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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

May need c section. Staples or stitches?

65 replies

spub · 01/03/2006 11:31

I had a 3rd degree tear with dd and may need a c section when I have my sedonc baby this summer. My friends who have had sections couldn't really agree on whether staples or stitches were "preferable".
Any experience/thoughts?

OP posts:

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LeahE · 01/03/2006 23:59

I had dissolvable stitches and it healed very nicely I can only really see one short length of the scar now. I agree that I wasn't given a choice, though I didn't think this was one of those things you got to pick?

On a side not my brother had his thyroid removed several years ago which left him with an incision running 180 degrees round the base of his neck and that was closed with staples. It left him looking like something out of Highlander...

JanH · 02/03/2006 00:04

Leah, I was in a surgical ward once next to a woman who had had thyroid surgery and staples, and she looked exactly like a Frankenstein monster, it was hideous.

When the staples came out though she just had a line with dots either side - it looked much better and flatter than my scar with stitches!

Dubliner · 02/03/2006 00:04

After an operations on my legs I had both stiches and staples. the staples were more uncomfortble when they were in, more painful while being taken out, and now, years after the ops. the scars look worse. (ie. the points where the staples went in can be seen as well as the actual scar)

With DS I had a Caesarean, and dissolvable stiches. (private doctor, didn't even give me other options) Now,two years later, there is a hairline pink scar...an absolute beauty compared to the one with the staple-marks.

jabberwocky · 02/03/2006 00:29

Haven't had time to read the whole thread so apologize if I'm repeating anything but has anyone mentioned glue? That's what I had and it worked well.

JanH · 02/03/2006 00:30

Glue for a CS? Really? Blimey.

jabberwocky · 02/03/2006 01:35

Yep, apparently it was a really new thing when I had ds in 2003.

bigbaubleeyes · 02/03/2006 01:41

Had dissolvable stitches 8 weeks ago and they were fine. A very postive experience all round

red37 · 02/03/2006 04:12

Had c section 5 months ago, the surgeon said he was doing beading stitches, i think that is stitching from the inside,(disovable). It was great, scar unnoticeable. Dont know whether they did that because it was my second C section. Is this your first C Section.

mawbroon · 02/03/2006 08:43

Apologies Jampots. I have confused you with Jambuttie!!

Highlander · 02/03/2006 11:21

I had staples with an electice CS. They left pin-point marks for about 3 months then disappeared completely. I'm going to ask for them again as there is less handling of the tissue (less damage?) than with subcutaneous stitching. Maybe it's all swings and roundabouts - I had such a good experience last time I'm determined to repeat everything to the letter

joec · 02/03/2006 13:30

had a female surgeon and also had staples./..ouch,,,,
thought getting the staples out was the worst part of the whole birth. was really painful. had a longer scar because was also getting a cyst removed and getting sterilised at the same time (3 in 1 job)
c- section was fantastic but i would ask for stitches if i had a choice

Original poster

spub · 02/03/2006 13:49

Wow,
Thanks guys - a lot to think about. This would be my first section, yes. Dissolvable stitches are looking like the most appealing option. Only 22 weeks now so will discuss with my consultant at 30 weeks appointment!

OP posts:

honeybunny · 02/03/2006 14:27

I've had 3 cs and had beaded stitches each time. Basically one long piece of stitch hekd in place at each end by a bead. When it comes to removal they snip the beads off and pull. Out comes the one bit of thread. My scar is pretty much invisible despite dd being only 15mo. Staples do seem to leave more of a scar.

joec · 02/03/2006 23:09

must admit my scar is really small and you can hardly see it at all.
ds is 20 months now.
but would advise to have stitches.

Dottydot · 03/03/2006 21:21

I had stitches after my c section - individual non disolvable that all had to be taken out one at a time! I'm the BIGGEST wuss in the world and warned the midwife I was going to cry through it - and indeed started crying the minute she got her scissors out (she wasn't even touching me at this point!) and honestly I didn't feel a thing!! And some of them (I think there were about 11?) she said were very tight and she had to tug a bit - but because I'd lost (still have 2 years later) most of the feeling around there I just didn't feel anything. So try not to worry...

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