What to expect from perineal repair after postpartum haemorrhage

Heavy bleeding after birth can have several causes. A tear in the vagina, cervix, or perineum may need stitches, while the team separately assesses the uterus and placenta. The repair may happen in a birth room or operating theatre, depending on the tear, bleeding, pain relief, and how stable you are. Anaesthesia or local numbing is selected for the situation.

The team may monitor your pulse, blood pressure, bleeding, urine output, and blood tests. Feeling tired, weak, sore, or emotionally shaken is understandable after a difficult birth; tell staff about pain, dizziness, breathlessness, or distress.

Follow instructions for wound care, pain relief, fluids, gentle activity, and medicines that prevent constipation. Accept practical help with the baby while you recover. Keep follow-up appointments and ask when pelvic-floor exercises, driving, sex, and lifting can restart. If you were told that blood loss affected your recovery, discuss ongoing tiredness or shortness of breath rather than assuming it is only normal postpartum fatigue.

Seek emergency help for heavy or rapidly increasing bleeding, fainting, severe dizziness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, or a racing heartbeat with weakness. Contact the maternity team urgently for fever, worsening perineal pain, a wound that opens, foul-smelling discharge, or bleeding that concerns you. Emotional shock, panic, or thoughts of self-harm also deserve immediate support.

Ask what caused the bleeding, which tear was repaired, what monitoring you need, how to manage pain and bowel movements, and which symptoms should bring you back to hospital.