First-degree tear after birth: how many stitches?

A first-degree tear is limited to the skin at the vaginal opening and does not extend into the deeper perineal muscle. A midwife or doctor checks its size, position, bleeding, and whether the edges come together. Some small tears heal without repair when bleeding has stopped and the edges are close; others are closed with sutures to improve comfort or healing. The stitch count is not a reliable measure of severity.

Keep the area clean with water as advised, pat dry rather than rubbing, and change sanitary pads regularly. Use prescribed pain relief and sit in a comfortable position; a wrapped cool pack may help during the early period. Drink fluids and avoid straining with bowel movements. Dissolvable surgical sutures usually loosen and disappear as tissue heals, so do not pull at a thread. Follow the maternity team's wound-care advice.

Contact your maternity team promptly for increasing pain, swelling, wound separation, pus-like discharge, fever, a bad smell, difficulty passing urine, or bleeding that becomes heavy or suddenly increases. Severe pain with feeling unwell needs urgent assessment. These signs can indicate infection, a collection of blood, or another postpartum problem and should not be judged by the number of stitches.

Ask whether the tear was repaired, what type of suture was used, which pain medicines are suitable while feeding your baby, and when sex, exercise, or a postnatal check is appropriate. Ask where to seek help if the wound becomes more painful.