after child birth

[sal62]

My daughter recently gave birth.  During birth she got an episiotomy, but ended up tearing quite badlyl to her rectum.  Her doctor stitched her up immediately afterward.  Since then she has not been healing right and her fecal matter is coming through the vaginal area and we have been told she needs further surgery to correct this matter.  My concern is we're told it will have to wait for two to three weeks until surgery so the swelling can go down.  How can the swelling go down when her vaginal area is irritated because of the fecal matter.
I don't know what the medical term is for this, I've tried searching several areas to find out more information on this to try to help my daughter (and myself)understand better what is happening and does she need to wait another three weeks for this to be over.  Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thanks

[laura1977]

i gotta say though that a tear is harder to repair most times then a cut.  if the doc knows what he or she is doing when they cut.  Most females when the tear it isn't clean, and can do some bad damage and it can make matters worse then if the doc notices hey this woman is a little smaller and may need some extra help.  

kcgal
personally it was my opinion and you shouldn't worry about mine, and just write what you have experienced personally.  

[kcgal]

My personal experience has been somewhat the same.  I wish I knew how to spell what my doctor told me this was but it sounds like fichtila.   This is a small hole that develops from the rectum to vaginal area when she received the stitches.  I had to have another surgery to correct this, my surgery was 6 weeks after the birth of our daughter.  I disagree with Laura1977 that one should just be cut as the cutting actually allowed me to tear further since the muscles were already cut this allowed for further tearing.  Doing exercises to strengthen that area and allowing the muscles to lightly tear (2nd child) instead of being cut and then tearing past the cut area (1st child) is what what worked better in my situation, but every woman is different.  Enjoy that new grandbaby and best of luck to your daughter in her surgery to repair the tearing.  

[laura1977]

It upsets me that it use to be that docs would cut women if they are smaller down there, just to prevent tearing as a docs cut will be straighter and easier to fix.  Now it seems like a lot of docs aren't cutting people anymore and just using the wait and see.  Some docs do cut, some don't.  I was cut for both of my children, and they healed up nicely.  You hear these stories where women were aloud to tair, and then they end up having issues with that.  Make sure if your daughter desides to have more children that you TELL the doc she would rather be cut so it can heal better without issues.
It seems like things change every few years.
Right now around here it seems like everyone is getting induced, and for no reason other than it makes it easier for the doc if it is scheduled.  Then it use to be people were having c-sections.  
Do I believe that the doc is at fault so much that you are going to win any kind of malpractice suit, no.  Good luck with that if you try.  My mom had back surgery, and the doc broke off a drill bit in one of her vertibraes and she went to a lawyer about it because she can't get any MRI's now or anything, and she is now in more pain then before surgery.  She can't even sue for that.  You sign too many papers when you are admitted.
Heres something else that is getting started about child birth.  Some docs don't let patients bring in movie cammeras as they don't want to get sued.
You probably do want to wait for the swelling to go down though because if she has an infection that can cause more troubles.
If you believe that your daughters doc isn't cutting it, get a second opinion.  
Docs are human and they aren't always right, so if you believe your daughter needs better care, seek out a different doc.

[AnnieBrooke]

If she is on antibiotics, they should help with the issue of the fecal matter and the vaginal tissue, but frankly, I would ask the doctor for more assistance, explanation, information and reassurance.  There are some congenital problems that cause an opening between the bottom of the lower intestine and the vagina, maybe her issues are going to be handled in the same way as they would a congenital issue of this sort, that might be something to ask the doctor too.  

If you think the doctor did a bad job, you might be getting the runaround in terms of information because they are afraid you are thinking of a malpractice suit.  But if you feel you are not getting enough information or wonder what is going on with waiting three weeks, I would not hesitate to get a second opinion (especially if this doctor is non-responsive).  I think it's a serious matter, and everyone should be pretty deferential to your need for information.  Good luck!