Episiotomy care at home: practical steps

An episiotomy is a cut in the perineum, the tissue between the vaginal opening and anus, made during birth and closed with stitches. Soreness, bruising, tightness, and discomfort when sitting or walking can occur while the tissue heals. The area may feel more tender after passing urine or opening your bowels.

Wash your hands before and after touching the area. Rinse with warm water after using the toilet, then pat dry from front to back; avoid scrubbing, perfumed products, and inserting anything into the wound. Change maternity pads regularly. Rest on your side, use a wrapped cool pack for short periods if advised, and take prescribed or recommended pain relief as directed. Drink fluids, eat fibre-rich foods, and avoid straining. Gentle pelvic-floor exercises may be introduced when comfortable.

Contact your maternity team promptly for worsening pain, increasing swelling, spreading redness, pus, an unpleasant smell, fever, feeling unwell, or stitches that appear to open. Seek urgent help for heavy bleeding, faintness, severe pain, or loss of bowel control. A clinician can examine the wound and arrange treatment when needed.

Ask when you may bathe, resume exercise, drive, have sex, and use tampons; ask which pain medicines suit breastfeeding and when a wound check is needed.