Please talk to me about your section scar during subsequenc pregnancies.

[Strix]

My first section was 7 1/2 years ago. SEcond was 5 1/2 years ago. I don't recall this problem in pregnancy number 2. But, I am now pregnant with DC3. I am 28 weeks and have been noticing an itch which is sometimes a bit painful. It's nothing unbearable, but I wonder if this is cause for concern.

Has anyone else had the same itch/pain along the scar? Did you speak to your consultant about it? Any information you could pass my way would be very much appreciated.

I mentioned it to the midwife yesterday, and she very clearly didn't have a clue. I am thinking this is a pretty obvious concern and the sort of thing I would expect a midwife to know.

I'm not in serious pain, I'm just hoping to find out at what point I should worry / contact hospital / go see consultant.

Thanks!

I didn't have a painful scar when pg with ds2.

I don't know for sure, but when you have a second section I believe they don't re-open and then re-stitch the old scar. When they restitch they cut out the old scar and stitch 'fresh' skin - iyswim. So possibly the skin is stretched a bit tighter the second time as they have taken a section of skin out, which makes the area itchy and painful when pg again?

As I said, I don't know this for sure, just thinking about it logically.

I would contact someone if it starts to become painful, but you do whatever you feel comfortable with.

Massaging the scar with some bio-oil or thick body cream may help relieve the tightness and help soften up the scar tissue.

Yes, I too have been told that they cut out the scar tissue and stich fresh tissue. So perhaps it is just a case of a thinner uterous doing more stretching.

anybody else?

I had emcs with dd1 but when I fell with dd2 I changed my mind about having another cs and decided to try for a natural birth. They kept a close eye on me and in the end had a very quick labour with dd2 and she was born within an hour and a half. At no point did my previous cs scar present any problem whatsoever. No itching, pulling, inflammation, etc. Midwives kept asking me if it felt ok and it did. dd's were born 2.5 years apart and I guess it had completely healed by then.

I had an EMCS the first time and in my second pregnancy the scar did hurt and itch - kind of intermittent, sometimes itchy, sometimes a sharp or pulling pain and my MW and GP thought it was fine (they said if something went wrong it would be a really terrible pain and I would know). It actually died down towards the end of pregnancy (maybe I'd stretched as far as I could go - was enormous).

btw I had another section and I have two very clear scars one just above the other.

You have two scars? Id be might displeased about that.

Strix just saw your post on AN thread on this. Have a 10 yo cs scar which has recently become red and is 'sore' on the right hand side. Be interested to hear what your MW says in future as I don't see mine for a few weeks, at 34 weeks!

My CS scar is regularly itchy and mine was 5.5 years ago. It got infected however not long after the birth and as I say is occasionally itchy ever since. I have a fair bit of overhang (sorry tmi I know) which I think contributes to the problem. Am now pregnant again and not noticed any complications however with it.

Yes two scars, though it doesn't matter as you can hardly see them. Thanks to the overhang

That's terrible. My second section replaced the first section scar and in fact is a much nicer (smaller) scar. I hope I get this luck with number 3 as well. If I find a second scar down there I'll have a fit.

Strix - I would mention to your consultant about how you would prefer your scar to be as different surgeons use different techniques. Some surgeons still prefer to close with staples for example .

Also maybe if there's not enough skin to stretch you may not have any choice on the outcome?

I think it's probably worth discussing.

I honestly don't mind though Strix - scars don't bother me, or at least not in such an out-of-the-way spot. And mine are very neat and faint. But yes if you do mind, talk to them about it.

My 1st CS was 4 years ago, and I had DS2 19m later. When I was about 6m pregnant I went in to be monitored as my scar was hurting and itching a lot - they were happy it was just scar tissue stretching, especially as there was only 10m between the section and conceiving again.

My scar still aches and itches a lot now and its 2.5yrs on from no2. I am just starting to get feeling back in places on my pubic bone too. In fact last night it ached so much I had a dream about it!

I would say mention it to your consultant, but it sounds fairly normal tbh

Well, itching and discomfort have now vanished. So, I'm going to chalk it up to stretching through some scar tissue.

Thanks the replies.