How long will my stitches take to heal?

In certain cases, you might need to get stitches after delivery so you’re probably concerned about your body’s recovery, especially since you need to take care of your baby. You can help your body heal faster with the tips that we outline below.

Why you might need stitches

Many mums need stitches after labour, whether it’s because of a caesarean, an episiotomy (the name for a surgical cut in your perineum), or a tear.

Tips to help you heal faster after giving birth

• Stay clean and keep the area dry – a good way to give yourself a quick wash is with a spray bottle full of water. Give yourself a squirt a few times a day and dry yourself gently.
• Take it easy – have regular rest periods and keep your physical activity to a minimum.
• Do pelvic floor exercises as often as you can. This will increase the blood flow to the area and encourage healing.

• Make sure any sanitary pads don’t rub against your stitches and change them regularly.
• Try using an ice pack covered in a cloth, but only for a few minutes at a time. They can be helpful to reduce swelling but they can also reduce blood flow to the area if used for too long.
• Stay regular – eating a healthy diet with plenty of fibre and staying hydrated with lots of water will make you less likely to get constipation, so you won’t need to push to go to the loo.

If your stitches feel too tight or you think you may have an infection, let your doctor know as soon as possible so they can make sure everything’s ok.