Manuka honey on c section wound

[GemGem34]

I'm getting well ahead of myself here but scared to death of picking up an infection after I have the section. Has anyone used manuka honey on wounds , especially section ones? I heard it helps heal faster and stops infection setting in, or clears infection if one starts. My section isn't for another 6 weeks so trying to get ahead of myself! I had a section 12 years ago and healed very quick but for some reason really have a panic on this time round!

My SDad had serious abdominal surgery. He had terrible problems getting his wound to heal. Mum finally got the practice nurse to order in some medical grade manuka honey. It was brilliant. They heartily recommend it to anyone.
Apparently you do need medical grade honey though, but Mum had no problem getting it from the nurse. The other issue is, aren't you meant to leave a CS scar open to the air? If you use honey you are going to need to dress it or end up in a horrendous sticky mess!

My wound was covered until day 5 and the dressing was removed by a midwife and by then was healed really well. Midwives recommended using bio oil from about 10 days. 14 weeks on and it looks like a small scratch. No issues or infection.

The honey is called medihoney and you can buy dressing with it already in it. I'm so nervous about everything I'm being over cautious I think!! My first one healed no problems at all, so I'm just thinking this time round it won't?! I have heard about using bio oil too. I wish I would stop trying to look things up on naughty google!!!! :)

I had a wound infection after my first c section in 2012 and it eventually healed with a combination of antibiotics and manuka honey dressings applied by the practice nurse at the GPs. Was considering getting some in myself for this time round but haven't - decided I'm going to think positive and believe I won't have an infection this time. Really I won't.

Not sure about cs wound but I do know manuka honey is excellent on all types of wounds to promote healing and prevent infection

I might get some just incase! I've read it's good for a lot of things so will just use that excuse ;)

I have put normal 15+ Manuka honey on dental abscesses twice now and they've gone within 12 hours, it's brilliant.

I didn't know about medical grade honey. How is it different?

I'm puzzled by these midwives and nurses applying honey to wounds.

Don't you people have proper antiseptic creams in the UK?

What do your doctors think?

No. we obviously don't. And we obviously don't use them on non healing wounds for months on end and then decide to try something that works.
Its medical grade honey in pre prepared dressings available on the NHS. You can also get medical grade sugar for packing open wounds. And maggots are available for treatment. and even leeches too!

Leeches and maggots

Do those bandages have actual honey on them (sticky, with honey smell) or just the antiseptic substance found in the honey? The latter would make sense if that's what you are calling "medical grade honey".

To answer your question, no. I've had 2 c/s (having another in 2 weeks) and have also had 3 abdominal surgeries and never had an infection. I do believe it's common to receive antibiotic through the IV or during the c-section to prevent infections. It's one of those things I think I'd worry about if it happened and not spend much energy worrying about before as it's not typical.

I know somebody who had maggot treatment. Maggots placed in situ, sealed in and said friend went about his business WITH MAGGOTS IN HIM. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I found myself going "oh that's lovely, the house purchase has gone through

MIL had manuka honey on a leg ulcer (caused by barking her shin on an open oven door) last year. This was after weeks and weeks of dressings, antibiotic cream, antiseptics etc..., none of which worked The only thing that did work was the manuka honey. It comes in little tubes.

I am so glad that the NHS is open to new treatments and ideas and is not so busy prescribing inappropriate antibiotics randomly that they are creating a ticking time bomb of resistance like certain other countries.

Gem, to answer your question, a wound infection is highly unlikely but I seriously recommend you do not have a bath in the hospital. Have a shower instead. The bathrooms are not cleaned as well as you might think.

I am laughing at Showy and the maggots

I've had 3 c-sections and just did nothing with the wounds, no infections and a nice neat scar.

Surgeon even complimented me on my neat scar on uterus when they did 3rd c-section - the things one chats about during a c-section

Good luck with it! Perhaps get some in but I personally wouldn't use unless the midwife recommded it. But then I took arnica and I know how that stuff is viewed on here

Thanks everyone for your opinions, I just worry too much! The bandages have the honey impregnated in them somehow but are very expensive. It doesn't help I'm reading up on horror stories on google, and as I said I've had a section 12 years ago and all was fine then so don't know why I'm worrying so much this time?

""oh that's lovely, the house purchase has gone through

When I had my elcs last year they out a dressing on in theatre (called a honeycomb dressing incidentally, but I don't think there was honey in it!) and that stayed on until day 5 when I had my stitches out. So you'd probably have to request they use a different dressing in theatre.