Wound drains after a c section?

[ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster]

There have been studies carried out which show the use of wound drains after a cesarean do not decrease the risk of complications (such as infection). Also the NICE guidelines (from 2004!) explicitly reference these studies and recommend that wound drains are NOT used for c section patients because they do not improve clinical outcomes. Yet from reading threads on MN and other forums it seems as though wound drains are still commonly (although not always) used after a cs. Has anyone been given a reason for this by the consultant who put in the wound drain? Is it possible to refuse one?

Why is the drain deemed to be necessary?

I had 3 drains in post em lscs but I bled a lot (7 litres) and they were expecting further bleeding. Ended up with between about 3-500 mls in each drain so was important to have them in both to monitor ongoing blood loss but also to remove that accumulated blood rather than it forming a collection. So I don't think refusing a drain would be a good idea or even necessarily possible - they are generally put in for a good reason.
Agree that removing them hurts. A lot. Not as much as contractions but a funny feeling of insides being pulled out.

I had one follwing my EMCS. I still have a little dimple scar. Wasn't too painful when it came out the next day.

Didn't have one following my planned cs.

Had one following my hysterectomy (obviously more serious op). Bloody hell, it hurt like fuck when they took it out, I thought my brain would melt with the pain. I refused the gas & air they had prepared for me as I don't like feeling woozy but understand why they had it! It had been in for 4 days though.

I wouldn't refuse anything a surgeon wanted to do TBH. It wasn't a problem having a drain in IME.

Strange - why do some women have them and some not? I've had one CS, planned, no drain and never any mention of it. Also single long stitch with bead at the end - barely felt it being removed (although oddly had similar when I had my appendix out, although the wound was smaller, and that was certainly painful - it was left in too long though). I'm very glad I didn't have a drain, they sound awful.

Its if the surgeon thinks that there may be ongoing fluid/blood loss.

The method of wound closure (staples, stitch etc) is due to surgeon preference/local policy.

I have had 1 EMCS (2005) and 2 planned (2009 & 2012). With my dd in 2009, I had a drain put in as they struggled to stop the bleeding and I needed a transfusion. It was the worst sensation ever having it removed and was dreading having another put in when I had a section 4 weeks ago, had nightmares about it for weeks. How they don't think to give most people pain relief before removing it is beyond me. Luckily I didn't need one but they used a balloon which the inflated with water to prevent excess bleeding. They simply took the water out using a syringe to deflate and then pulled it out of the vagina. Sounds awful but only the same sensation as having the catheter removed- far more pleasant than a drain. I seem to have a trouble with bleeding too much and they time I had complete placenta previa which increases the risks of bleeding even more. I know they do it for your own good but they really are horrendous

For any one that has to gave a drain fitted ask to have gas and air while it's being removed. I had to have emergency surgery after having my dd naturally ended up with a hysterectomy due to extremely severe bleeding woke up in icu with 2 drains when it was time to have them removed I was told it would be painful so requested the gas and air I was already dosed up on morphine too and it did still hurt a little bit