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After a normal delivery, it is important to take some precautions with the episiotomy, such as not making efforts, wearing cotton or disposable panties and washing the intimate area towards the vagina towards the anus after using the bathroom. This care with episiotomy aims to accelerate healing and prevent the region from becoming infected and should be maintained for up to 1 month after delivery, when healing is complete.
Episiotomy is a cut made in the muscular region between the vagina and anus, during normal delivery, to facilitate the baby's exit. 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 delivery. Understand when episiotomy is necessary and what the risks are.
The stitches used in the episiotomy are usually absorbed by the body or fall naturally, there is no need to return to the hospital to remove them and the region returns to normal after healing is complete.
Care to avoid infection and inflammation
To avoid infection in the episiotomy region, you should:
- Wear cotton or disposable panties for the skin of the region to breathe;
- Wash your hands before and after using the bathroom and change the absorbent whenever necessary;
- Wash the intimate area from the vagina to the anus after using the bathroom;
- Use intimate hygiene products with neutral pH, such as Lucretin, Dermacyd or Eucerin intimate liquid soap, for example;
- Make no effort, taking care to rest your arms on the chair when sitting and do not sit on low chairs to prevent the stitches from bursting.
It is very important for the woman to be aware of the signs of infection from the episiotomy, such as redness, swelling, release of pus or liquid from the wound and, in these cases, consult the obstetrician who delivered the child or go immediately to the emergency room.
Care to relieve pain and discomfort
To relieve the pain and discomfort caused by episiotomy, you should:
- Use a pillow with a hole in the middle, which can be purchased at pharmacies or a breastfeeding pillow, so that when sitting, you do not press the episiotomy, relieving pain;
- Dry the intimate area without rubbing or pressing so as not to hurt yourself;
- Apply cold compresses or an ice cube to the episiotomy site to relieve pain;
- Splash water in the intimate area while urinating to dilute the urine and reduce the burning sensation at the episiotomy site, as the acidity of the urine in contact with the episiotomy can cause burning;
- Press in front of the episiotomy with clean compresses when evacuating to reduce the discomfort that may arise when applying force.
If the pain in the episiotomy region is very severe, the doctor may prescribe analgesics such as paracetamol or anesthetic ointments to relieve pain and discomfort, which should only be used under medical advice.
Usually, intimate contact can be resumed about 4 to 6 weeks after delivery, however, it is normal for the woman to experience pain or discomfort, however, if the pain is very intense, the woman should interrupt the intimate contact and consult a gynecologist.
Care to accelerate healing
To speed up 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 speed up the healing and do Kegel exercises, as they increase the blood flow in the region, helping accelerate healing. Learn how to perform these exercises.
In addition, the doctor may also recommend the application of specific ointments that help with healing, which may have hormones in the composition, antibiotics or enzymes that promote healing, for example.