Surgical incision of perineum during childbirth.Encyclopedia Entry for Episiotomy :Episiotomy - aftercare. Most women heal without problems, although it may take many weeks. Your stitches DO NOT need to be removed. Your body will absorb them. You can return to normal activities when you feel ready, such as light office work or house cleaning. Wait 6 weeks before you: Use tampons Have sex Do any other activity that might rupture (break) the stitches.To relieve pain or discomfort: Ask your nurse to apply ice packs right after the birth. Using ice packs in the first 24 hours after birth decreases the swelling and helps with pain. Take warm baths but wait until 24 hours after you have given birth. Make sure that the bathtub is cleaned with a disinfectant before every bath. Take medicine like ibuprofen to relieve pain. You can do many other things to help speed up the healing process, such as: Use sitz baths (sit in water that covers your vulvar area) a few times a day. Wait until 24 hours after you have given birth to take a sitz bath as well. You can buy tubs in any drug store that will fit on the rim of the toilet. If you prefer, you can sit in this kind of tub instead of climbing into the bathtub. Change your pads every 2 to 4 hours. Keep the area around the stitches clean and dry. Pat the area dry with a clean towel after you bathe. After you urinate or have a bowel movement, spray warm water over the area and pat dry with a clean towel or baby wipe. DO NOT use toilet paper. Take stool softeners and drink lots of water. This will prevent constipation. Eating lots of fiber will also help. Your health care provider can suggest foods with plenty of fiber. Do Kegel exercises. Squeeze the muscles that you use to hold in urine for 5 minutes. Do this 10 times a day throughout the day.Call your provider if: Your pain gets worse. You go for 4 or more days without a bowel movement. You pass a blood clot larger than a walnut. You have a discharge with a bad odor. The wound seems to break open.Perineal laceration - aftercare; Vaginal birth perineal tear - aftercare; Postpartum care - episiotomy - aftercare; Labor - episiotomy aftercare; Vaginal delivery - episiotomy aftercare.Baggish MS. Episiotomy.Encyclopedia Entry for Episiotomy :Episiotomy. There are some risks to having an episiotomy. Because of the risks, episiotomies are not as common as they used to be. The risks include: The cut may tear and become larger during the delivery. The tear may reach into the muscle around the rectum, or even into the rectum itself. There may be more blood loss. The cut and the stitches may get infected. Sex may be painful for the first few months after birth. Sometimes, an episiotomy can be helpful even with the risks.Many women get through childbirth without tearing on their own, and without needing an episiotomy. In fact, recent studies show that not having an episiotomy is best for most women in labor. Episiotomies don't heal better than tears. They often take longer to heal since the cut is often deeper than a natural tear. In both cases, the cut or tear must be stitched and properly cared for after childbirth. At times, an episiotomy may be needed to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby. Labor is stressful for the baby and the pushing phase needs to be shortened to decrease problems for the baby. The baby's head or shoulders are too big for the mother's vaginal opening. The baby is in a breech position (feet or buttocks coming first) and there is a problem during delivery. Instruments (forceps or vacuum extractor) are needed to help get the baby out. You are pushing as the baby's head is close to coming out, and a tear forms toward the urethral area.Just before your baby is born and as the head is about to crown, your doctor or midwife will give you a shot to numb the area (if you have not already had an epidural). Next, a small incision (cut) is made. There are 2 types of cuts: median and mediolateral. A median incision is the most common type. It is a straight cut in the middle of the area between the vagina and anus (perineum). The mediolateral incision is made at an angle. It is less likely to tear through to the anus, but it takes longer to heal than the median cut. Your health care provider will then deliver the baby through the enlarged opening. Next, your provider will deliver the placenta (afterbirth). Then the cut will be stitched closed.You can do things to strengthen your body for labor that may lower your chances of needing an episiotomy. Practice Kegel exercises. Perform perineal massage during the 4 to 6 weeks before birth. Practice the techniques you learned in childbirth class to control your breathing and your urge to push. Keep in mind, even if you do these things, you may still need an episiotomy. Your provider will decide if you should have one based on what happens during your labor.Labor - episiotomy; Vaginal delivery - episiotomy.Normal anatomy Episiotomy - series.Baggish MS. Episiotomy.