• Your pelvic floor muscles can be injured during a vaginal birth when the baby’s head is coming down the vagina and crowning.
  • Some women tear naturally while other will have an episiotomy. An episiotomy is a surgical cut from the vaginal opening to the left or right side away from the anal sphincter muscles (back passage).
  • Tears are graded from 1° (first degree) to 4° (fourth degree). If you have a 3° or 4° tear the women’s health physiotherapist will visit you in your ward to advise and treat you.
  • Tears and episiotomies can be uncomfortable to sit on, refer to the information above on rest and sitting.
  • It is vital that you start your pelvic floor exercises within the first few days or when you feel able.
  • Even if you have not received stitches, you may experience some soreness or pain in the perineal area.  This can last from a few days to weeks.

 

You may experience:

  • difficulty in walking,
  • difficulty in sitting comfortably,
  • problems in passing urine,
  • feelings of not wanting to breastfeed,
  • feelings of being unable to care for your baby, or
  • feeling irritable or tired

Pain killers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help.

 

If the pain gets worse or if you have an unpleasant discharge ask your midwife, public health nurse or GP to check for signs of poor healing or infection.  Redness may be a sign of infection.

 

‘Cold therapy’ such as ice packs or gel packs can relieve pain, swelling and ease discomfort.  If cold therapy is used in the first 2 to 3 days it should be applied for just 10 minutes and no more frequently than 2 hourly.  It is very important that the ice pack does not come into contact with your skin as this could cause painful ice-burn.  You can wrap the ice in a flannel to reduce tissue swelling and localised pain.