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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

As if having to decide between C/S and VBAC hasn't done my head in enough, now they want to know what kind of stitches I want.....

25 replies

marymillington · 01/02/2007 21:01

if I do indeed have the C/S.

Haven't a clue which is preferable....and neither did the person asking me. Super.

Is it peevish to be fed up with all this choice?

Anyone know anything about it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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lulumama · 01/02/2007 21:02

yeeeeeaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

whatever is best and easiest and neatest !!

lulumama · 01/02/2007 21:02

i had staples.......

Nemo2007 · 01/02/2007 21:03

OH MAry was wondering how you were..thought you had cs booked or did I miss something??

Plibble · 01/02/2007 21:05

What a strange thing to have to decide. I would have thought that they just do whatever is suitable at the time or whatever the doctor is best at.

I had the usual continuous stitch thing - the one with a bead on either end. The beads were a pain as my pants kept catching on them, but the stitch came out easily and painlessly and the scar is ok - but that may be because I massaged it.

Original poster

marymillington · 01/02/2007 21:08

Hi Nemo - how are you? How's life with three children? Any more pictures for us?

Did have C/s booked for 29th, but postponed it until 5th. Baby showing no signs of budging thus far so glad I did. I am now quite spectacularly round.

Had staples last time and getting them removed involved what looked like a piece of office stationary. And they were uncomfy when they were in but scar is very neat and tidy. But apparently there are three other different sort I can choose from.

OP posts:

prufrock · 01/02/2007 21:09

Continuous stitch far and away the best option - easy removal, and I'm sure I saw a paper which said it had least chance of infection. Mears is usually v. good on this if she's about.

lulumama · 01/02/2007 21:23

yes, the staple remover was like something from W H Smith !

dissolvable stitches.?

madmarchhare · 01/02/2007 21:29

How odd, all I can say is that I had disolvable ones which were fab, as did two others that I know of in RL and they didnt have any problems at all. In fact we are all very happy with the way they healed and all have non existant scars.

Having said that, what did you have before? If all was good, then stick with that.

merrily · 01/02/2007 21:43

Go for dissolvable stitches! Had them when I had a laparotomy with no problems (though admittedly they were only small incisions so a bit different). The scars are almost non-existent.

I had a continuous stitch with my C/S, had a nightmare with it as it healed into the scar, very painful when the midwife tried to pull it out 5 days later. Ended up back in the delivery room under gas and air while they removed it (they didn't do a very good job though, as I discovered 17 months later when I pulled out the remains myself with tweezers - yuk!!)

My C/S scar isn't too bad though surprisingly, but I'm sure it would be fainter by now had they used dissolvables.

eidsvold · 01/02/2007 21:46

dissolvable were best I found compared with running stitch.

oliveoil · 01/02/2007 21:48

I had staples with mine and the MW after said it was a very good scar (if there is such a thing...?)

I had a VBAC after and would rec if you can go for it.

Miaou · 01/02/2007 21:49

Not had a CS, but had an appendectomy in October and had disolvable stitches. I don't know if it was a continuous one but the stitches were kind of under the skin (I likened it to a neat "hanky hem", sort of turned under) so even when the stitches were still in you couldn't see them.

My scar is very neat and I am quite proud of it

madmarchhare · 01/02/2007 21:52

Oh yes, Im quite proud of mine too. I get it out at any opportunity , as soon as any mentions c sections, theres no stopping me again and a bit too.

JanH · 01/02/2007 21:55

For DD1 (born at Cornell University teaching hospital in NY) I had a continuous dissolvable stitch, with just a tiny knot on one end, no beads, which was fan-bloody-tastic.

For the others (born in Blackburn, Blackburn and Burnley, bit of a comedown ) I had el cheapo NHS black thread separate stitches. They healed OK but there was no comparison to the first one so if you have that choice, have that

saffy202 · 01/02/2007 22:08

I had an emergency c/s and was automatically given staples. Unfortunately I was allergic to them - can't wear cheap metal - I should have asked for 9ct gold

tenbygirl · 01/02/2007 23:49

vicryl disolvable sutures.

eidsvold · 02/02/2007 03:32

meant to add - the knotted single thread was a nightmare and I ended up pulling part of it away - had that in UK. Lot of pulling etc to get thread out - not nice.

In brisbane Aus where I had second c-section - dissolvable are the norm and they were fab.

whoopsfallenpregnantagain · 02/02/2007 07:23

I have had staples and the continuous stitch .
The staples were uncomfortable when removed plus I did get an infection
If I had to have another I would prefer the continuous stitch.
At least you're given the option I was told it depended on the surgeon what stitches you had!

FioFio · 02/02/2007 07:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TuttiFrutti · 02/02/2007 09:52

Am amazed that you have been offered a choice. I had continuous stitches (and wasn't given any say in the matter), and they were fine, no infections, pulled out by midwife with a pair of tweezers 5 days later. It was less painful than pulling a plaster off!

ChaCha · 02/02/2007 10:43

Hi MM

Feeling a bit queasy reading this thread, brings back memories! I think it's great that you've been given a choice but I can appreciate the 'not something else to think about' predicament...took me months to decide between VBAC and C/S, had my mind made up for a VBAC for a long time and then finally switched to C/S...countdown in progress!

I had the stitches with the bead things at either end last time and there was no problem there although i hated feeling the beads. I hope they ask me about this when i go for my booking next week. Oh gosh, all of a sudden i feel weird....i'm going from total excitement to i'm so nervous.....

Keep us posted MM

Original poster

marymillington · 02/02/2007 13:13

Hi Chacha, what date is your section booked for? What was it that made your mind up in the end?

Mine's Thursday so I have 6 whole days to do it spontaneously. Much more relaxed now and thinking whatever will be will be.

OP posts:

Harry2007 · 02/02/2007 17:01

I had a CS on the 15th January and had one continuous stitch with dissolvable stitches knotted at the ends. 19 days later, the scar has healed perfectly, has lost all of it's redness and has faded so much, it is hardly noticeable - MW can't believe it! I have to say, it looks fab and it hasn't even been 3 weeks yet - would definitely recommend this kind of stitch. I did use tea tree oil for the first week to bathe in and was dabbing it on every morning to keep the scar clean.

Hope this helps!

minipluffmum · 03/02/2007 00:07

Think I had the same as Harry2007 and same results (no tea tree though, too lazy, just washed well every day!)I was very pleased indeed.
No Mary, I don't think it's peevish to be fed up at all, it's ridiculous to expect somebody who is not a surgeon to advise about something the surgeon should know. Until your post, I didn't even know there wasn't a standardised proceedure!
I am trying for number 2 now and am dreading the whole VBAC versus C/S debate which I am sure to have to go through if I ever conceive (not looking hopeful so far ).

ChaCha · 03/02/2007 10:16

Hi again MM,

I'm not long behind you really - if you do have the section there'll be around a week between our LO's
I went to 41weeks with DS so am quite relieved to be honest that i'll only have to go till 39+ this time - roll on D-Day and the world of two under two [gulp]!!

Keep me posted MM

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