my stitches burst- now what??!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

is this normal? i had my 1st baby new year's eve and had a 2nd degree laceration on the bottom and a 1st degree on the top. my dr didn't suture the top but put several on the bottom. the first day home, my husband did something funny and i was laughing really hard...until i felt a tearing sensation down there. i went to the bathroom and there was alot of bright red blood and it stung like hell.

the bright blood stopped the next day but i was still really swollen for the next two weeks. now that all the bleeding has stopped, i was brave enough to feel down there to see if breaking my stitches made me, uh, different. it did. big time.

we are all nurses here, so here i go- my pelvic floor muscles are very noticeable and where i used to have to cram a tampon in i can feel the soft tissue of my lady parts. dear God, i am afraid i have turned into the grand canyon!!

so is this just a normal result of childbirth or did breaking the stitches deform me for good???

p.s. i didn't call my dr. when the stitches broke because i am stubborn and figured everything would be fine. i have my 6 week appt. in about a week or two

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Specializes in Oncology, Cardiology, ER, L/D.

I am not a nurse yet, but I would definitely call your doctor asap. I would imagine you could get quite an infection especially in that area where you have urine contact. Good luck to ya and congrats on your new baby!

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I'm not an OB nurse but I have had a Stage III lac "down there".

The first time I checked out that area I almost fell off the toilet! What a mess!Like a beat up steak! :imbar You are still going to be edematous in your peri area and your lady partsl canal larger. The muscles are stretched out.It is all temporary and will sort itself out by 12 weeks (How people have sex just days after delivery I'll never know!)

Now, if you are incontinent and I mean not when you sneeze or laugh but you just wee on yourself and/or you can see your uterus falling out, by all means call your OB stat!

And if the bleeding has stopped from your stitches that'll wait until your 6 week visit. I had a little tear and at my 6 week the OB just touched it up with those......those sticks... you know... GAHHHH!

And congratulations!:kiss

Edited because I was freaking out thinking you were using tampons!:chuckle

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I am an OB nurse and it is probably just normal, but I would still recomend you call your doctor ASAP!!

Tammy

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First of all, congrats on your little addition to the family! I had my first baby on New Years Eve...but that was 15 years ago. :eek:

I am not a nurse yet...but I would call the doc and then see if he/she recommends that you be seen regarding your concerns.

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Congratulations on the new little one! :balloons:

In answer to your concerns: When in doubt, call your doctor. It's his/her stitch job anyway. ;)

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

This definitely warrants a call to the doc. You will probably be asked to come in early for your 6 weeks visit. Just think of it as getting that appointment out of the way a little earlier than expected!

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but I too had a New Year's Eve baby! 24 years ago.

Now I have a new SIL and thoughts that in a few more years maybe there will be more babies in the family. :)

Hope the MD can explain what's happened 'down there' :chuckle and provide some relief.

Cindy

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Please see your doctor ASAP. This is advice from a mom and an OB RN. Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Let us know how you do.

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you should call your doc ASAP. it may be nothing but it is best to check it out.

congradulations on your new baby:)

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Generally, I think any time you can see your own muscles pouching through an incision that's supposed to be closed (i.e., you are not watching your own procedure in a mirror or something), you need to take yourself IMMEDIATELY to a doctor. Your own, the ER, the AM PM clinic, whatever. ASAP. The longer you wait, the less likely the closure will be a good one. You may wind up with scarring and all sorts of lovely difficulties.

I don't know about you, but I prefer the thought that those parts of me would still be going to be "normal" enough to perform, once I'd be allowed to do that again, and I'm pretty sure that bare naked muscles sticking out won't do the job.

BTW, congrats on the baby!

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I'm a NP and my wife is a Ob/Gyn.

Per her suggestion. CALL YOUR DOCTOR!

NOW

Stop reading, pick up the phone and CALL!

Dave

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