An infection of the genitals can occur if stitches were required after the birth. However, despite the belief that this can easily occur, it is not really that common. The woman's genital area is similar in type to the skin and tissue in the human mouth. If you have ever injured your mouth, you will know that it can bleed heavily, swell immensely (like a 'fat lip'), but also have an amazing capacity to heal well on its own.
If an infection does develop, it will usually happen within a week or so after the birth. Infections that are isolated just to the woman's genitals do not usually cause a fever or a fast pulse and do not often make the woman feel physically unwell. The signs of infected stitches will usually be the stitches feeling more painful over time, feeling 'hot' or 'full with pressure', being reddened, or oozing a pus discharge. However, sometimes the stitches will become infected as a consequence of an infection of the uterus, 'oozing down' to infect the stitches. If this is the case, the woman may display the signs of a uterine infection as well.
If you notice any symptoms, you will need to go back to the hospital to be seen, or seek medical attention. Treatments usually involve taking a swab of the stitches to send to the laboratory for testing (to identify the type of bacteria) as well as the caregiver removing the stitches. The area will usually be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Sometimes the antiseptic solution is soaked into sterile gauze dressings, placing these dressings on the infected wound, and changing them daily.
The genitals are then left to encourage healing without the stitches. Sometimes antibiotics are needed in tablet form, or the infection is just monitored and allowed to heal on its own. The woman can usually recover at home and just be seen on occasions to monitor her progress, unless a uterine infection is suspected.
Caesarean stitches