wound is sutured after childbirth. How to quickly heal injuries and ruptures that often accompany labor activity is a question of interest to many young mothers.

Types of sutures and degree of tissue damage

There are two types of seams - internal and external. The first is used to restore the integrity of the tissues of the cervix or the mucous membrane of the vagina; self-absorbable threads are used for its implementation. As a suture material, catgut made from biological components or its synthetic analogues - caproag, vicryl, PHA - are most in demand.

External sutures are used to connect torn or cut skin in the perineal region, as well as on the abdomen during caesarean section. The choice of suture material in this case depends on the degree of tissue damage. In case of violation of the integrity of the skin (I degree), catgut is used. If the muscle layer is additionally injured (grade II) or the affected area extends to the lining of the rectum (grade III), sutures are applied with silk or nylon threads, which are removed after the wound has healed. Sometimes the bond is made with metal brackets.

Causes of damage and features of healing of sutures after childbirth, depending on the location:

1. The cause of cervical ruptures is the large size of the baby, the rapid and rapid course of labor with premature discharge of amniotic fluid. Suturing is not accompanied by anesthesia, since immediately after the end of childbirth there is no sensitivity in this area of ​​the body. Wound healing occurs imperceptibly for a woman, she does not feel any discomfort, the risk of complications is minimal. It is not necessary to process seams with special means.
2. In the vagina, injuries also occur naturally with insufficient tissue elasticity, prolonged passage of the birth canal by the baby, or as a result of premature onset of attempts. Before suturing, local anesthesia is performed with an injection of lidocaine or novocaine. For several days after childbirth, pain in the wound area may be felt. There is no need to treat the seams with antiseptic solutions.
3. In the perineal region, in addition to the natural causes of tissue rupture, it may be necessary to artificially incise the skin to prevent the appearance of more extensive and harder healing injuries, to facilitate the passage of this area by a weakened fetus, breech presentation. In some cases, the indication for the incision is the presence of a scar or diseases in which the woman in labor cannot be pushed. Lidocaine is used for local anesthesia. Soreness of the wound surface can persist for quite a long time. A woman should not sit for the first 10 days after childbirth, the care of the seams consists in observing hygiene rules and special treatment.

Timing of suture removal

The rate of wound healing depends on the type of suture material used and the thoroughness of care for damaged skin areas. The use of self-absorbable threads ensures tissue fusion in 2 weeks and does not require the removal of sutures after childbirth. The resulting scars gradually disappear, the process of their resorption when suturing the wound with catgut takes about a month, if its synthetic analogues are involved - a little longer, about 2 or 3 months.

When using materials that do not dissolve themselves, the threads must be removed after a while. When sutures are removed after childbirth in such cases - this usually happens on the 5th or 6th day, but it is also possible to remove them on the 3rd, 4th or 7th day - the decision is made by the attending physician, taking into account the area and severity damage. The timing of tissue healing depends on the characteristics of the body of the woman in labor. Also of great importance is the proper care of the wound surface, the prevention of its infection and the development of the inflammatory process. Regardless of which day the sutures are removed after childbirth, the complete recovery of the damaged surface takes 2-4 weeks.

Wound care

After the most difficult period associated with the birth of a long-awaited baby, a woman is interested in how to speed up the healing of stitches after childbirth. First of all, it will provide proper skin care in the perineal area, personal hygiene, regular treatment of external scars. Before telling how the stitches are treated after childbirth, we will consider the features of the hygiene of damaged skin.

Wound care involves the following rules:

• To absorb secretions, it is desirable to use well-permeable pads made from natural materials. The recommended frequency of their change is every 2 hours. To create optimal conditions for free access of air to healing areas, you can sleep at night without underwear on a moisture-absorbing diaper. This will eliminate the active reproduction of microorganisms in a humid environment.
• Underwear should fit the body freely, it is better to choose cotton panties. It is necessary to avoid wearing slimming models, as they squeeze the blood vessels, impairing blood circulation and preventing the normal restoration of damaged tissues.
• To prevent contamination of the seams will allow regular washing with a frequency of 1 time in 2 hours, as well as after visiting the toilet. It is enough to use soap for hygiene procedures only in the morning and evening, and the rest of the time, limit yourself to warm water. After thoroughly washing the scar, dry it by dipping moisture with a towel in the direction of the anus.
• Timely emptying of the bladder will allow the uterus to contract normally and clear quickly.
• If constipation occurs, soreness of the wound may increase due to muscle tension. You can facilitate the process of defecation using special glycerin suppositories. To soften the stool, you need to reduce the content in the diet of flour products, fried, smoked, sweets, white rice. It is useful to drink a spoonful of vegetable oil before meals, consume fermented milk products. Nutrition should be complete, provide the body with the necessary amount of minerals and vitamins.
• Lifting weights exceeding 3 kg is prohibited.

It is also necessary to take into account that the external seams in the perineal area can separate in a sitting position, therefore, after childbirth, a woman is recommended to feed the baby and do household chores while lying or standing for 1-2 weeks. An exception is going to the toilet - you can sit on the toilet within a few hours after giving birth. It is recommended to start sitting on a hard surface on the 7th day. This should be done carefully, touching the seat with the side of the buttocks that is most distant from the seam.

Treatment of wounds

Lubrication of damaged skin with antiseptics and ointments with antibacterial properties suppresses the vital activity of microorganisms and protects the wound surface from inflammation. In the maternity hospital, for this purpose, a solution of brilliant green or potassium permanganate is used. The procedure is performed by a nurse. After discharge from the maternity ward, a young mother should perform the treatment on her own at home. How to handle stitches after childbirth at home is instructed by the medical staff of the medical institution. After the threads are removed by the health worker, lubrication of the scars should be continued until the wounds are completely healed.

You can choose how to process stitches after childbirth from the following means:

• 0.05% solution of Chlorhexidine bigluconate;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• green;
• pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• ointments Solcoseryl or Levomekol;
• sea ​​buckthorn oil;
• tea tree oil.

How to treat stitches after childbirth: apply a solution or oil by soaking a cotton swab with it, or lubricate with ointment. The skin surface must be clean and dry. Processing frequency - 2-3 times a day.

Possible Complications

The appearance of complications is usually indicated by discomfort and pain at the location of the scar. To eliminate them, you need to take medical help. To relieve pain in the absence of any other pathologies, heating with ultraviolet or infrared rays, a quartz lamp is prescribed, but not earlier than 14 weeks after suturing. Lubrication of the scar with Contratubex ointment is also used. If the sutures diverge, they may need to be re-applied. Itching and pulling sensations usually indicate that the wound is healing and does not require special treatment.

Sometimes the wound surface begins to bleed. Most often this occurs due to stretching of the tissues in the scar area when the body is sitting. To eliminate bleeding with a significant divergence of the connection allows repeated suturing, in simpler cases - lubrication with ointments that accelerate the healing of injuries. If there is a discharge with an unpleasant odor and a greenish or brown tint, there is a possibility of suppuration of the wounds. This condition is dangerous to health and requires timely treatment. When tissues are damaged by an infection, antibiotics are prescribed, sutures are treated with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic drugs.

For timely detection of complications, it is necessary to carefully monitor changes in your condition and immediately consult a doctor if alarming symptoms appear. Compliance with the rules for the care of sutures and regular treatment of wounds will ensure the rapid healing of injuries, the absence of complications and cosmetic defects.