Birth Injuries: Vulval Hematoma
After the vaginal birth of a baby, blood can sometimes collect in the vulval area. This is known as a vulval hematoma. Vulval hematomas can happen for a number of reasons, but most often they occur because an episotomy wound has been improperly repaired.
If deep veins within the vagina rupture, then the resulting blood lost cannot drain away and the blood will pool. if this happens there will be a number of symptoms present.
- Swelling to one side of the vagina causing tenderness;
- Pain, especially on sitting;
- Difficulty passing urine if the urethra is affected by the swelling;
- Shock - if bleeding is severe.
