Does an episiotomy leave a scar?

 Episiotomy Scars

More than 90% of pregnant women with difficult births will have an episiotomy by doctors to make the birth process faster and easier. Thus, the perineal incision will have to be stitched and you are worried about whether the stitch will leave a scar. 

episiotomy

 

Do perineal stitches leave scars?

The episiotomy incision is located in a position that is always wet, so the mother should always keep it clean after going to the toilet, keep the incision dry and clean to avoid infection, causing superinfection. The scar will be larger.

In addition, in some cases, keloid scars or due to poor body care, scar tissue develops around the cut, which can interfere with later sexual activities.

                     

Occasionally there are wounds that do not heal on their own, which may burst open and require surgical repair, with the risk of large scar tissue forming.

Sometimes, an obstetrician has a bad cutting technique that can affect the anal sphincter, causing inconveniences in the mother's life later on, such as loss of urinary control and convenience.

How to take care of the wound so that the perineum heals quickly and limits scarring

In order for the wound to heal faster and to avoid complications after an episiotomy, doctors recommend that pregnant women:

- Lying on your side helps reduce pressure on the perineum, do not sit or stand for too long.

Kegel exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and aid in healing. Start the exercise by tightening the muscles around the perineum as if you were trying to hold your urine for 10 seconds, then release. Repeat 20 times each time, you can practice 2-3 times a day.

- Keep the toilet clean and dry, every time you go to the toilet, you need to wash it with warm water and then use a soft towel or clean paper to gently absorb it, do not rub it to avoid injury. 

                   

- Wear comfortable, loose clothing, avoid wearing tight underwear that causes friction and irritates the wound.

- Pay attention to a diet rich in fiber and essential nutrients for the body such as animal meat, blood-forming substances, plant nuts, vegetables, fruits rich in vitamin C, group B.

After 2-3 weeks, when the wound is dry, it is not unusual to use a scar cream as directed to limit the development of scar tissue. Scarring perineal incision was not strongly related to the choice of scar cream at this early stage. Wounds can heal up to 80% of the original skin condition without incision.