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Original poster

c section wound smells a bit...?

23 replies

vmcd28 · 02/12/2010 16:24

I had a c section 13 days ago, and up til now I've had no bother whatsoever with the wound.

Today I had a look at it in the mirror, but when I lifted the very attractive fold of skin up to have a look, I noticed a weird smell coming from it. It isn't painful or oozing, and doesnt look worrisome.

I've read some threads online which suggest that it's because of the moist conditions rather than due to infection.
Does anyone have any suggestions/advice?

Thanks x

OP posts:
MyBoyJakey · 02/12/2010 19:41

Might be better to try and get it checked tomorrow.
I had an infection 2 weeks after - one minute was fine and then within an hour was so painful and weeping

(lol sorry Hmm )

SKYTVADDICT · 02/12/2010 19:45

Mine had a small hole in it which I could just see under the fold - I showed my mum who said it smelled too (I have no sense of smell) - turned out I did have an infection.

Best get it checked Smile

snala · 02/12/2010 19:50

Hi, I have had 2 c-sections and I got infected both times.

Because of the awful fold of skin its likely to be the moist conditions.
Bathe it every hour and pat dry.
I found laying down and letting the air get to it helped a lot. (not easy I know, especially with a newborn)

Congrats on the birth of your baby by the way!!!

hockeypuck · 02/12/2010 19:50

Third this. Have had two c-sections. One smelled and it was infection. The other did not. Always best to get it checked.
FWIW the infection didn't compltely go away but the Health Visitor recommended an old fashioned antibiotic powder called sikitrin which they used to use to dry up whiffy umblical cords but had fallen out of fashion. It worked a treat.
Get to the docs/midwife and get youself checked. Good Luck.

snala · 02/12/2010 19:53

I would get it checked if there is no improvement after 24hours or asap if it starts to feel hot,weeps, has shooting pains or opens at all.
Smile

FiteFuaite · 02/12/2010 19:56

I had this,too. I put bread poultices on it and it cleared up very quickly. Twas a bit blech but the doctor recommended it instead of antibs as I was breastfeeding.

Congrats on your baby,btw Xmas Smile

Santassnowyoldclothcatpuss · 02/12/2010 21:09

Get it checked out asap just to be safe. My stepmother had an infected hysterectomy scar, the hospital sent her home and VERY unpleasant things happened. You need to get it seen to. Please.

Original poster
vmcd28 · 03/12/2010 09:48

Thanks, all. Not sure if health visitor can help, but she's coming in an hour anyway. If she can't help I'll phone the doc. Haven't had a look at it today yet but it doesn't feel as uncomfortable as it did during the night

OP posts:
Santassnowyoldclothcatpuss · 03/12/2010 19:35

How did you get on VM? Are you okay?

Original poster
vmcd28 · 03/12/2010 22:09

Hi, thanks for asking :)
Well the health visitor had a look and said it's inflamed at the end of the wound, at the bit where they finish off the stitches, but she wasn't worried about it. There has been a wee tiny spot of blood today and a wee bit of moisture (which is clear, not pus), but I'll keep a close eye on it. The whole wound is uncomfortable today, but in a skin-is-healing kind of way
I've to hv a couple of showers a day and dry it thoroughly in the meantime.
I feel ok, really. But ds2 isn't settling, has beeN crying a lot and wanting fed a lot, which doesn't help my wound as I can't get comfy. And ds1 is playing up a bit and won't listen to a word I say, so I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself today. :(

OP posts:
ArentFanny · 03/12/2010 22:12

I know this sounds awful but I put some kicthen roll on it and kept it in place with stomach Blush this helped keep it dry and stopped the infection progressing. Also drying it with a hairdryer really helps as well.

llareggub · 03/12/2010 22:15

I was told to wash it thoroughly and let the air get at it at least twice a day. I told everyone that it meant lying on the bed for at least half an hour a day in order to avoid infection. It was a great way to get a rest.

I also used a hairdryer to dry the wound, and used to bathe in tea-tree oil in the bath.

alypaly · 03/12/2010 22:30

if it smells its infected. go to the docs please. if you get a temperature at all you must get help of anti biotics.

Baublepink · 03/12/2010 22:37

Do not ignore this problem! I had this and was seen by both a home visiting MW and 2 nurses at the local walk-in centre, all said there wasn't an infection. The MW took a swab which came back "inconclusive".

I still wasn't happy and went the next day to the local out of hours surgery, which is held at the city hospital. They said they weren't convinced there was an infection but would start me on some AB's "just in case".

Two days after that, no improvement, I felt something wasn't right, so I went to the doctors. He diagnosed an infection straight away and said the AB's the hosp had given wouldn't have treated a CS infection anyway Hmm they were the wrong sort of AB's for that type of infection location. He prescribed Metronidazole which is a strong AB specifically for internal (or anaerobic) infections such as CS infections. It cleared it up ASAP, I had no further problems and am pg again Smile so no longer term probs.

Don't be put off, trust your instincts, a wierd smell is probably there for a reason. If your infection is internal there may be no apparent oozing etc externally. Unless you are the "dead set against any ABs" type of person then this is one time you should err on the side of caution and get a course to knock any infection out in the early stages before it gets a grip. I don't like taking AB's unnecessarily but that's for things like coughs etc, not major abdominal surgery. This really is the time to take them in a better safe than sorry kind of way.

Good luck, hope you get it sorted.

Baublepink · 03/12/2010 22:39

PS don't wait til Monday to see someone if you can possibly help it Smile.

Baublepink · 03/12/2010 22:46

PPS I also had no temperature in the early stages, which was the MW's main reason for saying it wasn't an infection. I was also told about doing the hairdryer and tea tree oil (which I did), these are great for treating the external skin wound but it won't help heal an internal wound infection.

Also, anything that rubs on the scar is a no-no. I think my infection started from the wound getting irritated from my maternity under the bump jeans, as the waistband was more or less where the scar was. If the scar gets irritated by rubbing it's far more likely to develop an infection (apparently). Big pants and over the bump wear is a lot better. If I have another CS I will be ditching all my under the bump stuff straight after the birth.

Hope you find a tiny bit of my waffle useful Smile

Baublepink · 03/12/2010 22:52

Sorry! PPPS My doc checked, and advised me I could still BF on the Metronidazole. (Obviously it's personal choice if you'd want to or not) but at least you can make the choice.

Original poster
vmcd28 · 04/12/2010 12:02

Thanks again, all. I'm keeping a close eye on it, but the smell is coming from the other end of the wound, that is pain free, clean and neat and not inflamed. That has been put down to dead skin and the sweaty atmosphere. Nice.
Anyway, the tiny inflamed bit dries up overnight but, as you say, gets irritated if I wear something that rubs a little.
I assume if it's infected and if it gets worse then it'll be obvious? Eg more inflamed, sorer etc?

OP posts:
Baublepink · 05/12/2010 19:37

It's up to you obviously, but I would seriously consider whether to trust something so important to the opinion of a HV (who can't even officially diagnose an infection or prescribe AB's) and a bunch of strangers on the internet who can't see your wound, although at least 6 of those strangers here have advised it could be an infection because they've had one, or because it sounds like one.

I've already posted loads here because I'm trying to help you so I won't post again Smile except to say please go to the doctor, who will probably have seen a lot of CS scars and potential infections before, decide. HV are not there to diagnose infections. They probably don't even see that many because most women would go to their doctors instead of them re this matter, so they won't be familiar. Whatever they say will largely be opinion as they can't see inside your scar or even do a swab of it. TBH with the greatest respect I think are slightly burying your head in the sand if you think a wierd smell is just to do with sweaty atmosphere 2 weeks after a CS. By now the surface be dried up and healing very well and shouldn't be described as inflamed or uncomfortable, or oozing blood and clear fluid. Your HV should have told you to get to the doctors asap, I am Shock she didn't. Good luck.

babybarrister · 05/12/2010 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
vmcd28 · 05/12/2010 23:26

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info and advice.
I'm actually confused cos I did post an update yesterday which doesn't seem to appear Confused

Ok, so I went to the out of hours doctor yesterday and got given a week's worth of antibiotics. Hopefully that'll sort it. Fingers tightly crossed. At least I can sit around in pj bottoms til it's a bit better.

I genuinely wasn't previously burying my head in the sand, just believing the advice I'd been given.
And I have to say, the area that is oozing still has no smell whatsoever - any smell is from the other end. Weird.

OP posts:
isitmidnightalready · 06/12/2010 00:19

Glad to see that there is lots of advice on here about C-section scars - it seemed to be a taboo subject when I had my third c-section 5 years ago. Good advice to get it checked out by a doctor. I didn't for the second one and spent a year with mild discomfort before I was brave enough to show it to anyone. In my case it was a bad case of fungal infection.

My best advice in the weeks after the op was to let air get to it, by lifting the flap whilst lying down. Also washing only with water a few times a day then gently pating it dry.

Even now I have to wash it daily to keep it clean - it gets a bit tender if i forget to have a shower.

Foul subject - glad to see you normalising it - i felt like a weirdo until I found another mum with the same issues.

Gemhassan123 · 30/08/2016 01:50

^^My son is 14 months old I have had 3 cesareans 2 being emergency and the last because I couldn't have a natural, anyway I just recently went loo and hot a funny smell went to rub my tummy where the scar is and it is stingy as well as sweaty and abit smelly will be keeping a eye on it, but I.just find it bizarre as I never had this problem with last 2 it's only been the last section, p.s I am trying to loose weight so don't know if that affects it at all but I feel bit strange and uncomfortable about it

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