How to clean the episiotomy wound during normal delivery? This is the right way to care for it

I believe that many women who have given birth will experience episiotomy. Episiotomy is conducive to faster delivery. The wound after episiotomy must be well cared for and cleaned in time. When cleaning, you can rinse it with potassium permanganate solution. Also, keep the wound dry to avoid infection.

1. Keep the perineal wound clean

Rinse the perineum with 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution once a day, in the morning and evening. It has bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Be careful not to allow the liquid to enter the vagina when flushing. You should also flush after each bowel movement. Change sanitary pads frequently. If the wound is soaked in a wet sanitary pad, it is easy to get infected and affect the healing process.

2. Keep the wound clean and dry . The hospital will have comprehensive cleaning measures within 3 days after the operation, and use more disinfectant washes to rinse the vulva. After being discharged from the hospital, the mother needs to clean the vulva with clean water or lotion every day. If possible, it is best to do it twice a day.

3. Choose safe hygiene products. Change underwear and sanitary napkins in time to keep the vulva clean and dry.

4. Flush after using the toilet . After urinating or defecating, the mother should rinse the perineum with water and wipe it with toilet paper, wiping from front to back to avoid bacterial infection.

5. Pay attention to lying position

Lie on the side opposite to the wound (for example, if the wound is on the left side of the perineum, the mother should lie on the right side) to keep the wound high, thereby preventing lochia from soaking the wound and relieving pain. At the same time, keep the bowels open to prevent the wound from splitting. When defecating, it is best to sit and try to shorten the time.

6. Light bulb irradiation

Use an infrared bulb (ordinary bulb above 60W can also be used) to irradiate the vulva twice a day, each time for 20-30 minutes. The light bulb scatters heat to heat the skin tissue, effectively improving blood circulation and promoting the repair function of cell tissue. Be careful to avoid burns.

7. Seek medical attention promptly

If the episiotomy wound is painful, you should check the wound yourself to see if it is red, swollen, and enlarged. If you feel a lump when you touch it and it is extremely painful, you should consider whether you have a hematoma from the wound and seek medical attention promptly. Once the diagnosis is clear, you should immediately open the wound to stop the bleeding and re-suture it. If the perineal wound is painful and accompanied by fever, and the local wound is red, swollen, hot and painful, or even has a sense of fluctuation, perineal wound infection should be considered. The infection requires incision and drainage, local debridement, daily wound dressing changes, and the use of antibiotics.