Promote healing
How long it takes for an episiotomy to heal depends on several factors. First of all, the length and depth are decisive. The longer and/or deeper an episiotomy is, the longer the healing time is usually.
Furthermore, it is important how well the patient is generally cured. If healing disorders occur in the entire body, which is rather rare in young healthy people, healing disorders also occur in the area of the episiotomy. For faster healing, sufficient protection should first be observed.
Lifting heavy loads should be avoided as well as sports activities. Furthermore, the perineal area can also be cooled. A further measure is the use of chamomile baths.
Since chamomile has a disinfecting effect in principle, chamomile baths promote faster healing and reduce the risk of infection in the perineal area. The area around the episiotomy should also be kept as dry as possible in order to avoid providing a breeding ground for pathogens. After each visit to the toilet, the perineal area should be cleaned with gentle lotions and then dried. Any abnormality around the wound area should be presented to a doctor to avoid infections.
Scar
As with any incision, scarring occurs during the healing of the perineal incision wound. As a rule, this is less and less visible over time, but does not disappear completely. The finer the suture, the less visible the scar.
If appropriate rest periods are observed after the procedure, there are usually no complications of the perineal scar. Problems occur more often after perineal tears or very deep and long perineal incisions, with corresponding infections or if the suture tears due to excessive strain. Here the body must form excessive connective tissue to cover the corresponding skin defect.
In the area of this connective tissue, the muscle function cannot be maintained as well as in the rest of the muscle. Incontinence and difficulties during subsequent births can occur if large plate-like connective tissue tracts have developed. There are numerous ointments, lotions and gels designed to improve scar healing.
