C Section wound infection

[Rico08]

Unfortunately I have got an infection in my c section wound. It was caught quite quickly and I'm taking antibiotics.

The scar/wound is being kept clean, and there is minimal discharge on dressing. However today my stomach, well above the wound is quite tender to touch (like when you press a bruise) could this be the infection spreading or is it more likely to be discomfort from the op ?
Has anyone else experienced this ?

[CharlieBlanche]

If you are at all concerned get it checked out tomorrow. A good friend of mine ended up back in hospital because she didn't want to make a fuss with the midwife. It's probably fine but better safe than sorry.

Certainly my (non infected) section scar was tender for some time.

Goog luck.

[CharlieBlanche]

^ Good obviously!

[LadyBigtoes]

Get it checked asap - IME they will be fine with you wanting them to see it. It is a danger time for infections and they will want to be careful. Having said that I think what you're describing could be the kind of pains you get as the womb contracts, which are normal.

[Rico08]

Thank you both, I've got an appointment with midwife on Wednesday but if it is same tomorrow I will go earlier.

The scar is looking much better so hopefully it's not the infection

[HelloMaryLou]

It's possible for the wound to be healing fine on the surface but the underneath layers to be infected. MW cannot officially diagnose this and they can't provide you with a prescription for antibiotics either, so even if they thought it was an infection, they would need to refer you to the doctors (that's if they didn't suggest doing a swab first which although well-meaning can waste time in terms of waiting for results whilst any infection gets a stronghold; also, if it's under the skin, a surface swab won't capture that bacteria).

It may not of course be infection, it could just be the wound healing -but please make an appointment to see the doctor as soon as possible so they can see if treatment is needed. If it is an under the surface infection, the antibiotic metronidazole treats this type of infection (ie anaerobic, so it thrives without oxygen) and, last time I took it, metronidazole was compatible with breastfeeding, if that's what you are currently doing.

My CS wound was naturally tender but I knew that it wasn't quite right - the incision itself was closed and healing well but underneath one side of the scar felt like a thick squashy finger under the skin, it was tender and slightly redder than the other side. All was well for me, I was fine on the metronidazole and it cleared my infection up quickly and effectively. The first doctor I saw put me on amoxycillin which was not effective for an anaerobic infection, so there was no improvement, but when I saw a second doctor after a few days with no improvement, the metronidazole was great.

HTH as a bit of background info, but hopefully there's no infection, it's just the wound healing x

[Theyoniwayisnorthwards]

I agree get it checked. I had an infection too, treated fairly quickly with antibiotics but quite scary. My sister (a nurse) suggested filling a little spray bottle (in the travel packs you get in boots) with the sterile saline water you get for contact lens and spraying the scar/pat dry a few times a day. It's a hard place to keep clean and you don't want to rub at it when it's tender.

[CharlieBlanche]

Glad you got an appointment Rico hope you feel better soon.

[Heavywheezing]

Please go to your doctor , not mw.
The dr can give you antibiotics that you need, mw will only refer you to a dr!
I didn't feel right until I saw a dr after my second section. Gave me anti biotics, was much better.

[MyDarlingClementine]

I would just add to the above, there is oft I was told, internal stitches above the external wound.

[Rico08]

Thank you all.

It is feeling much better today, hopefully the antibiotics have worked. It got a bit of a pulling feeling now.

Getting checked out today so fingers crossed.