Care for your Perineal Stitches
The perineum is the skin and muscular area that separates your vagina and your anus (also called your back passage).
When should you worry?
Newborn
NEWBORN
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is newborn and they…
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
- Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
- Don’t have a Grasp Reflex (doesn’t grab your finger or small object when you put it in their hand)
- Are often startling and you cannot understand why
- Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Rarely moves one of their arms compared to the other arm
- Rarely moves one leg compared to the other leg
- When your baby startles, one side moves or looks different from the other
6-8 weeks
6-8 WEEKS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 6-8 weeks and they…
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
- Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
- Have not started to bring both their hands to their face, or do not move their arms much
- Keep their hands fisted, and you find it difficult to open their hands
- Can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy
- Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Mostly moves one arm or mostly brings one hand to their face
- Rarely kicks or moves one leg compared to the other leg
2-3 months
2-3 MONTHS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 2-3 months and they…
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
- Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
- Have not started to bring both their hands to their face, or do not move their arms much
- Keep their hands fisted, and you find it difficult to open their hands
- Can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy
- Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Mostly moves one arm or mostly brings one hand to their face
- Rarely kicks or moves one leg compared to the other leg
3-4 months
3-4 MONTHS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 3-4 months and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy when awake
- Prefer to keep their arms by their sides. For example, they do not reach for things, or do not bring their hands together over their face or tummy
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Still need you to support their head, or can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy
- Have very tight fists and it’s hard to open their hand
- Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys
- Rarely kick one leg compared to the other
4-6 months
4-6 MONTHS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 4-6 months and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy when they are awake
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys
- Rarely kick one leg compared to the other
- Are unable to roll, or can roll in one direction but not the other
- Find it difficult to reach their arms out. For example, they do not reach for toys
- Still have their early reflexes, like the startle reflex and grasp reflex
- Keep their legs flat when lying on their back. For example, they do not bring their feet to their chest
- Still need you to support their head
6-9 months
6-9 MONTHS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 6-9 months and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy when they are awake
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky or strange ways
- Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink
- Rarely kick one leg compared to the other
- Can’t sit without support. For example, they lean on their hand, or, when they sit, their back is very curved
- Still have their early reflexes, like the startle reflex and grasp reflex
- Keep their legs flat when lying on their back, for example, do not bring their feet to their chest
- Still need you to support their head
- Still need you to help turn their head when lying on their back
- Can’t crawl, or find it hard, for example, drags one of their legs behind them
- Find it difficult to stand, for example:
- Can’t stand with support
- Doesn’t try to pull themselves up to stand
- Can’t move a toy from one hand to the other
- Doesn’t use both hands to hold larger things
9-12 months
9-12 MONTHS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 9-12 months and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy when they are awake
- Move their arms and legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Lean to the side when they sit
- Use one arm to pull to stand more than the other
- Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink.
- Rarely kick one leg compared to the other
- Find it difficult to sit, for example:
- Only sit with support
- Lean on their hand when sitting
- When they sit their back is very curved
- Can’t move a toy from one hand to the other
- Don’t use both hands to hold larger things
- Don’t point to objects
- Can’t crawl, or find it hard, for example, drags one leg behind them
- Find it difficult to stand, for example:
- Can’t pull themselves up to stand
- Find it hard to pull themselves up. For example, they only use their arms and don’t push with their legs
- Can’t stand with support
2 months
Your Baby By Two Months
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Calms down when spoken to or picked up
- Looks at your face
- Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
- Smiles when you talk to or smile at her
Language/Communication Milestones
- Makes sounds other than crying
- Reacts to loud sounds
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Watches you as you move
- Looks at a toy for several seconds
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Holds head up when on tummy
- Moves both arms and both legs
- Opens hands briefly
4 months
Your Baby By Four Months
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Smiles on his own to get your attention
- Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make him laugh
- Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention
Language/Communication Milestones
- Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
- Makes sounds back when you talk to him
- Turns head towards the sound of your voice
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving
- If hungry, opens mouth when he sees breast or bottle
- Looks at her hands with interest
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Holds head steady without support when you are holding him
- Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
- Uses his arm to swing at toys
- Brings hands to mouth
- Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy
6 months
Your Baby By Six Months
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Knows familiar people
- Likes to look at self in a mirror
- Laughs
Language/Communication Milestones
- Takes turns making sounds with you
- Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
- Makes squealing noises
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Puts things in her mouth to explore them
- Reaches to grab a toy she wants
- Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Rolls from tummy to back
- Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
- Leans on hands to support herself when sitting
9 months
Your Baby By Nine Months
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
- Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
- Looks when you call her name
- Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
- Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo
Language/Communication Milestones
- Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
- Lifts arms up to be picked up
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
- Bangs two things together
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Gets to a sitting position by herself
- Moves things from one hand to her other hand
- Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
- Sits without support
1 year
Your Baby By One Year
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
Language/Communication Milestones
- Waves “bye-bye”
- Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
- Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
- Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Pulls up to stand
- Walks, holding on to furniture
- Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
- Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food
Advice and Guidance
It is very common to experience bruising and tears in your perineum when you give birth as the opening of your vagina and your perineum need to stretch to allow room for your baby to be born.
Tears can occur in the perineum, labia (lips of the vagina) and inside the vagina. The size of the tear may also vary:
• A first-degree tear is a superficial tear to the skin of the perineum.
• A second-degree tear is deeper affecting both the skin and muscle of the perineum.
• Third and fourth degree tears are less common, involving the muscles around the anus (the internal and external anal sphincter muscles) and in the case of fourth degree tears, the anus itself. Your Doctor and Midwife will advise you if you have this kind of tear as the advice regarding healing and care may differ.
An episiotomy is a surgical cut in the perineum, which is made to enlarge your vagina and help you give birth to your baby.
You may have needed an episiotomy for three reasons:
• if you had an assisted birth (with forceps or ventouse)
• if your baby became distressed during the birth
• if your midwife thought your perineum would tear badly.
You will have had an examination of your perineum immediately after your baby’s birth which will have allowed your midwife or obstetrician to identify any grazes or tears you may have sustained and discuss their severity with you. There may be grazes or very small tears which will heal without the need for stitches, however, repair is offered if you have had an episiotomy and for tears:
• that involve the muscles layers of the perineum
• that are bleeding
• that are not well aligned (jagged)
Stitches stop any bleeding from a tear and join the skin and muscle together. The number of stitches varies according to the location and severity of the tear, however, the thread used to suture is dissolvable so they do not have to be removed.
The stitches start to dissolve after about ten days and have usually completely disappeared after six weeks. It is normal to find small pieces of the stitch material when you are bathing or when you go to the toilet.
Tears and episiotomies will cause pain and discomfort following birth. Sometimes, passing urine or having a bowel motion can be painful however, each day following your baby’s birth it should feel more comfortable.
It can take up to six weeks for your perineum to heal completely and may take up to six months to for you to feel totally comfortable again. If you have any questions or concerns about the healing process please speak to your midwife or GP.
Your stitches will be looked at within the first week after having your baby to make sure they are healing well. Please let your midwife or GP know if:
• your perineal area becomes hot, swollen, weepy, smelly or very painful
• tears which have been repaired start to open
• you develop a temperature and flu-like symptoms.
In any of these instances you may be developing an infection and need treatment with antibiotics.
Your midwife will give you specific advice on hygiene, pain-relieving drugs and self-help measures, all of which will help to reduce your discomfort. However, here are some general tips to help you to feel more comfortable and help your perineum to heal:
• Take pain relief such as paracetamol. Do not wait until you are in pain, but take this on a regular basis for the first few days (no more than one to two tablets four times a day). While in hospital your midwife will be able to give you stronger pain-relief if you need it.
• Always wash your hands before and after you go to the toilet and/or change your sanitary towel (pad), especially when you go home. You should change your sanitary towel (pad) at least every four hours. Ensure it is secured in place so it doesn’t move around and cause further irritation.
• Pour warm water on your perineum when you sit on the toilet to pass urine. The warm water will dilute the urine so it won’t irritate the wound.
• Drinking plenty of water will also keep your urine diluted (make it less yellow), this will also help to reduce irritation when you pass urine.
• Pat the area dry from front to back to avoid introducing germs from the anus into the perineal and vaginal area.
• Begin doing gentle pelvic floor exercises as soon as you can after the birth to increase your blood supply to the area and help the healing process. These exercises will also help your pelvic floor regain its tone and control. Please discuss these with your midwife and take a look at the tab entitled ‘Shape up after pregnancy’ in your Healthier Together App or Website.
• Avoid standing or sitting for long periods and ensure you are comfortable when sitting to feed your baby. Try lying on your side to feed.
• Avoid perfumed soaps when washing the area. Frequent baths or bidets are soothing but staying in the bath too long will slow down the healing process so try not to sit in the bath for more than 20 minutes each time.
• Avoid wearing tight trousers or jeans.
• When you get home and have some privacy, you may find relief by lying in bed without your knickers or a sanitary towel on and letting your perineum ‘air dry’.
You can safely open your bowels without any damage occurring to your perineum or stitches after the birth. The first few times you have your bowels open, hold a clean pad against your perineum to protect your stitches.
• If you are unable to open your bowels, your midwife can give you the medicine lactulose (a stool softener). This will help you have your bowels open without straining.
• Drinking plenty of fluids and eating a well-balanced diet that includes fresh fruit and vegetables as well as fibre will also help you to avoid constipation.
It is quite safe to have sex when you feel ready but remember the need to use contraception from three weeks following the birth. The first few times you have sex use a lubricating jelly and try out different positions to find one that is comfortable for you. Don’t be surprised if it feels different.
In the first weeks and even months after the birth you may have no desire for sex at all and this is completely normal.
It is rare for your stitches to simply to come undone. However, occasionally an infection or pressure on the stitches from bleeding underneath can cause the stitches to breakdown, leaving an open or gaping wound. This is called perineal wound dehiscence, or breakdown. Wound breakdown can cause an increase in pain, new bleeding or pus-like discharge. You may also begin to feel unwell.
Sometimes women notice some stitch material coming away soon after they have had their baby, or can see for themselves that the wound has opened. If you are concerned there is a problem with your stitches you should see a healthcare professional. They will examine your stitches and look for signs of infection. They may take a swab from the perineum to try and find out what is causing the infection. Most women will be given a short course of antibiotics and advised to take pain relief. Anti-inflammatory pain relief such as ibuprofen may help, and is safe in breastfeeding. If the infection is making you unwell, you may require admission to hospital for intravenous antibiotics.
If there is an infection the wound will not be re-stitched. This is because it can trap infection inside, and infected tissues may not stitch back together well. If there is no infection, or the infection has been treated, the wound may be re-stitched in theatre. You will be advised as to which option is best for you.
For further information please click here Perineal wound breakdown | RCOG
For more information please click here Perineal tears and episiotomies in childbirth | RCOG
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