The birth of a child is perhaps the process that every woman must go through. The sensations of the crumbs that were born are not comparable with anything, and are never forgotten. Unfortunately, labor does not always go smoothly. Sometimes cuts appear on the internal genital organs, which are sutured immediately after childbirth. Accordingly, newly mummies are worried about a lot of questions, for example, about how much you can’t sit with stitches after childbirth. This is a really important point, burdened by a lot of nuances. This issue should be considered in more detail.
Types of postpartum sutures
Before you talk about how much you can’t sit with stitches after giving birth, you should clarify what types of stitches are. Gynecologists classify them according to 2 signs:
- Internal In this case, the treatment of incisions formed during labor in the vaginal area or on the cervix is implied. Their imposition is carried out using specialized threads, which are independently absorbed into the body, and after healing, the wounds spontaneously disappear.
- Outdoor. The peculiarity is that they are applied with the help of coarse and durable threads, which do not have the ability to dissolve in the skin of the body. Only a specialist in a hospital can remove residues from them no earlier than 2-3 weeks after suturing. It is worth noting that the need for external manipulation arises when it is necessary to facilitate the process of fetal exit.
In rare cases, there is a need for re-suturing. To prevent this type of surgery, you need to familiarize yourself with how much you can’t sit with stitches after childbirth, have sex, and also learn the basic rules for scar care.
How to behave with seams?
Healing stitches is an important process that can be affected by anything. In general, scars overgrow within 10-21 days. After this period, a woman can lead a full-fledged lifestyle, but only after undergoing examination by a gynecologist. In order for the seams to heal quickly, you need to follow all the instructions of the doctor. First of all, you should think about when you can sit after childbirth with stitches. Doctors do not recommend taking this body position no earlier than 14 days after medical intervention. During this period of time, a number of recommendations should be followed:
- you can only sit on the toilet, leaning on one buttock - the opposite from the seam;
- on a bed or sofa it is worth lying down on your stomach, then smoothly roll over on your side or back;
- getting out of bed, you should lean on the right buttock, and then take a standing position;
- it is better to feed the newborn in a prone position;
- when traveling by car, it is worth putting an orthopedic pillow in a reclining position so that the load falls on the coccyx.
A young mother should take care not only of the baby, but also of her health. Therefore, you should carefully study the question of how to sit after childbirth with stitches.
Recovery steps
If stitched, then the most important recovery phase is the first three days. During this period, it is better to lie and get up as much as possible only as necessary. As a rule, the patient will be in the maternity hospital during this period, and the newborn baby will stay in the sleep phase most of the time. Therefore, it will not be difficult to enjoy rest and restore strength after pregnancy and labor. Gynecologists recommend more time to lie on your stomach so that the uterus quickly returns to its original position.
From the 4th day you can start pacing, but all movements should be smooth and slow. After discharge home you should not immediately plunge into household chores. Feel free to ask for help from loved ones, ensuring yourself a good rest.
From the 7th day you can begin to sit down on solid objects, but so that the main load falls on the spine or one buttock. It is categorically not recommended to sit on upholstered furniture. This limitation is associated with uneven load distribution, due to which the position of the seams can change. You can sit on your favorite sofa or chair no earlier than 3 weeks after giving birth.
The question of when you can sit down after giving birth with stitches is an individual one. Be sure to visit a gynecologist, who after the examination will be able to consult the patient in detail on this issue.
Possible complications
A more compelling reason why you can’t sit after childbirth with stitches is possible complications. There is a risk of developing a number of pathologies:
- weakening seams;
- scar displacement;
- the penetration of infection into the body;
- the occurrence of acute pain.
If you experience any kind of discomfort, you should immediately go to the maternity hospital yourself or call an ambulance team. A gynecologist will conduct an examination and take measures to eliminate the ailment.
Features of the age category
Another important point related to how much you can’t sit with stitches after childbirth is the age of the patient. In young mothers, the body recovers quickly, because it is characterized by high elasticity of the skin and good muscle tone. But if a woman is already over 30 years old, then the moment of recovery can drag on for six months. Therefore, she can start to sit down 2-3 weeks later than a 20-year-old woman in labor.
A woman herself can assess her condition before visiting a gynecologist. Symptoms such as aching in the scar area, the appearance of itching, redness of the wound or the formation of secretions with an unpleasant odor will tell her that the stitches have not yet healed. The most obvious sign is the divergence of the threads. If such symptoms appear, medical attention is needed immediately.
After cesarean section
Also, many women in labor are concerned about the question of how much you can’t sit with stitches after childbirth, if a cesarean section was used. In fact, in this case, the sutures have a slightly different character, when moving the body in a vertical position on the stomach there is no such load as on the genitals. Therefore, 2-5 days after the birth of the baby, mommy can sit down, but in the absence of any complications.
Doctors recommendations for stitch care
In addition to whether it is possible to sit with stitches after childbirth, the young mother should also remember the rules for caring for them, which also contributes to a quick recovery. Gynecologists make several basic recommendations:
- in the morning and in the evening it is worth washing the perineum using an antibacterial soap, and after each urination, rinse with running water;
- within 2-3 days after the creation of the suture, the wound should be treated with an antiseptic moistened with cotton wool;
- change pads and underwear at least 3 times a day;
- to use meals in liquid form at intervals of 2-3 hours in order to prevent possible problems with stool.
It is forbidden to use ointments or gels with a healing effect on their own, their use is permissible only strictly as prescribed by the doctor. It is worth abandoning the application of cosmetics for the body until the body is completely restored.
Sex life
We should also talk about another restriction after childbirth - sexual activity. You can indulge in love joys only when the uterus is fully restored, that is, 6-8 weeks after the birth of the baby. In this case, a woman should feel good. Neglect of this rule can lead to the formation of an inflammatory process in the uterus or appendages. After 8 weeks, you can make love, but you should take care and contraception to avoid a second pregnancy.
Conclusion
The baby’s health and mom’s recovery is the first thing to remember during this important period. If for some reason there is a need to create internal or external sutures, then you should carefully study the question of when you can sit down after giving birth with sutures and how to properly care for the painful focus. Compliance with an inappropriate lifestyle in the postpartum period contributes to the emergence of negative consequences.