After normal delivery, it is important to have some episiotomy care, such as making no effort, wearing cotton or disposable panties, and washing the intimate region in the direction of the vagina to the anus after using the toilet. These episiotomy care aims to accelerate healing and prevent the region from becoming infected and should be maintained up to 1 month after delivery, when healing is complete.
The episiotomy is a cut made in the muscular region between the vagina and the anus, during the normal delivery, to facilitate the exit of the baby. Generally, the woman does not feel pain at the time of the episiotomy because she is anesthetized, but it is normal to experience pain and discomfort around the episiotomy in the first 2 to 3 weeks after giving birth. Understand when episiotomy is needed and what the risks are.
The stitches used in the episiotomy are usually absorbed by the body or fall naturally, so it is not necessary to return to the hospital to remove them and the region returns to normal after healing is complete.
Care to avoid infection
To avoid an infection in the episiotomy region, one should:
- Wear cotton or disposable panties for the skin of the region to breathe;
- Wash hands before and after using the toilet and change the absorbent whenever necessary;
- Wash the intimate region in the direction of the vagina to the anus after using the toilet;
- Use intimate hygiene products with neutral pH, such as the intimate liquid soap from Lucretin, Dermacyd or Eucerin, for example;
- Do not make any effort, taking care to rest your arms on the chair when you sit down and do not sit on low chairs to prevent points from bursting.
It is very important for the woman to be aware of signs of episiotomy infection, such as redness, swelling, discharge of pus or fluid from the wound, and in this case, consult the obstetrician who gave birth or go to the emergency room immediately.
Care to relieve pain and discomfort
To relieve the pain and discomfort caused by the episiotomy, one should:
- Use a cushion with a hole in the middle, which can be bought in pharmacies or a breastfeeding cushion, so as to sit do not press the episiotomy, relieving the pain;
- Dry the intimate region without rubbing or pressing to avoid injury;
- Apply cold compresses or an ice cube to the episiotomy site to relieve pain;
- Throwing water in the intima region while urinating to dilute the urine and reducing burning at the site of the episiotomy, as the acidity of the urine in contact with the episiotomy can cause burning;
- Pressing the episiotomy with clean compresses when you go to evacuate to reduce the discomfort that can occur when exerting force.
If the pain in the episiotomy is very severe, your doctor may prescribe analgesics such as paracetamol or anesthetic ointments to relieve pain and discomfort, which should only be used under medical supervision.
Usually, intimate contact can be resumed about 4 to 6 weeks after delivery, however, it is normal for the woman to feel pain or discomfort, but if the pain is too intense, the woman should stop the intimate contact and consult a gynecologist.
Care to speed healing
In order to accelerate the healing of the region that suffered the episiotomy, one should:
- Avoid wearing tight clothing so that the skin can breathe around the episiotomy and accelerate healing;
- Do Kegel exercises as they increase the blood flow in the area, helping to speed healing.
Also learn what to eat to speed healing.
